The New Lexus CT 200h

The new Lexus CT 200h is the first full hybrid vehicle to be launched in the premium compact segment and will rival the BMW1-series and Audi A3 in Europe when it arrives in showrooms early next year.

The Lexus CT 200h was designed and developed with the European market. Lexus’s first five-door compact car, its size, packaging, full hybrid technology and low emissions fully address the requirements of discerning, environment-conscious customers in a key market sector.

The production-ready CT 200h hybrid retains strong visual links to the LF-Ch concept Lexusunveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. Its styling marks a powerful evolution of Lexus’s L-finesse design philosophy with a distinctive, sharp-edged look that sets it apart from its premium compact rivals.

The hybrid drive system in the Lexus CT 200h combines a 1.8-liter VVT-i petrol engine with a powerful electric motor. Drivers have the choice of four selectable drive modes: ECO andNORMAL place the emphasis on efficiency and comfort, while SPORT focuses on dynamic performance.

Unlike mild hybrid systems used by other manufacturers, the CT 200h also has an EV (electric vehicle) mode that allows for ultra-quiet running on the electric motor alone, resulting in zero fuel consumption and CO2, NOx and particulate emissions. The car is capable of running in EV mode for up to 1.2 miles at speeds up to 28mph.

The CT 200h is built on a new platform with a dedicated double wishbone and trailing arm rear suspension system. It has been developed specifically to combine the ride comfort expected of a Lexus with superior driving involvement and handling agility.

Several elements in the MacPherson strut design have been exclusively developed for the mode, including the coil springs and shock absorbers, and a new front anti-roll bar has been designed to deliver improved roll rigidity.

The double wishbone rear suspension is exclusive to the CT 200h and incorporates a lightweight trailing arm. The springs and shocks are positioned separately to minimize intrusion into the loadspace floor.

In profile, the steeply raked windscreen, long, flowing roofline and Lexus slingshot window graphic combine to create an elegant and distinctive silhouette. The front and rear corners have been pulled in tight and the wings are styled to improve airflow down the sides of the vehicle.

At the rear, the trailing edge of the roof overhangs a wide, wraparound rear window to create a seamless, integrated spoiler.

A pronounced step in the tailgate section flows from the shoulders of the rear wheelarches and is anchored by a tail lamp design that displays the L-shaped motif that Lexus first introduced on the current LS model.

The interior combines superior ergonomics with extensive use of metallic finishes and dark, soft-touch surfaces.

Lexus has retained the asymmetrical dashboard design seen in the LF-Ch show car. Based on the Future Lexus Interior concept, the dashboard is split into an upper Display Zone, with an eight-inch LCD multi-display screen; and a lower Operation Zone, with the shift lever and other controls such as Lexus’s Remote Touch multi-function controller.

In keeping with the car’s performance, the driving position is set low, with a highly supportive driver’s seat. The instrument binnacle houses large, twin dials; in SPORT mode, the hybrid indicator in the binnacle functions as a tachometer and the ambient lighting turns from blue to red. The two-mode switch ring and a spotlight in the centre cluster also light up in red, changing the whole atmosphere of the cabin.

In spite of its compact, efficient design, the CT 200h offers a roomy interior. The 2,600mm wheelbase allows for front and rear passenger accommodation that is among the most spacious in the segment. Luggage capacity is 345 liters, increasing to 700 liters with the rear seats lowered.

Lexus CT 200h technical specifications

LEXUS HYBRID DRIVE
ENGINE
Number of cylinders	4, in-line
Displacement (cc)	1,800
MOTOR GENERATOR
Motor type	Permanent magnet synchronous motor
HIGH-VOLTAGEBATTERY
Battery type	Nickel-metal hydride (NiMh)
TRANSMISSION
Type	Front-wheel drive
Gearbox type	Electrically controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT)
SUSPENSION
Front	MacPherson strut with anti-roll bar, coil springs and shock absorbers
Rear	Double wishbone with coil springs and shock absorbers
STEERING
Type	Electric power-assisted rack and pinion
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Overall length (mm)	4,320
Overall width (mm)	1,765
Overall height (mm)	1,430
Wheelbase (mm)	2,600
Front track (mm)	1,525
Rear track (mm)	1,525
Front overhang (mm)	915
Rear overhang (mm)	805
WHEELS
Type/size	Alloy, 17in
LUGGAGE CAPACITY
Rear seat up (l, VDA)	345
Rear seat down (l, VDA)	700