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Lexus CT200h is company's most significant model in 20 years
publication date: Mar 12, 2011
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author/source: Robin Roberts
The Lexus CT200h will be the most important model for the company in its UK
history when it launches in Britain later this month.
It is the first full hybrid to be introduced into the C-sector premium
class and Lexus believe sales of over 4,000 this year and 6,000 in 2012 will
effectively double total registrations for the brand in the UK and take them
past the 12,000 mark.
The Lexus 200h becomes the new entry level model to the marque in
Britain and will compete against the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 in particular but
also offer an alternative to upper level Focus and Astra model series, Citroen
C4 and similar models. |  | There are three trim levels for the new Lexus CT200h; SE-I, SE-L and SE-L
Premier, priced at £23,485, £25,200 and £30,635 but they all share the same 98bhp1.8
petrol and 82bhp electric motor, continuously variable transmission and its
sophisticated "brain" which offers full
electric, eco and sport on-demand modes with mechanically assisted drive
backing up the nickel-metal hydride battery pack and 60KW AC motor.
It is brimming with technology such as stop and start, regenerative
braking, but also features low consumption air conditioning integrated with
seat heaters, low power audio amplifiers and even LEDs front and back are
available to minimise power drain, with some trim components made from
bio-materials.
The equipment packages take logical steps adding leather trim and heated
seats to the SE-L and the SE-L Premier gains Mark Levinson sound system, full
map HDD navigation and powered front seats.
You can even specify special dampers cross-linking the suspension left
and right sides to reduce flexing and improve stability and handling response to
the standard electric power steering.
Lexus believe the top model will account for just 10pc of 200h
registrations, the bottom version will take 35p, and 55pc will be filled by the
mid-range version. However, initial orders are slightly higher than expected
for the mid and top of range derivatives but this is expected to even out once
the eager early adopters have taken delivery.
The Lexus CT200h is part of the company's plan to offer a full hybrid
version in every sector and the system uses a modified version of the power
train which originated in the stable-mate Toyota Prius hatchback which has been
on sale in the UK for eleven years and seen 45,000 registrations. It is a
proven system with very good reliability and has also been adopted for the Toyota
Auris and forthcoming Yaris hybrid due in 2012.
Lexus has adapted the system for its GS and RX models but with much
bigger engines and the significant point about the 200h is that it is the smallest
Lexus to use the system with its Atkinson cycle 1.8 litre engine and electric
motor which emit just 94gkm of CO2.
The 200h has a completely new chassis, tuned for a more dynamic feel,
and five-door body style which is particularly stiff and offers a maximum 985
litres with the back seats folded.
The combined 134bhp output gives it a 0-62mph time of 10.3sec and
maximum 112mph with the electric mode alone taking it to 25mph for a mile. In
real time situations, Lexus has found there is very little demand for the pure
electric mode and that at least half of the time it is running along with the
petrol engine. Lexus claim it will average nearly 70mpg.
Running costs are also kept down with a CAP predicted residual value of
39pc over three years for the SE-I, matching the current best in segment. This
combined with its low financial penalties will help it with company car
registrations, especially the 10pc BIK tax and first-year 100pc write-down
against corporation tax.
| First impressions:
|  | | The Lexus brand has been a powerful attraction in the UK premium sector
for over two decades, intensifying with the arrival of the hybrid saloon and
SUV models a few years ago to back up the petrol saloon and sports car models. But to many these were still very expensive even if well equipped and
brimming with cutting edge technology. | Now, Lexus has moved the goalposts with
the arrival of the new entry level hybrid CT200h series of three models which are
firmly aimed at the company car user choosers who need to cut their tax and
fuel bills.
The series is heavy on equipment and features, light on emissions and
economy and Lexus has taken a firm decision to give the CT200h a dynamic chassis
which it believes the UK and European-target BMW and Audi drivers want in their
hands.
Certainly, the UK sales projections for the Lexus 200h are eye-opening,
but they may have an eye-watering time achieving them over the next 18 months,
whether or not the market economy improves.
While I could not fault the engineering and mechanical refinement of the
Lexus 200h powertrain, its effortless ability to switch power delivery
responses and eek out the fuel I was far less impressed by its jiggly and noisy
ride in what is supposed to be a premium level saloon.
It is rough-riding over some bad surfaces and continuously hard over
everything else, never showing a soft side to its nature. The Lexus CT200h does
turn and slow very well and stability is impressive at all times but it's badly
led down by the over-firm springs and dampers, big wheels and tyres, and there
is no adaptable or selectable switching system to refine the ride to personal
taste or conditions.
The seats do a very good job at holding occupants securely and
comfortably and you have good visibility to place the car through a corner or
into a parking place.
It will take four in comfort, a fifth in the back at a squeeze.
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boot-floor is higher than you might expect with its battery pack beneath but
the nominal capacity is fair and quickly tripled with the back seat dropped
flat.
I can see how the Lexus 200h might attract premium sector buyers who
value technology led engineering and design backed up by second to none quality
and dealer service, but I wonder, too, how many will be put off by the ride
issues after an initial test drive, or who will simply try and fly after a 24
months stint behind the wheel. ©Robin Roberts |
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