[Zeus]

Seeing the success of the CLA, many automakers are turning to low priced luxury vehicles to bring in younger customers and boosts sales. Lexus will not do such a thing though.

"We will not head down below $30,000," Lexus chief Jeff Bracken said. "We have Toyota and Scion to handle that price level for us."

The closest thing that Lexus has to a CLA competitor is its CT 200h, which starts from $32,050. This model is a hybrid hatchback though, which means that it really isn't a direct competitor to the CLA sedan.

Senior vice president of Toyota's US sales arm Bob Carter suggested that Benz and BMW may be making more entry level vehicles to help meet up coming CAFE fuel economy standards. The two brands rely on their relatively low volume MINI and smart brands to help raise corporate mileage levels. Lexus, due to Toyota and Scion, doesn't have to worry about this and can therefore focus on higher profit luxury vehicles, Carter explained.

 

[sleepyhead]

Seeing the success of the CLA, many automakers are turning to low priced luxury vehicles to bring in younger customers and boosts sales. Lexus will not do such a thing though.

"We will not head down below $30,000," Lexus chief Jeff Bracken said. "We have Toyota and Scion to handle that price level for us."

The closest thing that Lexus has to a CLA competitor is its CT 200h, which starts from $32,050. This model is a hybrid hatchback though, which means that it really isn't a direct competitor to the CLA sedan.

Senior vice president of Toyota's US sales arm Bob Carter suggested that Benz and BMW may be making more entry level vehicles to help meet up coming CAFE fuel economy standards. The two brands rely on their relatively low volume MINI and smart brands to help raise corporate mileage levels. Lexus, due to Toyota and Scion, doesn't have to worry about this and can therefore focus on higher profit luxury vehicles, Carter explained.

Fuel economy standards are forcing all the manufacturers. Mercedes' line actually would be fine if they actually sold the A- and B-class in the US, but since they don't want to dilute the brand here they've got to move the CLA. And it's not just the US. The reason so many cars are now 2 liter is because of Chinese standards. Sadly what is likely to happen is that all the premier brands are going to build a bunch of cheaper cars or get gobbled up by big companies to survive, if they haven't already been for other reasons like Bentley, Rolls, Ferrari, Porsche (actually this one gobbled up VW, however that worked), Audi, Lamborghini, Bugatti, etc).

Hopefeully BMW and Mercedes won't have to pull off something as sad and pathetic as the Aston Martin Cygnet.

 

[bnastali]

CLA's don't sell for $30K in the real word, anywho...Lex has the mid-30's handled with it's current line-up. The question, who can possibly challenge the incredible beauty and style of t he CLA in the middle thirties? Audi 3 just ain't half as cool. Someone said the CLA looks like a surfboard was carved out the sides, and yeah, those character lines rock my world.

 

[booker]

I saw the same piece. The most telling quote from the article from Bob Carter was this:

By not diluting its brand image, Lexus will stay focused," he said. "It lets Lexus hit on higher levels, in segments more traditionally associated with luxury."

exactly what I worry will happen to mercedes. How do you balance low end clientelle with the high end. Who takes precedent, your low volume high dollar S-classers, or high volume cheaper CLA's?

There is going to be a culture rift within the brand if they don't manage this meticulously. Please don't take this is as a knock on CLA owners, its not intended to be. The point being that when reaching downmarket you open the brand up to more pedestrian qualities,comparisons and experiences.

 

[BenzFan]

At least lexus seems to be a bit ahead on the first efficiency and low cost vehicle part of it all.

 

[icwhatudidthere]

I cross shopped the Lexus CT200H and the IS250. Both were way too slow for the price so I dismissed them outright. Lexus is crazy if they think the only reason people are looking at the CLA is the price.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I would consider a Lexus IS in the same boat as a CLA250. Granted you can get into a CLA250 for $30k, but the reality is after you finished adding all the options (putting it on par with other vehicles), you're paying about the same price.

On a side note, the 2011 Lexus IS250 F-Sport I owned was way higher quality than the CLA250 I ordered and had way more options (Like Keyless-Go, Credit-Card Key, G-Link sending you emails that you forgot to lock your car/roll-up the windows/and your car shaking more than normal - ie vandals, Leather/Alcantara seats). Granted I did pay $60k for it, (cars cost a lot more in Japan - even the local Japanese bland), but I'm guessing it would've cost around the same as the CLA I ordered which is at $40-$45k. I never owned a Lexus in the USA before, but if it was like anything than the I owned while living abroad, I would go with it again (had the new IS model that just came out not have been so hideous).