Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Lexus officially confirms CT 200h for U.S. market]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/22/lexus-officially-confirms-ct-200h-for-u-s-market/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/22/lexus-officially-confirms-ct-200h-for-u-s-market/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/22/lexus-officially-confirms-ct-200h-for-u-s-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lexus CT 200h - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show, Lexus pulled the covers off its new CT 200h hybrid hatchback for the very first time. At the show, representatives for Toyota's luxury brand assured us that there would be "a near-simultaneous global launch a year from now. In their own words, the United States and Japan will receive the CT 200h, even if it was developed as an euro-centric model. First deliveries should begin in Q1 2011."

Turns out they were right. Today, Lexus has officially confirmed that it will indeed offer the premium hatchback in the States, and the CT 200h will make its North American debut next month at the New York Auto Show. This car will join the HS 250h as the brand's second dedicated hybrid model, and Lexus is keen to point out that the CT will be the only dedicated hybrid in its class of small, premium hatchbacks.

Lexus tells us that the CT 200h will boast a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gas engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) mated up with twin electric motor/generators and a CVT automatic transmission powering the front wheels. Though official EPA mileage numbers aren't yet available, the automaker expects its baby to be at the head of its class in efficiency.

Four drive-modes will be selectable from the cockpit: Normal, Eco, Sport and EV. Eco mode will adjust air conditioning settings and the throttle for the best possible fuel economy while Sport tightens up the steering, sets the stability and traction control at less obtrusive settings and provides 150 more volts of power from the electric motors. EV mode will allow the car to travel up to one mile on electric power alone under certain circumstances.

Want to know more? There's plenty of information in the exhaustive press release after the break, and be sure to check out our high-res image gallery below.


Gallery: Geneva 2010: Lexus CT 200h live


Gallery: Lexus CT200h

Continue reading Lexus officially confirms CT 200h for U.S. market

Lexus officially confirms CT 200h for U.S. market originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lexuslexus ctlexus ct 200hLexus CT 200h Hybridlexus ct200hlexus hatchbacklexus hybridlexus hybrid hatchbackLexusCtLexusCt200hLexusCt200hHybridLexusHatchbackLexusHybridLexusHybridHatchbacknew yorknew york 2010new york auto showNewYorkNewYork2010NewYorkAutoShowMon, 22 Mar 2010 17:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19409794/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/22/lexus-officially-confirms-ct-200h-for-u-s-market/19409794/article-detail.xml 19409794 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/lexus-ct200h-live_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/lexus-ct200h-live.jpg <![CDATA[Officially Official: Lexus drops the curtain on CT 200h]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/25/officially-official-lexus-drops-the-curtain-on-ct-200h/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/25/officially-official-lexus-drops-the-curtain-on-ct-200h/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/25/officially-official-lexus-drops-the-curtain-on-ct-200h/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2011 Lexus CT 200h - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this week, we got a sneak peek at the new Lexus CT 200h from a brochure that somehow leaked out onto the Interwebs. Now, Lexus has seen fit to pull the curtain back all the way on its new premium hybrid hatchback ahead of its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week. A worldwide launch is promised later this year, but we can't confirm whether that includes the United States.

From what we can tell, the car retains some of Lexus's L-finesse design philosophy as seen on the LF-Ch concept that debuted in Frankfurt last year, except in a somewhat more production-ready (read: toned-down) state. Inside, Lexus employs an asymmetrical dash design that's split into what Lexus refers to as an upper Display Zone that includes an eight-inch LCD multi-display screen and a lower Operation Zone, which includes the shift lever and other controls such as Lexus's Remote Touch multi-function controller.

As expected, the baby Lexus is equipped with a 1.8-liter VVT-i gasoline-fed engine that's mated up with an electric motor using Toyota's proprietary Hybrid Synergy Drive technology and a continuously variable transmission. Sadly, we have no official power figure, but we imagine it should be somewhat close to the 134 combined ponies of the latest Toyota Prius.

According to Lexus, its hybrid hatchback can run in EV mode for up to 1.2 miles at speeds up to 28 miles per hour. In addition to pure EV mode, the driver can also select from Eco, Normal and Sport modes. Setting the CT 200h apart from other Toyota offerings is its dedicated double wishbone and trailing arm rear suspension system. Want more? Find all the details in the official press release after the break, and be sure to check out our high-res image gallery below.


Gallery: Lexus CT200h


[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Officially Official: Lexus drops the curtain on CT 200h

Officially Official: Lexus drops the curtain on CT 200h originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ct 200 hCT 200hCT 200h HybridCt200hCt200hHybridgenevageneva 2010Geneva Motor ShowGeneva2010GenevaMotorShowlexuslexus ctlexus ct 200hLexus CT 200h GenevaLexus CT 200h HybridLexus CT Conceptlexus ct200hlexus hybridlexus hybrid hatchbackLexusCtLexusCt200hLexusCt200hGenevaLexusCt200hHybridLexusCtConceptLexusHybridLexusHybridHatchbackThu, 25 Feb 2010 20:10:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19374324/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/02/25/officially-official-lexus-drops-the-curtain-on-ct-200h/19374324/article-detail.xml 19374324 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ct200h-lex-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/ct200h-lex-630op.jpg <![CDATA[Frankfurt Preview: Lexus LF-Ch joins Toyota Auris Hybrid, plug-in Prius and two iQ concepts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/frankfurt-preview-lexus-lf-ch-joins-toyota-auris-hybrid-plug-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/frankfurt-preview-lexus-lf-ch-joins-toyota-auris-hybrid-plug-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/frankfurt-preview-lexus-lf-ch-joins-toyota-auris-hybrid-plug-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Lexus LF-Ch concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

With just a few weeks left before the Frankfurt Motor Show kicks off in high gear, Lexus has decided its high time to let loose a single teaser image of its hotly anticipated hybrid hatchback concept. The C-Segment model carries the LF-Ch designation and not the recently trademarked CT nameplate as first thought, making us wonder if there's something else up the automaker's corporate sleeve in the near future.

"Think BMW 1 Series, but hybrid." That's how Lexus describes the LF-Ch, and you could easily add the Audi A3 and Volvo C30 to that list of competitors. Underhood will be some form of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, though the Japanese automaker has yet to release any actual powertrain details beyond that. Expect a more detailed explanation of the car's finer points in the run up to Frankfurt.

Across the showroom floor in Toyota's display will be the Auris HSD concept - which Toyota says is the first application of its hybrid technology in a mainstream model... other than the Prius, we presume - along with a plug-in version of its third-generation 2010 Prius and two separate concepts based on the diminutive iQ. Click past the break for the official press release and see the whole shebang in our gallery below.


Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lexus and Toyota preview

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Lexus LF-Ch joins Toyota Auris Hybrid, plug-in Prius and two iQ concepts

Frankfurt Preview: Lexus LF-Ch joins Toyota Auris Hybrid, plug-in Prius and two iQ concepts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frankfurtfrankfurt 2009Frankfurt Motor ShowFrankfurt2009FrankfurtMotorShowlexuslexus hybridlexus hybrid hatchbacklexus lf-chLexusHybridLexusHybridHatchbackLexusLf-chtoyotatoyota auristoyota auris hybridtoyota iQtoyota iq collectiontoyota iq sportstoyota plug intoyota plug in hybridtoyota plug-intoyota plug-in hybridtoyota plug-in hybrid li-iontoyota prius phevToyotaAurisToyotaAurisHybridToyotaIqToyotaIqCollectionToyotaIqSportsToyotaPlug-inToyotaPlug-inHybridToyotaPlug-inHybridLi-ionToyotaPlugInToyotaPlugInHybridToyotaPriusPhevTue, 01 Sep 2009 11:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19147192/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/09/01/frankfurt-preview-lexus-lf-ch-joins-toyota-auris-hybrid-plug-i/19147192/article-detail.xml 19147192 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/lexus-lfch_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/lexus-lfch.jpg -1 2