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The new Lexus CT 200h is the
first full hybrid vehicle to be
launched in the premium compact
segment. Entering production in
late 2010 and set for sale
worldwide, the full hybrid model
will provide a new gateway to
the Lexus range and attract new,
younger customers to the brand.
The CT 200h was designed and
developed with the European
market in mind. 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. At the
same time, it does not
compromise the quality,
refinement and driving pleasure
that are the hallmarks of every
Lexus.
Exterior and interior design
The production-ready CT 200h
retains strong visual links to
the LF-Ch concept Lexus unveiled
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 exterior is styled for
maximum aerodynamic efficiency
and minimum wind noise. The
strong front grille, directly
referencing the LF-Ch concept
sits over a full-width bumper
and air dam. The headlamp units,
positioned higher than the
grille (a signature feature of
L-finesse design), incorporate
LED daytime running lights.
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 litres, increasing to 700
litres with the rear seats
lowered.
Lexus Hybrid Drive
The Lexus Hybrid Drive system in
the CT 200h combines a 1.8-litre
VVT-i petrol engine with a
powerful electric motor. Drivers
have the choice of four
selectable drive modes: ECO and
NORMAL 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. |
