Despite a strong presence on this side of the Atlantic, Lexus has yet to penetrate the European market. But they folks at Toyota’s luxury arm are hoping that a premium level hatchback in the compact segment – that also just so happens to be a hybrid – will help them win over a new (younger) generation of customers.

The LF-Ch Concept is a look at what that vehicle may look like.

Lexus is staying tight-lipped about the possible hybrid drivetrain but it is expected to be either that found in the new 2010 Prius or in the HS250h – that later of which is not scheduled to go on sale in Europe. Lexus also did not comment on if the LF-Ch production version would see U.S. shores.

A production version is planned to start in 2010 to compete against cars like the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30. The name is expected to be CT200h, as Lexus has already submitted a patent for that alphanumeric combination, as well as a few variants.

GALLERY: Lexus LF-Ch Concept

Official release after the jump:

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After several teaser images, Lexus has finally released a full selection of exterior and interior images of the LF-Ch Concept, which will officially debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September 15th and head into production next year.

Set to compete in the premium compact segment against cars like the Volvo C30, BMW 1 Series and Audi A3, this new Lexus hatchback will be the only hybrid in the segment. Lexus isn’t saying anything about the hybrid system yet, however, and there’s no guarantee they will when the concept debuts in Frankfurt. Lexus has filed for patents on several new names, including CT200h, which seems to indicate the car will come with a hybrid powertrain similar to the one in the HS250h.

The entire design for the LF-Ch evokes Lexus’s L-Finesse design language. While the exterior is definitely sporty with oversized rims, an aggressive stance, LED headlights and plenty of jagged lines, the interior might just be more impressive. This is no Prius. Inside there are equally as many hard and sharp lines with a sporty steering wheel (featuring paddle shifters), as well as a DVD/Navigation system that pops out of the dash. There is even a version of Lexus’s Remote Touch feature, as seen on the RX450h.  

GALLERY: Lexus LF-Ch Concept

Official release after the jump:

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A post on one of TopGear’s blogs last week had everyone chatting about a new Lexus hybrid designed to take on the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 in Europe. Now word comes from Lexus enthusiast site My.IS that the rumored Lexus C-Premium concept, which will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show this fall, will arrive as the CT200h at the Geneva Auto Show in early 2010.

Better yet, CT300h and CT400h versions of the car are expected to follow. Lexus filed for trademarks on all three of the names in the U.S. recently, although the company only filed for the CT200h name in Canada.

The name would seem to coincide with the vehicle itself. The “C” standing for the European C-Premium segment of compact luxury cars. The “T” would seem to suggest (as has already been rumored) that the car would be a hatchback or, as the European’s say, “touring” model. The car will be based on the new Prius platform and as such be front-wheel drive.

The folks over at My.IS put on their thinking caps and came up with just what these new names will mean in terms of powerplants. Unlike Toyotas, where the hybrid system works primarily to save fuel, with Lexus models it works to deliver the performance of a larger engine, while getting the fuel economy of a smaller one. For example, the Lexus RX450h uses a 3.5-liter V6, but according to Lexus it has the power of a 4.5-liter V8.

The CT200h, therefore, is likely to use Toyota’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder but make power equivalent to a 2.0-liter engine. The CT300h will use a hybrid setup mated to the company’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder to make the power of a 3.0-liter V6 with 2.4-liter fuel-economy. And finally the CT400h would get a hybridized version of the 3.5-liter V6, making the power of a 4.0-liter V8 – although we’ll believe that when we see it.

Still, it looks like Lexus has quite a lineup of exciting hybrid hatchbacks headed for Europe.

[Source: TopGear and My.Is]