Toyota’s luxury division is set to make a big move in the Big Apple this April, when it launches the Lexus CT 200h at the New York International Auto Show—and the new car will face some equally big challenges when it goes on sale at the beginning of next year.
For one thing, the little Lexus will be a compact hatchback with a premium price tag, a combination that hasn’t attracted too many U.S. buyers. The similarly sized Audi A3 saw a sales increase of 126 percent in February, but that only represented a total of 434 cars. Likewise, one could conceivably count the Volvo C30 in this segment as well, but that car sold a mere 327 units last month.
On the other hand, up-level brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW have announced they’re working on small premium hatches, and you can expect other companies to follow as they try to prepare their lineups for the stricter 2012 CAFE regulations.
Which is where the Lexus will set itself apart from the crowd, by virtue of its cutting-edge powertrain: Leveraging a 1.8-liter gas engine and the latest Lexus Hybrid Drive technology, the company claims the CT 200h will have the best EPA numbers in its class. No actual ratings are available yet, but the A3 diesel currently sets the segment’s standard with a line of 30 mpg city/42 mpg highway/34 mpg combined, so the Lexus would have to top that.
For what it’s worth, the full-hybrid Lexus HS 250h, considered a midsize vehicle, is currently rated at 35/34/35 by the EPA.
But as befitting a luxury car, the CT 200h isn’t going to try to get by on fuel efficiency alone. Engineers are working hard to provide a dynamic driving experience by outfitting the car with a driver-selectable “sport” mode and custom suspension setup. And you can be sure a full suite of Lexus luxury and safety features will be available as well.
There’s no mention of a brake override system yet, but even that might not be enough to stop customers from giving this high-end hybrid hatch a try.
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