THE LEXUS CT200h, the world’s first full-hybrid luxury compact
Just one look at the 2011 F-Sport Lexus CT200h will tell you that it was designed with the younger generation in mind. With Toyota’s luxury brand in danger of being stereotyped as an old person’s car like the Buick in the United States, the CT200h is a step in the right direction for Lexus. Yet the CT200h is a niche product because it targets the moneyed young who want to have their cake and eat it, too in terms of driving a premium compact car that offers sporty performance and at the same time proclaims environmental conscience.
Touted as the world’s first full hybrid luxury compact, the CT200h runs on a version of the Prius powertrain mating a permanent magnetic type electric drive motor and a 1.8 liter, 16-valve 4 cylinder, Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine. The result is a combined output of 134 hp that enables the CT200h to hit 100 kph from zero in 10.3 seconds and reach a max speed of 180 kph.
Those figures may not exactly thrill hardcore car enthusiasts. Despite its small size, aluminum hood, hatch and bumper reinforcements, aerodynamic design with a class-leading drag coefficient of 0.28. the CT200h weighs around 3,200 pounds and 134 hp is not quite enough to make it really exciting and fun to drive. But then the CT200h compensates by delivering a seamlessly smooth, utterly comfortable ride, Lexus luxury, fuel economy up to 26.3 km per liter and carbon dioxide emissions lowered to a mere 87 grams per kilometer.
Moreover, the CT is the only premium compact that has an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission with intelligence (ECVT-I allowing the driver to choose between two driving modes—ECO and Sport—by simply turning a dial on the center console.
THROTTLE RESPONSE
In ECO mode, the throttle response is regular if not relaxed and the car uses the gasoline engine with quiet assistance from the electric motor whenever required to achieve speeds of 45 kph and above. ECO mode also boosts fuel economy by lowering air conditioning power. The instrument panel displays the hybrid power gauge with the power and charge indicators lighting up according to the driver’s input.
THE taillight has a cluster of LEDs.
Sport mode increases throttle response, engine revs and the voltage on tap to supply more power while adjusting the electric power steering, vehicle stability control and traction control for a more dynamic drive. To enhance the sporty mood, the lighting of the instrument panel changes from blue to aggressive red and a real-live tachometer with a 5,400 rpm redline replaces the hybrid system indicator. I checked out the Sport mode on the Skyway and found it to be adequately responsive—but not slingshot-quick.
As in the Prius, EV or electric vehicle operating mode is theoretically available, but only for a very short distance at speeds below 45 kph, so the slightest pressure on the accelerator pedal will re-ignite the gasoline engine. In fact, when you push the Start button to drive off, the CT glides forward silently, using no fuel and producing zero emissions. But only for a very short distance before the engine kicks in.
Built on the same platform that underpins the Lexus HS250h, the Scion tC and the Toyota Corolla, the CT has a fully independent rear suspension like the HS instead of the Corolla’s torsion beam. The trailing-arm multilink rear suspension and nickel-metal hydride battery packed under the floor at the rear allow a lower center of gravity without sacrificing cargo space. With the rear seats up, the CT has 375 liters of luggage space and with the rear seats folded flat, this increases to 985 liters.
DAMPERS
LEXUS Hybrid Drive means full hybrid technology under the hood.
The front suspension consists of MacPherson struts with lateral performance dampers between the strut towers. The lateral dampers span from the front to the rear of the car body to suppress noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and thereby increase ride comfort. To further reduce cabin noise, the floor is treated with sound-absorbing and insulating materials.
The cabin itself meets Lexus’ lofty standard of luxuriousness, featuring a push start ignition system, clearly laid out anti-glare Optitron gauges, soft touch materials trimmed with metallic finishes and a multi-information display with hybrid system indicator. The leather-wrapped steering wheel has multi-function controls but no paddle shifters while dual zone automatic climate control, a Lexus premium sound system, USB and aux input port are standard. In the P2.888 million F-Sport, leather seats, cruise control and 8-way power adjustable driver seat with memory are added to the amenities together with smart key entry, rain-sensing wipers, LED low beam headlamps and 16-inch F-Sport alloy wheels.
THE LUXURIOUS, spacious yet practical cabin.
You feel perfectly safe driving the CT due to its array of active safety features (ABS with EBD and brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, smart stop) and passive (eight SRS airbags, whiplash injury lessening seats, reinforced door impact beams, seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters.)
With its low center of gravity, increased chassis rigidity and lateral performance dampers, the CT200h F-Sport tracks straight, handles well and has plenty of power on tap to overtake slow pokes on the expressway or a two-lane back street. At the same time, it provides a quiet, refined, well-controlled ride, superlative gas mileage and excellent build quality. It may not be breathtakingly exciting to drive, but the CT200h F-Sport can hold its own against other luxury compact hatchbacks like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Volvo C30 while beating them all in environmental performance.