The CT 200h is the announcement of Lexus, entering the premium hatchback family car market. The CT 200h will compete directly against the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3. What Lexus is offering in the CT 200h is what its competitors do not have and that is a full hybrid car.
The Lexus CT 200h will be powered by a 1.8L WT-i engine that should deliver more horsepower than the 1.8L on the Toyota Prius. The exterior styling of the CT 200h shows the distinctive styling of the Lexus L-finesse design philosophy. Its distinctive sharp-edged look sets it in its own class. The raked back windscreen, flowing roofline with the front and rear corners of the body pulled back in and the wings have all been styled to make the car as smooth as possible. The front grille sits on the top of a full length bumper and air dam. The headlamp units are positioned over the grille and have LED daytime running lights.
Step to the rear and the roof overhangs the wraparound rear window to create a seamless integrated spoiler. The L-shaped taillights were first introduced by Lexus in the LS models.
The interior is of superior quality as you would expect from luxury car makers. The dashboard is split into two zones; the upper zone is the Display Zone and has an eight inch monitor. The lower zone is the operational zone and has the shift lever and the Lexus remote touch multi-function controller.
The interior is quite roomy, thanks to its long wheel base, and five adults can ride comfortably in it. The interior will have minimum external noise interference and dual zone climate control. The boot is also quite spacious and, with the rear seats folded, becomes cavernous. The CT 200h has been designed for the European market and Lexus knows that Europeans like cars with plenty of unobstructed boot space.
The driver is set low as the driver has four drive modes to select from. The different driving modes are; EV, ECO, NORMAL and SPORTS. In EV mode, the CT 200h will run on electric power only and can be driven for 1.2 miles at 28 mph. In Sports mode, the ambience of the cabin changes with the instruments light up, changing to red from blue.
The suspension system has been specially designed, and the car should offer a very smooth and comfortable ride on all road surfaces. Minimizing external noise, offering a luxurious interior and a smooth ride have been the hallmark of Lexus cars, and the CT 200h will not be any different.
The CT 200h is expected to go for sale in late 2010 all around the world, as a 2011 model. It promises to deliver class-leading fuel consumption and tax-saving emissions. It will only be available as a five door hatchback. Lexus expects to lure younger customers, who are looking for an affordable luxury car. That is one of the main reasons for offering a sports drive mode in the CT 200h.
