cawimmer430

I think the body kit is too outlandish for the vastly conservative European tastes. Cars like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo or Subaru Impreza WRX STI have always done poorly here because people don't need all that power first off and second because their design is too ostentatious. I think Mitsubishi only sold something like 200 Evo's in Germany two years ago if I recall correctly. In the class in which Lexus competes, the M3, C63 AMG and S4/RS4 are all very conservatively styled. Not the case with the IS-F.

Also, even if Lexus brings it over, I think it will be a sales flop. They're better positioned in the US and many American Lexus fans seem to like the IS-F. A clear sign to offer it in North America only.

Bruce

Yep, agreed! Especially regarding the Mistubishi's and Subaru's.

Osnabrueck

Both the Evo and WRX do poorly in Europe because the Mistubishi and Subaru brands aren't well established to begin with. It has nothing to do with the merits of those cars, or the lack thereof. It's just that they don't have the market presence to sell the public on the idea of serious performance cars bearing their names.

cawimmer430

Mitsubishi is not that poorly established in Europe, Subaru is another matter.

And the idea of a "hot hatch" in the mainstream market has not really caught on much here it seems, and those interested in a car in this class with performance seem to prefer the cult VW Golf GTI and now the Polo GTI or other European offerings. The Japanese have traditionally done poorly in Europe with their performance sedans if I remember correctly. I suppose that the Evo and WRX STI are also expensive to begin with in Europe and they're just too hardcore.