At Frankfurt last month, we announced that a new F-Sport grade would join the existing Lexus CT 200h line-up – and now it’s available to order. The Quiet Revolution just ramped up a notch or two…
The original CT 200h has been widely praised for its looks. Immediately recognisable, its distinctive grille and blue hybrid accents mark it out from other premium compacts, as any owner will testify. However, the new CT 200h F-Sport takes things to another level completely.
As you might expect, the F-Sport places an emphasis on sportiness. With a larger rear spoiler, flared side skirts, mesh front grille and new front and rear aero-styled bumpers, topped with 17-inch dark-finish alloy wheels and F-Sport side badging, the new member of the CT 200h family really takes a stance on the road. The sporty styling continues inside, with a flat-bottomed F-Sport steering wheel, aluminium pedals and scuff plates.
Just in case you were in danger of forgetting that this is a Lexus, the F-Sport is laden with luxurious features. Electrically retractable electrochromatic (auto-dimming) door mirrors, cruise control, F-Sport black leather upholstery, heated front seats, electric driver’s seat adjustment and a rear parking camera with integral rear-view mirror display all come as standard. And if that wasn’t enough, owners can up the spec with an advanced HDD navigation system combined with Lexus’s Remote Touch control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, back guide monitor, 10-speaker audio package, front and rear parking sensors and a sunroof, all of which are available as options.
But it’s not just about looks, of course. Lexus engineers have delivered a much sportier drive, with tuned suspension and a lateral front and rear damping system as standard. Coil spring rates have been changed and the standard Showa shock absorbers replaced with Kayaba dampers, all of which give a more sports-oriented performance.
You’d be forgiven for assuming that upping the CT 200h F-Sport’s performance would come at the expense of efficiency. However, despite the full hybrid F-Sport’s bolder looks and tuning, its fuel efficiency, emissions and cost of ownership remain unaltered, making the CT 200h F-sport the ideal car for those seeking a true combination of sporty performance and hybrid efficiency.
The Lexus CT 200h F-Sport is available to order from Lexus Centres now, and will be hitting our roads in January 2012. It is priced from £27,850 on-the-road. To see more images of the stunning F-Sport, check out our Flickr set.
I read nothing about actual performance? Nice to have a sporty suspension. Nice to have a good look. Nicer to have more go than show.
Lexus plan to incorporate some of the hybrid performance technology that they and other companies have come up with? Or do they plan to keep dressing up the prius?