Lexus downmarket vehicles. UX is just present, CT is present too, where is sedan?

Lexus is a luxury division of Toyota Motor Corporation, L-series such as LS for sedan, LX for SUV and LC for coupe are flagship lineup by Lexus.

After Lexus launched all its flagship vehicles, Lexus went to mid-size vehicles and compact vehicles, such as:

Executive and mid-size luxury: GS and ES for sedan, RX and GX for SUVs
Compact executive: IS for sedan, NX for SUVs

This year, Lexus launches its smallest SUV to target downmarket consumer, that is UX subcompact crossover SUV to compete against Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1, Volvo XC40 and Audi Q3.

 

Within 2018, there is news reporting that Lexus refuses to make downmarket vehicles (Source: https://carbuzz.com/news/lexus-won-t-build-a-sub-30-000-entry-model-to-compete-with-mercedes) to compete with those entry-level vehicles from Mercedes-Benz and BMW. In my opinion, if Lexus makes subcompact executive vehicles to target downmarket, actually this can help Lexus to boost the sales for the brand.

For SUV, we have Lexus UX which already represent entry-level luxury crossover SUV, slotted below NX, this car will be launched in Malaysia around Q2 or Q3 2019, price can be more attractive when reach in Malaysia. Meanwhile Lexus does have entry-level vehicles in hatchback form, it is CT to compete Mercedes-Benz A-Class, BMW 1 series hatchback, Volvo V40 and Audi A3.

How about sedan? Actually Lexus was used to have entry-level subcompact executive sedan which based on Toyota New MC platform, also rebadged of Toyota Sai, it was Lexus HS250h. Lexus HS250h (code: ANF10) was launched in 2009, but discontinued in 2017. It was slotted below than Lexus IS. This vehicle is not available in Europe and most of Asia countries, including Malaysia.

Since Lexus HS was discontinued in 2017, meanwhile its sister car Toyota Sai was discontinued together, but Toyota Sai was integrated into Toyota Camry XV70 with Toyota Mark X and Avensis. Therefore, in order to continue to attract downmarket buyers to buy entry-level Lexus vehicles, I hope Lexus will reallocate HS (Harmonious Sedan) position by launching second generation of HS as subcompact luxury sedan to compete with Audi A3 Sedan, Volvo S50, BMW 1 series sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA.