Lexus CT concept news - Lexus's 1-Series sketched out - 2009

We have, on rare occasion, been known to moan about cryptic ‘teaser sketches’ and their ilk.

When they look like bird-irons, we feel our whinging is justified. When, however, they look like this – the Lexus CT concept set to debut at the Frankfurt motorshow – we’ll happily swallow our pride and admit we’re a bit excited.

The CT concept previews Lexus’s upcoming BMW 1-Series rival, a small hatch set to slot below the IS in the luxury brand’s line-up.

At this stage, details remain, er, sketchy, but it is rumoured the CT – if indeed that name carries over to the production car – will, despite its diminutive size, gain the option of a hybrid drivetrain and other green technologies.

What can we tell from the sketch? Not a whole heap, in truth, as the journey from notepaper to forecourt is notoriously rocky. That front end seems to be inspired by the IS-F, while those slabby sides indicate the CT could have similar proportions to the 1-Series hatch.

We’d expect to see the CT concept in the metal (or whatever it is they use to make show concepts – plasticine?) in Frankfurt next month. Stay tuned for more news, folks.