What is it?

It's a hatchback from Lexus, one powered by a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. Lexus tells us it's had the concept in the pipeline since 2007 because it realised that more buyers were downsizing from bigger cars into smaller, more premium ones. The posh C-segment is, it says, too big a fish to let go of.

Why's it here?

For the reasons we've stated above, although it's also a general pointer towards the wider future of Lexus. Top brass at the company are making noises about it becoming a hybrid-only manufacturer within the next couple of years, and to that end the LF-Ch will likely be produced as a hybrid-only model. That's right, no petrol or diesel at all. The maker reckons that Euro 6 emissions regulations will make petrol-hybrids far more attractive; and diesel less so.

Back to the LF-Ch - so named because its styled using the L-Finesse design language, is a C-segment car and is a hybrid - we're told the car has been given the go ahead for a 2011 launch. The exterior will apparently remain largely intact for the showroom, though one look at the interior and it's clear that will get the chop.

Show stopper or floor filler?

The former. The LF-Ch looks the business, and if the drivetrain of the RX 450h is anything to go by, it should be satisfyingly fast and frugal too. It's a shame Lexus will go with front-wheel drive for the car though, because although it means more space, we'd like to see a proper 1 Series rival. As it is, the hatch will probably serve more as an Audi A3 alternative, but priced aggressively in order to snare a group of younger customers into the Lexus way early. Rumour has it the car could provide the platform for a small SUV too, but that's some time away yet.