2011 Lexus ct200h is the most efficient luxury hybrid Lexus offers. It pairs a combined MPG rating of 42 with advanced technology and lower CO2 emissions
Lexus has unveiled details of its new 2011 Lexus 200h hybrid compact CT, which is set to star in next week at the Geneva Motor Show 2010. Used a new entry to the Lexus 200h CT marks will go into production at the end of the year for sales worldwide, which probably means that the car will run local showrooms.
hopes its latest model will be able to attract new and younger customers to the brand, which currently suffers an average age of the largest buyer in the industry. Not surprisingly, the CT 200h is equipped with technology such as its advanced hybrid propulsion system, modern multi-touch remote control function.
Design and development took place with the European market in mind, targeting the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 clearly in the sights CT 200h. The car has retained a strong visual links to the LF-Ch concept introduced last year and a conventional five-door body with the elements of the Lexus brand.
According to Lexus, the CT 200h is built on a new platform with a dedicated double-wishbone suspension system front and rear of the rear arm. Up front is a MacPherson strut configuration and a new front anti-roll bar.
Armchair quarterbacks have been quick to charge Toyota with losing its engineering nerve, labeling it a brand content to churn out safe, middle-of-the-road milquetoast offerings for every segment in which it competes. Admittedly, this isn't the same company that once marketed a supercharged, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive minivan shaped like a suppository, nor is it the same company that sold homologated rally specials alongside its workaday iron. But to say that there are no bold spirits in Toyota City just ain't so – just look at the bonkers LFA supercar, for goodness' sake.
But you needn't have a millionaire's bankbook to see that the Japanese automaker still has cheek to spare – just check out the 2011 Lexus CT 200h. Not only is Toyota's premium marque dipping its toes into America's compact luxury market – a segment that nobody but Mini has figured out how to make big dollars on – it's doing so with a hybrid, an expensive powertrain configuration that, Prius aside, only sells in marginal volumes.
Admittedly, Lexus has made no bones about the fact that it's squarely targeting Europe with the CT (a market where hatchbacks consistently do big business and "small premium" is not an oxymoron), but make no mistake, this is a brave bet. Lexus says it's gunning for 1,000 units a month – a small number in the grand scheme of things – but it's expecting the moon when compared to competitors like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Volvo C30, which typically sell in the hundreds per month. Yet this bold bet is showing early signs of paying off. Thanks in part to heavy advanced marketing, Lexus cleared its decks of over twice that many units in March – 2,199 – the CT's first month on sale.
Toyota" and "hybrid" may go together like Starbucks and Apple, but adding a meaningful dose of driving entertainment to the gas-electric formula has proven to be elusive. Despite this, the CT aspires to a higher level of driver engagement, with the Japanese automaker's marketing efforts touting a sporty, youthful experience. In short, with the CT, Lexus is suggesting it isn't ready to throw in the organic cotton towel on performance just yet.
Looking a bit like a premiumized Mazda3, the CT is certainly more aggressive and visually appealing than Lexus' other stand-alone hybrid model, the hapless HS 250h. Combining a broad stance with an assertive lower fascia that effectively masks a long front overhang, Lexus' least costly offering (hybrid or otherwise) looks smart, with a visage livened up by LED eyeliners and a thin fillet of chrome bridging the grill. The profile is pure hatchback, with a high beltline, tapering greenhouse, attractive 17-inch alloys and a dynamic C-pillar that artfully segues into a small rear spoiler over the narrow band of rear glass. There isn't a single element here that stands out as earth-shattering design, but the whole package gels nicely into a form that is at once attractive, utile and wind-cheating, with a drag coefficient of 0.29.
From the off, the interior outs itself as a tech-rich experience, with the instrument panel in our tester topped off by an available motorized sat-nav screen and a broad center console between the seats that houses everything from the oddly sculptural chrome drive selector to the stereo controls and a rotary drive mode selector.
Everything within reach is nicely padded and grained, with fluid actions to all of the major controls. The trio of analog gauges are concise and handsomely backlit, and the leather-wrapped wheel is right-sized, although the three spokes seem annoyingly and needlessly thick. Optional leather chairs cosset and support in equal measure (convincing synthetic hides are standard), and the close-to-the-floor seating position quietly reinforces the CT's sporting intent. Rear seat ingress and egress is a bit tight, and adults won't want to ride back there forever, but it's just fine for around-town duty. As with nearly every hybrid we can think of, cargo room takes a hit thanks to the encroaching 168-cell battery pack, but it's still not bad, offering 14.3 cubic feet with the seats up.
Our tester's optional hard drive-based navigation system utilizes the same unusual Remote Touch haptic-feedback 'mouse' system that we've experienced on other Lexus vehicles like the RX and HS. While getting used to its button arrangement takes some time, it's intuitive enough to use that you won't find yourself reaching into the glove box in search of the instruction manual. It would be nice if Lexus still bundled Remote Touch with their touchscreen expertise as a supplementary way to interact with the system, but that isn't part of the program. Additionally, we'd still like to see hard buttons for the stereo presets for improved ease-of-use.
As you'd expect, there's also plenty of tech underhood, where a 98-horsepower 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder is augmented by an electric motor whirring up 80 more ponies and 152 pound-feet of torque with juice from a Ni-MH battery. Combined system output is rated at 134 horsepower, certainly an adequate sum to pull around the CT's 3,100+ pound frame, but nothing to cinch up your Pilotis over. Lexus quotes a leisurely 0-60 mph time of 9.8 seconds and a top whack of 113 mph.
Yet Lexus plainly promises a sporty driving experience with a European flair... what gives?
Back to the drive mode controller. Lexus' intent to appeal to Continental buyers is evident throughout the CT, from its footprint and body style to its driving dynamics (the brand remains a niche player, but parent Toyota has big aspirations). An integral part of Lexus' play to appeal to Europe is a sportier driving experience, and to that end, they're making a big to-do about the three-position rotary knob. Utilizing a trio of drive modes (Normal, Eco and Sport), everything from the throttle mapping to the power steering weight to the stability and traction control systems is influenced in the name of enthusiastic or parsimonious driving.
Moving from Normal to Sport mode won't actually make the CT any faster, but it does open the drivetrain's taps earlier, firms up steering effort and give a bit more leeway before the electronic nannies dig their heels in and curb your fun on a winding road. As we show you in the Short Cuts video below, the drive mode selector brings with it some well-done visual changes in the gauge cluster, and it does make it more fun to drive, with the whole experience coming off as slightly quicker than it actually is. Still, given this front-driver's athletic intentions, we're curious as to why Lexus didn't go the extra mile by fitting paddle shifters. We've experienced plenty of similar setups paired with continuously variable transmission units like that of the CT, and they add a needed dollop of driver involvement.
Eco mode, as you might expect, will only be entertaining to those who find joy in hypermiling their lawnmower and composting their own table scraps. The throttle response is just too torpid, the steering is finger-light and we didn't notice a huge improvement in fuel economy. Finally, there's a pure EV Mode button adjacent to the jog drive mode selector, and pushing it will give you around a mile of electric-only propulsion.
If there's a clear forte in the CT's portfolio, it's the well-sorted handling. Combining a conventional MacPherson strut architecture up front with a double wishbone array in the rear is a good start, and Lexus has gone a step further with unusual lateral dampers front and rear that reduce vibrations, in turn delivering improved steering feel from the quick electric rack-and-pinion setup (just 2.7 turns lock-to-lock). Lexus says the costlier damper system is more effective than using conventional shock tower braces, and they may have a point – the CT tracks faithfully and grips with a conviction not generally found with low rolling-resistance tires. Ride quality is much firmer than we've come to expect from Lexus, but not objectionably so – even on Detroit's post-apocalyptic road surfaces.
The “touring” personality of the car is introduced with the Sport mode which is calibrated towards performance and handling. In this setting, the throttle is cranked up considerably, power control from the battery is increased from 500 to 600 volts and the Lexus CT 200h’s electric power steering is adjusted to be more responsive. To liven things up a bit, the stability and traction control systems become less intrusive.
These adjustments obviously cut into fuel economy, but much of the pleasure of owning a car like this isn’t so much the extra performance it provides in all driving situations, but the knowledge that it’s there when you’re in the mood for it. At 134 horsepower, the performance is about the whole package, not raw power.
Does this new system live up to Lexus’s claim that with the Lexus CT 200h, “fun-to-drive and hybrid can be used in the same sentence.”? Motor Trend says, “Lexus quotes a 0-to-60 time identical to the Prius at 9.8 seconds. Despite the not-so-sporty times, no amount of flogging by us journalist types during the drive could get the indicated fuel economy under 34 mpg. Not bad.” The magazine also commented, “The most remarkable thing about the CT 200h is how easy it is to forget that you're driving a hybrid. Regardless of driving mode, transitions to and from electric power and gasoline power are so seamless that you simply forget they’re happening. Power is plenty adequate in most situations, but can leave you wanting when passing or climbing hills.” Wards Auto says the Lexus CT 200h is a good start in the direction of affordable green sportiness, but “needs more oomph
In its favor, the CT 200h has strong visual links to the LF-Ch concept Lexus unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Athletic styling is highlighted by a slightly raked roofline, while the eye-catching details include the character line streaming down its side and the crease above the rocker panel. In the front, sharp contour lines add extra dimension to the sculpted hood while deeply recessed fog lights give it an aggressive look. In back, the unique-to-Lexus rear-access door straddles the line between hatchback and wagon and has a small, stylish lip that runs through the middle of the liftgate. In true hybrid fashion, the CT has impressive aerodynamics with a coefficient of drag at 0.29, just behind the Prius’s 0.25.
Like the outside, the CT’s cabin also plays off the LF-Ch concept with a two-tiered dash. While the design is untypically stylish for Lexus, it is somewhat spoiled by a drive selector lever that is standard Toyota hybrid equipment and not very sporty in appearance. Switchgear is familiar Lexus offerings, meaning the tactile feel is quality and substance. Of note, when the Sport mode is selected, illumination of the instrument panel changes from blue to red and the left Eco gauge changes to a tachometer.
Motor Trend had some rather unkind words about the interior design: “The overall design of the dash is unconventional and brings to mind the cockpit of a jet airliner, but it looks as though Lexus has simply dropped in parts wherever they fit with little thought to aesthetics.”
Lexus did a credible job of carving as much space as possible in a compact car. The driver and front seat passenger will find comfortable seating positions and those in back, well, it’s a compact. The 60/40-split rear seatbacks fold forward, providing a flat cargo floor. A retractable cargo cover provides privacy in back, and there’s plenty of room behind the backseat for a week’s worth of groceries. This is the first Lexus equipped with eco-friendly faux leather that the automaker calls “NuLuxe.” Lexus claims the car is 80 percent recyclable. (Real cowhide is available as an option.)
To compete in the compact luxury class Lexus has equipped the CT with all of the desired standard features: keyless entry with touch sensors on exterior front door handles; dual-zone climate control; cruise control; steering-wheel audio controls; heated seats; Bluetooth for phone and music streaming; USB/iPod connectivity; and a six speaker audio system with a CD player. There’s a magnum load of options that can push the $29,120 starting price beyond $40,000: LED headlamps with washers; rain-sensing wipers; dynamic cruise control; backup camera; and a navigation system that uses a mouse-like controller. Surprisingly, the Mark Levinson audio system is missing from the options list.
The expected safety gear includes eight air bags, anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control and traction control.
We're introduced to the 2011 Lexus CT 200h at a press event held in Delray Beach, Florida, a town that's the less exclusive neighbor to Boca Raton, that famously moneyed Florida retirement enclave. It's a fitting location, given that the CT 200h aims to be the affordable player in the Lexus lineup. With a sub-$30,000 price (the least expensive in the Lexus family) and frugal fuel efficiency, the CT 200h stands poised to beckon fresh blood to the brand's silver-haired customer base.
Lexus executives firmly refer to the CT 200h as a five-door compact, but as we take our first look at the car in the bright Florida sun, its sheet metal tells a humbler story. This is a hatchback, no two ways about it, a car meant to occupy the space in your imagination between a Mazda 3 five-door and an Audi A4 Avant.
It's also a hybrid, the fifth in the Lexus family, with the same powertrain as the Toyota Prius. As we'd expected, this translates into fuel economy that's the best in the premium compact segment, but what we didn't expect is how much fun the CT 200h is to drive. Though it's no overachiever in straight-line acceleration, this Lexus feels tightly buttoned up, with sharp, responsive steering. Hybrids aren't usually this entertaining, least of all those that share parts with a Prius.
Thin but diverse, the herd of premium compacts includes the lively BMW 1 Series, the handsome Volvo C30 and the luxurious, eco-minded Audi A3 TDI. Less pricey than most of its rivals and more frugal at the pump than all, the Lexus CT 200h distinguishes itself as a value-oriented luxury car that just happens to be a hybrid.
A 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a pair of electric motors combine to give the Lexus CT 200h some 134 horsepower, while an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) works as ringleader. In Edmunds testing, the CT 200h jogs from a standstill to 60 mph in a torpid 10.4 seconds on the way to a pass through the quarter-mile in 17.6 seconds at 78.8 mph, but don't let this discourage you, since in real-world driving, the CT feels reasonably well-powered and responsive in most situations. It comes to a stop from 60 mph in 120 feet, a reasonable effort considering its less-than-sticky, low-rolling-resistance tires.
If the car feels lighter on its feet than any other Lexus, it's because it is. Lexus engineers kept its heft down to a modest 3,130 pounds, making it both the trimmest model in the automaker's fleet and the trimmest model in its segment.
We exploit the CT's playfulness by putting it in "Sport" mode and the drive mode knob indicates our choice by lighting up in bold crimson. Throttle response instantly becomes more aggressive and steering sharpens, since this mode modifies their settings for quicker response each time the driver taps the gas pedal or turns the wheel. Sport mode also dials back the car's stability and traction control systems, allowing us more direct control of the Lexus.
Switching to "Eco" mode turns the illumination on the drive mode knob a soothing shade of blue (though wouldn't green be more appropriate?). This mode promises optimum fuel efficiency and low emissions, and it gives the CT a more serious-minded personality. To discourage the sort of aggressive inputs that hurt fuel economy, throttle feel becomes numb, like a moist sponge. Its muddy handling here reminds us that, yes, this hatch is a blood relative to the Prius.
As our speed slows in anticipation of a red light, we press the "EV" button, switching the CT to all-electric mode. Available only with gentle throttle inputs, an adequately charged battery and at speeds of less than 28 mph, this mode allows the vehicle to travel solely on electric power for up to a mile, delivering silent, emissions-free cruising.
The light turns green and we crawl in EV mode for a while longer, until honks from the queue of motorists behind us force us to pick up the pace. We switch to "Normal" mode. More engaging than Eco and more frugal than Sport, this setting offers a balance that will likely make it the mode of choice for most drivers. For our tastes, though, while both Eco and Normal modes are fine on surface streets, they leave the CT feeling sluggish when faced with quick-moving highway traffic.
Though the CT shares a drivetrain with the Prius, it's slightly less fuel-efficient, largely due to the fact that the Prius is lighter on the scale and shod with tires that offer less rolling resistance. Still, the CT is frugal enough to be tops in its circle of competitors. Lexus estimates its mileage at 43 mpg city/40 mpg highway and 42 mpg combined, making its combined mileage 8 mpg better than that of its closest rival.
Comfort
Although the CT 200h's suspension features the usual MacPherson struts in front and a fully independent, double-wishbone suspension in back, this is the first Lexus to offer a lateral performance damper system. It's a unique design meant to reduce body vibrations and promote a more comfortable ride, and this technology helps give the car a well-planted feeling that's more German than Japanese. Those expecting traditional luxury-car plushness might find ride quality somewhat firm, though, and things can get downright harsh and brittle in Sport mode.
We find the front seats comfortable and nicely padded, but some might find them a little low-slung. To give the car's cabin a sporty feel, Lexus designed the seats with a low hip point, which means that ingress and egress require a little more effort than you might expect from a vehicle that isn't a purpose-built performance car. Even the steering column is set at a low angle (21 degrees), though it can be customized via tilting and telescoping.
The CT's cabin remains mostly tranquil as we hustle from one road to the next. However, the inline-4 can sound ragged when pushed and its wail occasionally creeps into the cabin.
We like the placement of the CT 200h's shift lever, as it sits high on the graceful slope of the driver-angled center stack in a perch that allows us to manipulate it with minimum effort. There's not much room for in-cabin storage, though, since the glovebox, door bins and center bin are all too small to shoulder any meaningful burden.
The relatively straightforward navigation system is governed by Lexus' Remote Touch controller, which is essentially a mouse that sits on the driver side of the center console. Its placement is indicative of the thoughtful ergonomics found throughout the cabin; there's almost zero exertion required to grasp it, given that it rests mere millimeters away from where the driver's hand naturally falls on his thigh.
We're surprised to find that with the front seat adjusted for a driver roughly 6 feet tall, there's enough room in the cramped-looking rear seat for a passenger of similar height. The CT 200h is able to pull off this magic trick due to its cleverly constructed front seatbacks, which feature recessed hollows that eke out additional knee room for those seated in the second row.
Luggage capacity is 14.3 cubic feet, which is more than you'll find in the 1 Series but less than that of the A3 and C30. Rear visibility is passable but not great, given that the car's C-pillar is substantial and sizable rear-seat headrests obstruct the view.
The CT 200h's low stance and fastback silhouette give it an appealingly sporty look, but its sheet metal calls to mind more economical hatchbacks, which could be a turn-off for the most premium-minded buyers.
Within the cabin, soft-touch surfaces quilt the most heavily trafficked contact points. Leather upholstery is available but our test car is lined with a synthetic imitation that's 50 percent lighter and a perfectly acceptable substitute. The look of the cabin is modern and upscale, save for the radio's dated-looking panel layout and display screen
The ‘h’ in CT200h, of course, stands for ‘hybrid.’ There will be no gasoline-only version of the car; it will only be available with a gasoline-electric system, mating up a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a "powerful" electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. A continuously variable transmission shunts the power to the front wheels.
The individual outputs of the electric and gas portions as well as the combined system output remain unspecified, but the presence of the 1.8-liter has us a bit worried. That's the size of the four-cylinder in the Prius, which makes 98 hp and contributes to a total system output of 134 hp. The CT200h is going to have to produce more ponies than that in order to deliver the promised "dynamic driving experience," as well as provide a credible challenge to the CT's competition, including the Audi A3 and BMW 1-series. So we hope for something at least near the 187 hp churned out by the North American HS250h sedan, in which a 147-hp, 2.4-liter engine is mated with a 105-kW (141-hp) electric motor.
Lexus says the CT200h was "designed with the European market in mind," a statement backed up by the five-door layout. There are four driver-selectable driving modes available in the CT200h: Normal, Eco, EV, and Sport. In Normal mode, the car can operate on battery-only power up to speeds of 28 mph, while EV mode forces the car to rely only on battery power for 1.2-mile stretches. Switching the car to Eco dulls throttle response and optimizes the climate-control system to save more fuel, while Sport mode tightens up the steering, ups throttle aggressiveness, and lowers the stability-control threshold.
The interior is lined with the usual leather upholstery and metallic accents, and an eight-inch LCD screen will display infotainment functions. Lexus's computer-mouse-style Remote Touch controller lives on the center console. The CT is 170.1 inches long, 69.5 inches wide, and 56.3 inches tall, and there are 102.4 inches between the axles. For comparison, a Prius is 5.5 inches longer, 0.8 inch narrower, and 2.4 inches taller, while riding on a 3.9-inch-longer wheelbase.
Lexus is touting the CT200h as the “first full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment,” but that statement only applies to Europe, which doesn’t get the HS250h or its Toyota Sai sibling. The CT200h goes on sale this fall elsewhere throughout the world, and will show up in the U.S. in early 2011 with a price tag starting around $27K.
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
2011 Lexus ct200h
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
Hatchback featuring reviews of its performance, comfort, function, design and build quality 2011 Lexus ct200h
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
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| 2011 Lexus ct200h |
Lexus has unveiled details of its new 2011 Lexus 200h hybrid compact CT, which is set to star in next week at the Geneva Motor Show 2010. Used a new entry to the Lexus 200h CT marks will go into production at the end of the year for sales worldwide, which probably means that the car will run local showrooms.
hopes its latest model will be able to attract new and younger customers to the brand, which currently suffers an average age of the largest buyer in the industry. Not surprisingly, the CT 200h is equipped with technology such as its advanced hybrid propulsion system, modern multi-touch remote control function.
Design and development took place with the European market in mind, targeting the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 clearly in the sights CT 200h. The car has retained a strong visual links to the LF-Ch concept introduced last year and a conventional five-door body with the elements of the Lexus brand.
According to Lexus, the CT 200h is built on a new platform with a dedicated double-wishbone suspension system front and rear of the rear arm. Up front is a MacPherson strut configuration and a new front anti-roll bar.
Armchair quarterbacks have been quick to charge Toyota with losing its engineering nerve, labeling it a brand content to churn out safe, middle-of-the-road milquetoast offerings for every segment in which it competes. Admittedly, this isn't the same company that once marketed a supercharged, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive minivan shaped like a suppository, nor is it the same company that sold homologated rally specials alongside its workaday iron. But to say that there are no bold spirits in Toyota City just ain't so – just look at the bonkers LFA supercar, for goodness' sake.
But you needn't have a millionaire's bankbook to see that the Japanese automaker still has cheek to spare – just check out the 2011 Lexus CT 200h. Not only is Toyota's premium marque dipping its toes into America's compact luxury market – a segment that nobody but Mini has figured out how to make big dollars on – it's doing so with a hybrid, an expensive powertrain configuration that, Prius aside, only sells in marginal volumes.
Admittedly, Lexus has made no bones about the fact that it's squarely targeting Europe with the CT (a market where hatchbacks consistently do big business and "small premium" is not an oxymoron), but make no mistake, this is a brave bet. Lexus says it's gunning for 1,000 units a month – a small number in the grand scheme of things – but it's expecting the moon when compared to competitors like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Volvo C30, which typically sell in the hundreds per month. Yet this bold bet is showing early signs of paying off. Thanks in part to heavy advanced marketing, Lexus cleared its decks of over twice that many units in March – 2,199 – the CT's first month on sale.
Toyota" and "hybrid" may go together like Starbucks and Apple, but adding a meaningful dose of driving entertainment to the gas-electric formula has proven to be elusive. Despite this, the CT aspires to a higher level of driver engagement, with the Japanese automaker's marketing efforts touting a sporty, youthful experience. In short, with the CT, Lexus is suggesting it isn't ready to throw in the organic cotton towel on performance just yet.
Looking a bit like a premiumized Mazda3, the CT is certainly more aggressive and visually appealing than Lexus' other stand-alone hybrid model, the hapless HS 250h. Combining a broad stance with an assertive lower fascia that effectively masks a long front overhang, Lexus' least costly offering (hybrid or otherwise) looks smart, with a visage livened up by LED eyeliners and a thin fillet of chrome bridging the grill. The profile is pure hatchback, with a high beltline, tapering greenhouse, attractive 17-inch alloys and a dynamic C-pillar that artfully segues into a small rear spoiler over the narrow band of rear glass. There isn't a single element here that stands out as earth-shattering design, but the whole package gels nicely into a form that is at once attractive, utile and wind-cheating, with a drag coefficient of 0.29.
From the off, the interior outs itself as a tech-rich experience, with the instrument panel in our tester topped off by an available motorized sat-nav screen and a broad center console between the seats that houses everything from the oddly sculptural chrome drive selector to the stereo controls and a rotary drive mode selector.
Everything within reach is nicely padded and grained, with fluid actions to all of the major controls. The trio of analog gauges are concise and handsomely backlit, and the leather-wrapped wheel is right-sized, although the three spokes seem annoyingly and needlessly thick. Optional leather chairs cosset and support in equal measure (convincing synthetic hides are standard), and the close-to-the-floor seating position quietly reinforces the CT's sporting intent. Rear seat ingress and egress is a bit tight, and adults won't want to ride back there forever, but it's just fine for around-town duty. As with nearly every hybrid we can think of, cargo room takes a hit thanks to the encroaching 168-cell battery pack, but it's still not bad, offering 14.3 cubic feet with the seats up.
Our tester's optional hard drive-based navigation system utilizes the same unusual Remote Touch haptic-feedback 'mouse' system that we've experienced on other Lexus vehicles like the RX and HS. While getting used to its button arrangement takes some time, it's intuitive enough to use that you won't find yourself reaching into the glove box in search of the instruction manual. It would be nice if Lexus still bundled Remote Touch with their touchscreen expertise as a supplementary way to interact with the system, but that isn't part of the program. Additionally, we'd still like to see hard buttons for the stereo presets for improved ease-of-use.
As you'd expect, there's also plenty of tech underhood, where a 98-horsepower 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder is augmented by an electric motor whirring up 80 more ponies and 152 pound-feet of torque with juice from a Ni-MH battery. Combined system output is rated at 134 horsepower, certainly an adequate sum to pull around the CT's 3,100+ pound frame, but nothing to cinch up your Pilotis over. Lexus quotes a leisurely 0-60 mph time of 9.8 seconds and a top whack of 113 mph.
Yet Lexus plainly promises a sporty driving experience with a European flair... what gives?
Back to the drive mode controller. Lexus' intent to appeal to Continental buyers is evident throughout the CT, from its footprint and body style to its driving dynamics (the brand remains a niche player, but parent Toyota has big aspirations). An integral part of Lexus' play to appeal to Europe is a sportier driving experience, and to that end, they're making a big to-do about the three-position rotary knob. Utilizing a trio of drive modes (Normal, Eco and Sport), everything from the throttle mapping to the power steering weight to the stability and traction control systems is influenced in the name of enthusiastic or parsimonious driving.
Moving from Normal to Sport mode won't actually make the CT any faster, but it does open the drivetrain's taps earlier, firms up steering effort and give a bit more leeway before the electronic nannies dig their heels in and curb your fun on a winding road. As we show you in the Short Cuts video below, the drive mode selector brings with it some well-done visual changes in the gauge cluster, and it does make it more fun to drive, with the whole experience coming off as slightly quicker than it actually is. Still, given this front-driver's athletic intentions, we're curious as to why Lexus didn't go the extra mile by fitting paddle shifters. We've experienced plenty of similar setups paired with continuously variable transmission units like that of the CT, and they add a needed dollop of driver involvement.
Eco mode, as you might expect, will only be entertaining to those who find joy in hypermiling their lawnmower and composting their own table scraps. The throttle response is just too torpid, the steering is finger-light and we didn't notice a huge improvement in fuel economy. Finally, there's a pure EV Mode button adjacent to the jog drive mode selector, and pushing it will give you around a mile of electric-only propulsion.
If there's a clear forte in the CT's portfolio, it's the well-sorted handling. Combining a conventional MacPherson strut architecture up front with a double wishbone array in the rear is a good start, and Lexus has gone a step further with unusual lateral dampers front and rear that reduce vibrations, in turn delivering improved steering feel from the quick electric rack-and-pinion setup (just 2.7 turns lock-to-lock). Lexus says the costlier damper system is more effective than using conventional shock tower braces, and they may have a point – the CT tracks faithfully and grips with a conviction not generally found with low rolling-resistance tires. Ride quality is much firmer than we've come to expect from Lexus, but not objectionably so – even on Detroit's post-apocalyptic road surfaces.
The “touring” personality of the car is introduced with the Sport mode which is calibrated towards performance and handling. In this setting, the throttle is cranked up considerably, power control from the battery is increased from 500 to 600 volts and the Lexus CT 200h’s electric power steering is adjusted to be more responsive. To liven things up a bit, the stability and traction control systems become less intrusive.
These adjustments obviously cut into fuel economy, but much of the pleasure of owning a car like this isn’t so much the extra performance it provides in all driving situations, but the knowledge that it’s there when you’re in the mood for it. At 134 horsepower, the performance is about the whole package, not raw power.
Does this new system live up to Lexus’s claim that with the Lexus CT 200h, “fun-to-drive and hybrid can be used in the same sentence.”? Motor Trend says, “Lexus quotes a 0-to-60 time identical to the Prius at 9.8 seconds. Despite the not-so-sporty times, no amount of flogging by us journalist types during the drive could get the indicated fuel economy under 34 mpg. Not bad.” The magazine also commented, “The most remarkable thing about the CT 200h is how easy it is to forget that you're driving a hybrid. Regardless of driving mode, transitions to and from electric power and gasoline power are so seamless that you simply forget they’re happening. Power is plenty adequate in most situations, but can leave you wanting when passing or climbing hills.” Wards Auto says the Lexus CT 200h is a good start in the direction of affordable green sportiness, but “needs more oomph
In its favor, the CT 200h has strong visual links to the LF-Ch concept Lexus unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Athletic styling is highlighted by a slightly raked roofline, while the eye-catching details include the character line streaming down its side and the crease above the rocker panel. In the front, sharp contour lines add extra dimension to the sculpted hood while deeply recessed fog lights give it an aggressive look. In back, the unique-to-Lexus rear-access door straddles the line between hatchback and wagon and has a small, stylish lip that runs through the middle of the liftgate. In true hybrid fashion, the CT has impressive aerodynamics with a coefficient of drag at 0.29, just behind the Prius’s 0.25.
Like the outside, the CT’s cabin also plays off the LF-Ch concept with a two-tiered dash. While the design is untypically stylish for Lexus, it is somewhat spoiled by a drive selector lever that is standard Toyota hybrid equipment and not very sporty in appearance. Switchgear is familiar Lexus offerings, meaning the tactile feel is quality and substance. Of note, when the Sport mode is selected, illumination of the instrument panel changes from blue to red and the left Eco gauge changes to a tachometer.
Motor Trend had some rather unkind words about the interior design: “The overall design of the dash is unconventional and brings to mind the cockpit of a jet airliner, but it looks as though Lexus has simply dropped in parts wherever they fit with little thought to aesthetics.”
Lexus did a credible job of carving as much space as possible in a compact car. The driver and front seat passenger will find comfortable seating positions and those in back, well, it’s a compact. The 60/40-split rear seatbacks fold forward, providing a flat cargo floor. A retractable cargo cover provides privacy in back, and there’s plenty of room behind the backseat for a week’s worth of groceries. This is the first Lexus equipped with eco-friendly faux leather that the automaker calls “NuLuxe.” Lexus claims the car is 80 percent recyclable. (Real cowhide is available as an option.)
To compete in the compact luxury class Lexus has equipped the CT with all of the desired standard features: keyless entry with touch sensors on exterior front door handles; dual-zone climate control; cruise control; steering-wheel audio controls; heated seats; Bluetooth for phone and music streaming; USB/iPod connectivity; and a six speaker audio system with a CD player. There’s a magnum load of options that can push the $29,120 starting price beyond $40,000: LED headlamps with washers; rain-sensing wipers; dynamic cruise control; backup camera; and a navigation system that uses a mouse-like controller. Surprisingly, the Mark Levinson audio system is missing from the options list.
The expected safety gear includes eight air bags, anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control and traction control.
We're introduced to the 2011 Lexus CT 200h at a press event held in Delray Beach, Florida, a town that's the less exclusive neighbor to Boca Raton, that famously moneyed Florida retirement enclave. It's a fitting location, given that the CT 200h aims to be the affordable player in the Lexus lineup. With a sub-$30,000 price (the least expensive in the Lexus family) and frugal fuel efficiency, the CT 200h stands poised to beckon fresh blood to the brand's silver-haired customer base.
Lexus executives firmly refer to the CT 200h as a five-door compact, but as we take our first look at the car in the bright Florida sun, its sheet metal tells a humbler story. This is a hatchback, no two ways about it, a car meant to occupy the space in your imagination between a Mazda 3 five-door and an Audi A4 Avant.
It's also a hybrid, the fifth in the Lexus family, with the same powertrain as the Toyota Prius. As we'd expected, this translates into fuel economy that's the best in the premium compact segment, but what we didn't expect is how much fun the CT 200h is to drive. Though it's no overachiever in straight-line acceleration, this Lexus feels tightly buttoned up, with sharp, responsive steering. Hybrids aren't usually this entertaining, least of all those that share parts with a Prius.
Thin but diverse, the herd of premium compacts includes the lively BMW 1 Series, the handsome Volvo C30 and the luxurious, eco-minded Audi A3 TDI. Less pricey than most of its rivals and more frugal at the pump than all, the Lexus CT 200h distinguishes itself as a value-oriented luxury car that just happens to be a hybrid.
A 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a pair of electric motors combine to give the Lexus CT 200h some 134 horsepower, while an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) works as ringleader. In Edmunds testing, the CT 200h jogs from a standstill to 60 mph in a torpid 10.4 seconds on the way to a pass through the quarter-mile in 17.6 seconds at 78.8 mph, but don't let this discourage you, since in real-world driving, the CT feels reasonably well-powered and responsive in most situations. It comes to a stop from 60 mph in 120 feet, a reasonable effort considering its less-than-sticky, low-rolling-resistance tires.
If the car feels lighter on its feet than any other Lexus, it's because it is. Lexus engineers kept its heft down to a modest 3,130 pounds, making it both the trimmest model in the automaker's fleet and the trimmest model in its segment.
We exploit the CT's playfulness by putting it in "Sport" mode and the drive mode knob indicates our choice by lighting up in bold crimson. Throttle response instantly becomes more aggressive and steering sharpens, since this mode modifies their settings for quicker response each time the driver taps the gas pedal or turns the wheel. Sport mode also dials back the car's stability and traction control systems, allowing us more direct control of the Lexus.
Switching to "Eco" mode turns the illumination on the drive mode knob a soothing shade of blue (though wouldn't green be more appropriate?). This mode promises optimum fuel efficiency and low emissions, and it gives the CT a more serious-minded personality. To discourage the sort of aggressive inputs that hurt fuel economy, throttle feel becomes numb, like a moist sponge. Its muddy handling here reminds us that, yes, this hatch is a blood relative to the Prius.
As our speed slows in anticipation of a red light, we press the "EV" button, switching the CT to all-electric mode. Available only with gentle throttle inputs, an adequately charged battery and at speeds of less than 28 mph, this mode allows the vehicle to travel solely on electric power for up to a mile, delivering silent, emissions-free cruising.
The light turns green and we crawl in EV mode for a while longer, until honks from the queue of motorists behind us force us to pick up the pace. We switch to "Normal" mode. More engaging than Eco and more frugal than Sport, this setting offers a balance that will likely make it the mode of choice for most drivers. For our tastes, though, while both Eco and Normal modes are fine on surface streets, they leave the CT feeling sluggish when faced with quick-moving highway traffic.
Though the CT shares a drivetrain with the Prius, it's slightly less fuel-efficient, largely due to the fact that the Prius is lighter on the scale and shod with tires that offer less rolling resistance. Still, the CT is frugal enough to be tops in its circle of competitors. Lexus estimates its mileage at 43 mpg city/40 mpg highway and 42 mpg combined, making its combined mileage 8 mpg better than that of its closest rival.
Comfort
Although the CT 200h's suspension features the usual MacPherson struts in front and a fully independent, double-wishbone suspension in back, this is the first Lexus to offer a lateral performance damper system. It's a unique design meant to reduce body vibrations and promote a more comfortable ride, and this technology helps give the car a well-planted feeling that's more German than Japanese. Those expecting traditional luxury-car plushness might find ride quality somewhat firm, though, and things can get downright harsh and brittle in Sport mode.
We find the front seats comfortable and nicely padded, but some might find them a little low-slung. To give the car's cabin a sporty feel, Lexus designed the seats with a low hip point, which means that ingress and egress require a little more effort than you might expect from a vehicle that isn't a purpose-built performance car. Even the steering column is set at a low angle (21 degrees), though it can be customized via tilting and telescoping.
The CT's cabin remains mostly tranquil as we hustle from one road to the next. However, the inline-4 can sound ragged when pushed and its wail occasionally creeps into the cabin.
We like the placement of the CT 200h's shift lever, as it sits high on the graceful slope of the driver-angled center stack in a perch that allows us to manipulate it with minimum effort. There's not much room for in-cabin storage, though, since the glovebox, door bins and center bin are all too small to shoulder any meaningful burden.
The relatively straightforward navigation system is governed by Lexus' Remote Touch controller, which is essentially a mouse that sits on the driver side of the center console. Its placement is indicative of the thoughtful ergonomics found throughout the cabin; there's almost zero exertion required to grasp it, given that it rests mere millimeters away from where the driver's hand naturally falls on his thigh.
We're surprised to find that with the front seat adjusted for a driver roughly 6 feet tall, there's enough room in the cramped-looking rear seat for a passenger of similar height. The CT 200h is able to pull off this magic trick due to its cleverly constructed front seatbacks, which feature recessed hollows that eke out additional knee room for those seated in the second row.
Luggage capacity is 14.3 cubic feet, which is more than you'll find in the 1 Series but less than that of the A3 and C30. Rear visibility is passable but not great, given that the car's C-pillar is substantial and sizable rear-seat headrests obstruct the view.
The CT 200h's low stance and fastback silhouette give it an appealingly sporty look, but its sheet metal calls to mind more economical hatchbacks, which could be a turn-off for the most premium-minded buyers.
Within the cabin, soft-touch surfaces quilt the most heavily trafficked contact points. Leather upholstery is available but our test car is lined with a synthetic imitation that's 50 percent lighter and a perfectly acceptable substitute. The look of the cabin is modern and upscale, save for the radio's dated-looking panel layout and display screen
The ‘h’ in CT200h, of course, stands for ‘hybrid.’ There will be no gasoline-only version of the car; it will only be available with a gasoline-electric system, mating up a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a "powerful" electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. A continuously variable transmission shunts the power to the front wheels.
The individual outputs of the electric and gas portions as well as the combined system output remain unspecified, but the presence of the 1.8-liter has us a bit worried. That's the size of the four-cylinder in the Prius, which makes 98 hp and contributes to a total system output of 134 hp. The CT200h is going to have to produce more ponies than that in order to deliver the promised "dynamic driving experience," as well as provide a credible challenge to the CT's competition, including the Audi A3 and BMW 1-series. So we hope for something at least near the 187 hp churned out by the North American HS250h sedan, in which a 147-hp, 2.4-liter engine is mated with a 105-kW (141-hp) electric motor.
Lexus says the CT200h was "designed with the European market in mind," a statement backed up by the five-door layout. There are four driver-selectable driving modes available in the CT200h: Normal, Eco, EV, and Sport. In Normal mode, the car can operate on battery-only power up to speeds of 28 mph, while EV mode forces the car to rely only on battery power for 1.2-mile stretches. Switching the car to Eco dulls throttle response and optimizes the climate-control system to save more fuel, while Sport mode tightens up the steering, ups throttle aggressiveness, and lowers the stability-control threshold.
The interior is lined with the usual leather upholstery and metallic accents, and an eight-inch LCD screen will display infotainment functions. Lexus's computer-mouse-style Remote Touch controller lives on the center console. The CT is 170.1 inches long, 69.5 inches wide, and 56.3 inches tall, and there are 102.4 inches between the axles. For comparison, a Prius is 5.5 inches longer, 0.8 inch narrower, and 2.4 inches taller, while riding on a 3.9-inch-longer wheelbase.
Lexus is touting the CT200h as the “first full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment,” but that statement only applies to Europe, which doesn’t get the HS250h or its Toyota Sai sibling. The CT200h goes on sale this fall elsewhere throughout the world, and will show up in the U.S. in early 2011 with a price tag starting around $27K.
2011 Lexus ct200h
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