Let’s Try This Again: Next Lexus IS to Spawn Wagon

We called it just a few posts down, and Lexus is helping to prove us right. We said to expect to see more wagons coming in the near future.

You may be forgiven if you’ve forgotten all about the IS 300 SportCross you see pictured above. But it did indeed exist from 2001 to 2005  and it sold badly. So badly that Lexus had decided it was wasting its valuable time and money on it and the SportCross swiftly got the axe.

But AutoCar is reporting that the next generation IS will see the return of the wagon. Whether or not they’ll call it SportCross again is anyone’s guess, but we’re going to go on record as saying they won’t call it the IS wagon. Wagon is such a taboo word for some reason.  Also, the next IS is rumoured to receive a hybrid variant.

So, let’s take a look at the wagon list. BMW has the 3 series wagon, Audi has their A4 Avant, Volvo has their V60 coming, Acura has just announced a TSX wagon will debut this year, and now we have Lexus. Expect Mercedes-Benz to re-examine their decision not to sell the new C-Class wagon here very soon.

Canadian Black Book Announces Best Retained Value Winners

If you want to get the most back from your car when selling it after four years, Canadian Black book has made it a bit easier for you to decide what to buy in the first place.

They have compiled a list of cars that best retain their value from MSRP four years later into 17 categories.

Find out who got the honours after the jump.

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Lexus CT 200h Confirmed for North America

When you’re right, you’re right. And we definitely were right.

We reported that Lexus would be straight up stupid not to sell their hybrid hatch here in Canada and Lexus smartly decided to reverse its decision to not sell it here.

The CT 200h will now be available for sale on our shores giving some competition to the Audi A3, Volvo C30, Mercedes-Benz B-Class and to a lesser extent, the BMW 1-series.

The CT 200h will feature a 1.8 litre engine producing 134 horsepower and along with a  “powerful” electric motor along with a “drynamic driving experience”. It’s going to have to be pretty damned good dynamic if it’s going to take on the Audi A3 and BMW 1-series.

Lexus is touting the CT 200h as the first full hybrid in the premium compact segment just as it did with the HS 250h. And look how good that’s doing (not well).

Still, we predict much more success for the CT 200h as we Canadians love our small hatches. The CT 200h will do well among environmentally concious buyers with a lot of dough, but will likely get overlooked if people are looking for the performance and handling of the A3 and 1-series.

We’re waiting for you to make us eat our words, Lexus.

Lexus CT 200h Not Coming to U.S, But Will It Still See Canadian Shores?

It’s expected to make it’s debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto show in a about a month, and our Amurrican neighbours will not get a chance to have one in their driveways.

Even though Barack Obama said “Yes We Can” Toyota is saying “No You Can’t”. A Toyota Spokesperson confirmed to Edmunds.com that it will not be for sale.

This does not necessarily mean the same fate for the better country at hockey, however. In Canada we get many cars that the Amurricans don’t get such as the BMW 323i, and the Mercedes-Benz B-Class. Also, we Canadians love our small hatchbacks way more than our neighbours down south. On top of that, we’re very much into fuel efficient vehicles, so it would actually make sense for Lexus to bring out the CT 200h for Canadians only. Right now the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 are the only premium cheap hatches to choose from, so Lexus would be smart to enter that segment as well.

There are few details released about the CT 200h, other than it will be a compact hybrid hatchback that is expected to take the cheapest Lexus title away from the IS 250. The teaser picture above would seem to suggest LED tail lights as well.

BMW M3 vs. Lexus IS-F

After just writing the post below, we thought we would share this with you…. in case there was ever any doubt in your mind as to who is still king.

(Oh, and Jeremy Clarkson for President of the World)

Canadian Car & Utility of the Year Announced

Great minds think alike. We chose the 2010 Subaru Outback as our pick for the Canadian Utility of the Year, and AJAC agreed. You might as well give us our membership now, AJAC.

Volkswagen took Car of the Year honours and even though our pick was the BMW 335d, there is absolutely no disagreement from us that the GTI is just as deserving.

Congrats to the VW and Subaru!

To find out the winners in each individual category, hit the jump.

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Toyota Brake Issues Expand to Lexus, But It May Help Them Sell More Cars

It’s starting to get to the point where there should just be a big ‘FAIL’ stamped on Toyota’s head office as these gas pedal/brake problems don’t seem to be dying down. In fact, they’re expanding.

Toyota’s Lexus division is now feeling the heat as the rookie model of their line up is now on watch for the same brake issues as the Prius. The HS250 and Prius are close cousins. Notice that they’re both hybrids? The regerative braking process used in hybrids likely has something to do with it, and is why people are complaining of unusual brake fade and temporary loss of braking.

UPDATE: Toyota is expected to announce a global recall for all 2010 Priuses in the very near future, no word on if the HS250 will be included in the recall as of yet. Toyota has officially announced a recall of 437,000 Pruises, and HS 250h’s for brake problems. Pre 2010 Priuses may be affected as well as similar problems are now being reported but there is no official recall from Toyota on previous generation Priuses just yet.

But no matter, these braking set backs may actually help Toyota sell more Priuses. Find out why after the jump.

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Canadian Car of the Year Finalists Revealed! We Make Our Picks!

Those lucky ducks that have coveted AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada) memberships all recently got together to rate the best new car of the year from the Canadian perspective for 2010. They tested them, rated them, and broke down the finalists into five categories.

Since Car Driven is literally only hours old as we write this, it seems a bit premature to have our own COTY awards. So instead, we’ll just use AJAC’s finalists and make our own picks.

Find out the finalists and our picks after the jump!

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