Lexus CT 200h set for 2011 release
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28th February, 2010
- Lexus’s first premium compact model
- Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain with 1.8 litre VVT-i petrol engine and powerful but compact electric motor
- Full hybrid system with selectable EV mode for emissions-free electric running
- Further selectable ECO, NORMAL and SPORT driving modes
- ECVT intelligent electronic continuously variable transmission
- Significantly lower NOx emissions than equivalent diesel engines and almost no particulates
- Long, 2,600 mm wheelbase ensures excellent accommodation for everyone on board
- Debut at Geneva Motor Show (Switzerland) prior to worldwide sales launch in late 2010
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 Lexus 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 Lexus CT 200h retains strong visual links to the LF-Ch concept Lexus unveiled at the 2009
Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany. 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 provide an elegant and distinctive silhouette. The front and rear corners have been pulled in tight and the
guards 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 provide a seamless,
integrated spoiler. A pronounced step in the tailgate section flows from the 'shoulders' of the rear wheel arches
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.
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In spite of its compact, efficient design, the CT 200h offers a roomy interior. The 2,600 mm 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 28 mph.
Chassis and suspension
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 light weight trailing
arm. The springs and shocks are positioned separately to minimise intrusion into the loadspace floor.
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-VOLTAGE BATTERY |
|
| 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, 17 inch |
| LUGGAGE CAPACITY |
|
| Rear seat up (l, VDA) |
345 |
| Rear seat down (l, VDA) |
700 |
|
