Lexus has added another hybrid to its range - and this time it is its smallest, the CT200h hatch.
Take Lexus with its latest offering in New Zealand, the CT200h compact hybrid.
Up until now, the Toyota-owned manufacturer of luxury product hasn't been too bad - for example the badging on its big LS sedans stands for Luxury Sedan, and the badging on the all-wheel drive LX product tells us they are Luxury Cross-country vehicles.
But CT200h?
That, according to Lexus New Zealand, was chosen to convey the new car's goal of being a Creative Touring (CT) vehicle with the performance equivalent of a 2.0-litre engine (200) and a hybrid (h) powertrain.
Creative touring. That's an interesting description for this new offering, which is the fifth Lexus hybrid to be sold in New Zealand. It takes its place in the luxury compact segment of our new vehicle market, a segment that is growing in popularity as well-heeled motorists seek compact vehicles that do not compromise in any features.
And I suppose it can be said that hybrid powertrains still represent motoring creativity, even though they've been around for some time now and lots of people are driving the likes of the Toyota Prius and Camry hybrid, and the Honda Civic hybrid and Insight.
But there is some further creativity aboard the CT200h that helps make it a rather enjoyable vehicle to drive.
One such feature is that the vehicle has mood swings. It offers the choice of various driving modes depending on whether the person behind the wheel wants the car to run as a full electric vehicle, or as a very economical one, or wants a relaxing driving experience, or a more enthusiastic one.
Use a button on the centre console to select an EV mode, and the CT200h can operate for up to two kilometres using the hybrid system's electric motor. While obviously this mode means absolutely no petrol needs to be used, I'm told a primary reason for this is to sneak silently up the household driveway after a late night out. Now that's creative!
Also on the centre console,, there is a knob that can be used to select an ECO mode, and when that happens the Lexus' accelerator response is reduced to encourage a more relaxed driving style, and the car's air conditioning system is controlled to improve fuel economy. In general, use of an air conditioning system can add up to five per cent to fuel consumption.
One step over on this knob is a Normal mode, which is used for normal driving. In this mode, the hybrid system's needle-type energy-use indicator shows on the instrument panel, and the panel's backlighting glows blue.
But rotate this knob one more time to select a Sport mode, and a tachometer electronically replaces the hybrid system indicator on the instrument panel, and the backlighting changes to a sporty red. The throttle response also becomes more aggressive, the power-steer settings are modified for a faster response to drive inputs. Vehicle stability control and traction control are also modified for a more lively driving experience.
Under normal circumstances - as in the ECO or Normal modes - the CT200h offers a fairly sedate drive, with the car's 1.8-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine combining with a high-output electric motor to deliver up to 100 kilowatts of power and up to 207 Newton metres of torque.
Actually, the car can develop up to 270 Nm of torque, but the Lexus' Hybrid Drive system never allows all this grunt to be fully deployed because of the potential wear and tear it would place on the car and its inner workings.
So 100 kW and 207 Nm it is; and when in the Normal mode, this allows the CT200h to be operated in a way that is obviously designed to be relaxed and economical. As such, the car has an official average fuel consumption of 4.1 litres per 100 kilometres.
But dial in the Power setting and things change quite considerably. The Lexus' continuously variable automatic transmission combines well with the powertrain and much sharper throttle, steering and suspension settings to allow for enthusiastic motoring. I wouldn't call it full-on sports driving, but it's pretty good all the same.
There's a wealth of other high- tech features aboard this new Lexus, all of which underlines the fact that although this is a compact vehicle of a size similar to its cousin the Toyota Corolla, it is very much luxury product.
Therefore, it has a full range of active safety systems including the ABS brakes, traction control, stability control, hill-start assist control, and a park assist control that uses sensors front and rear plus a reversing camera. Passive safety systems include 10 airbags.
Not only that, but the Limited and F Sport models that I've been driving also have a sophisticated pre-crash safety system that uses various sensors, including radar, to help determine if a frontal crash is imminent. If it does judge it's going to happen, it sounds a buzzer and flashes a warning, tensions the front seatbelts, and even applies the brakes.
All in a smallish hatchback. Gee.
The CT200h is a good-looking vehicle that has one major redeeming feature - it doesn't look like a hybrid. Instead, it offers a more traditional compact look with a powerful front design, low- slung sweeping lines, and a purposeful stance. It's a little unusual, but this is more the result of Lexus working to follow its L-finesse design concept.
The interior is more hybrid-ey, however.
The centre console has a funny little gearchange stalk that takes a little getting used to, and of course there's that central knob that controls the driving modes.
Also on the centre console there's a computer mouse-like Lexus Remote Touch facility that, on the Limited and F Sport versions, can be used to control satellite navigation, audio and climate control. And in the dash there's a large LCD screen that can be used to display the sat-nav, audio, climate control, Bluetooth, reversing camera, the hybrid system's energy monitor, and fuel consumption information.
Seating is very comfortable, if a little low-slung, and there's good legroom in the rear. The boot space is slightly cramped, however, at 365 litres, which is less than that available in the Prius.
Overall, the new Lexus CT200h appeals as a very good new car that personally I like very much.
What I particularly like is that it can be purchased as a base grade model for $51,500, which isn't that much more than the $49,690 starting price for the Prius, yet offers all the service and warranty goodies that come with every Lexus model.
For that price, standard specification includes the climate air, reversing camera, leather steering wheel with audio controls, and six-speaker audio. It also has 16-inch alloy wheels, and LED daytime running light system, and the front and rear parking sensors.
Then there's the $67,600 CT200h Limited - which I drove - which gets 17-inch wheels, sports styling, performance suspension dampers front and rear, the pre-crash safety system and an associated dynamic radar-based cruise control, the sat- nav, 10-speaker audio, and power- operated leather seats.
One step further up, there is the $69,000 F Sport version which gets further visual enhancements that include 10-spoke 17-inch alloys, rear privacy glass, sports style grille, side skirts and a larger rear spoiler, and sportier shock absorbers.
Inside, the car has unique leather seats, and F Sport style steering wheel, sports pedals, metallic style instrument panel, and heavy use of black via the roof liner, sun visors and overhead console.
Really, the only thing missing with this F Sport is sport - because while ride and handling feel sporting, the performance certainly isn't up to the often breathtaking levels of other F Sport Lexus models I've driven.
But no matter. What is important about this CT200h is that it broadens the portfolio of Lexus models available in this country, moving the brand into an increasingly important market segment with a highly appealing combination of luxury and hybrid technology.
And, also importantly, it is a very good car to drive.
- Taranaki Daily News
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