Geneva: Lexus CT 200h
LEXUS is setting its sights on 30 year old professionals as key targets its all new hybrid CT 200h.
Chief engineer Osuma Sadakata revealed to Car Dealer Magazine that development studies have specifically targeted such buyers.
The are younger than the Lexus norm. This will mean a much wider customer pool for the brand’s car dealers to draw from when the hybrid car goes on sale early next year.
As the firm’s first premium compact 5-door hatchback, it is new territory for Lexus development engineers, said Sadakata. There has been much more emphasis on sportiness in the engineering process – with Audi’s A3 being the benchmark rival.
Extensive customer research has already been conducted across Europe, he said; the preference for the Audi over the BMW 1 Series led to Lexus targeting that car during the design of the CT 200h.
The sector’s first all-hybrid car, it will cost around £21-£22k, suggest insiders. Furthermore, it WILL boast a CO2 figure BELOW 100g/km. This not only means it is congestion charge exempt, but it will also get free road tax.
Lexus says that it should quickly become a strong seller. Depending on how quickly production ramps up, the firm says it will be its UK best seller within 3 years – probably much more quickly.
This will see it sell around 3000 units a year – a healthy extra boost for Lexus car dealers, who currently sell RX and IS models in largest numbers.
We’ve just had a close-up here at Geneva, and we like what we see. We couldn’t dive in, nor check out the rear space – this remains a hands-off pre-production model! – but the look is as will be seen in Lexus cars dealers.
Check out our photo gallery to see what you think!
By Richard Aucock
Tags: ct200h, geneva 2010, green, lexus