Lexus has filed US patents for CT 200h. CT 300h. and CT 400h. Rumours of a 1 Series/A3 competitor are gaining momentum, but it is hybrid-only.
Akio Toyoda, the new Toyota Motor Corporation CEO, is a young man who has plenty of petrol in him. This is evident in the official photos of him. They have been dominated by a blue racing shirt and a Lexus IS-F fire-breathing Lexus IS.F.
His company is a dynamic one. It is known for its reliable cars as well as hybrid technology. The Lexus division of Toyota has been a top-selling premium brand in the US in recent years and is expanding in other markets. However, Lexus is not in the fastest-growing segment of the premium market. This has limited its growth. This segment is dominated by cars such as the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3.
WCF published a report recently revealing that Lexus will soon offer a competition to these Germans. It is now clear that the new range will be called CT, in addition to the existing IS, GS and RX models. It will also come with hybrid capabilities. The company filed US patents last month for the words CT 200h. CT 300h. and CT 400h. The Europeans are still reaping the diesel benefits, but Lexus sees the hybrid situation as a better option. These model designations indicate that the CT 200h will have a 2.0-litre engine and low fuel consumption. The 400h also offers 4.0-litre V8 performance with a smaller engine. This is likely to be the same 3.5-litre found on a variety of Toyota cars. This could be compared with current rivals such as the Audi S3 or the BMW 135i.
According to rumours, a concept version of Lexus CT will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Septembre, move to Tokyo in October and then to LA in December, Detroit, Detroit, January 2010, and finally Geneva, where it will then be the production version.