Lexus reveals BMW 1 Series rival

Lexus's aim to take on and beat the best German firms in the premium class has advanced today (August 17) with the announcement that it'll show a new premium compact concept at the Frankfurt Show. Only an official sketch has been revealed for now, but it's long been rumoured that Lexus wanted to compete with BMW, Mercedes and Audi in the compact hatchback market with a car to rival the 1 Series, CLC and A3 models.

All that Lexus is currently saying is that its new compact model will demonstrate a mix of technical innovation and ground-breaking design. Likely to borrow its underpinnings from the Toyota model range, it's not known whether the new premium compact will be front- or rear-wheel drive. What is possible though is the introduction of a hybrid model, Lexus and its Toyota parent having lots of expertise in the area of hybrid powertrains.

The styling shares its bold grille with the IS saloon, the sketch of the five-door hatchback exhibiting a cab-rear stance and low window line. It's unlikely the eventual production model will be so lithe, but if it looks half as good as it does in the preliminary sketches then the German firms should be worried. We'll find out more in a few weeks at the Frankfurt motorshow, where you can follow the reveals and new cars with our extensive coverage.

Kyle Fortune