Or at least that’s what we thought at the time. This year saw Lexus unveil the LFA, a limited-edition V10 midengine racer. Talk about uncharted waters. What’s more, the company plans to spread its performance momentum to the rest of its fleet, starting with the upcoming hybrid CT 200h. From what we’ve heard, Lexus is aiming to position the little hatchback against the likes of both the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 -- two models that prize driving dynamics above all else.

Lexus has made it clear that it intends to infuse each of its models with a new sense of responsiveness, but doing so puts the company into the same pen as German automakers that have long been established as the front-runners in the performance luxury game. If the Toyota luxury annex is looking for a way to distinguish itself from Infiniti and Acura, we’re not entirely sure that this is the best way to do it.

If the company intends to lock horns with the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4, it’s going to need to not only be able match track times, but beat those staples of German engineering on the price front, as well. Otherwise, you can expect to see Lexus rack up a new collection of bronze medals in comparison tests in a hurry.