Lexus CT 200h: Lexus at Geneva Motor Show

The Lexus CT 200h - Geneva bound

Lexus has now revealed the Lexus CT 200h – its Premium Compact Hybrid – which will debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Last year we had the Lexus LF-Ch concept in all its goldness at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Then a few weeks back that became the Lexus CT 200h. Which is actually what we thought the Lexus Premium Compact would be called – the Lexus CT – when we first reported on the baby Lexus. So we’re back where we started. It’s very complicated, all this car naming.

Of course, now you know that the baby Lexus is the Lexus CT 200h you know that it is a 2.0 litre hybrid, because that’s how Lexus’ nomenclature works. Wrong. As we expected, the CT 200h gets a 1.8 litre VVTi petrol engine mated to an electric motor. Lexus still aren’t giving power outputs or performance figures, so we can only guess that this is just the Prius setup under the skin.

What you do get are three ‘Modes’ – Eco, Normal and Sport – and the ability to run as a pure EV – for a whole 1.2 miles at up to 28mph. At least you’ll be able to do your milk round – as long as it’s a short one. You also get a a suspension setup which offers double wishbone and trailing arm rear suspension system – which sounds fine – and Lexus say it is exclusive to the CT 200h. That’s nice.

Actually, it does now look like a baby Lexus. Some of the oddities of the LF-Ch are toned down and it now looks like a mainstream Lexus. That’s not a huge compliment – Lexus’ designs are not the most inspiring – but it fits. And it looks well bolted together. The interior looks half decent, as it is on all Lexus and we could see the CT doing well, but…

It makes sense to have a baby Lexus. It makes no sense to endow it with the Prius HSD and no other options. It’s a bit like saying there is only one colour option, or you can only have a 3.0 litre S/C with DSG (we wish). Marketing madness. This could have been a good alternative if only Lexus hadn’t put all their eggs in the hybrid basket. What a waste.

If you really want the details from Lexus it’s in the Lexus CT 200h press release.