Lexus clips $3250 from CT200h Luxury price

LEXUS Australia has slashed the price of one of its hybrid CT200h variants by more than $2000 while also loading extra features into others in a range revamp for 2013 that includes suspension tweaks across the line-up for better ride quality.

The price of the CT200h Luxury – second up the pecking order in the four-model line-up – has been cut from $49,240 to $46,990 (plus on-road costs), a drop of $2250.

The base CT200h Prestige price has been held at $39,990, but it gains Bluetooth connectivity that Lexus says handles some iPods better, along with the colour-changing instrument lighting for upper-spec models. This lighting switches from blue to red, depending on drive mode.

As well, the Prestige gets electrically retractable mirrors and DAB digital radio, with both these features now available on all CT200h models.

Further up the CT200h range, the top-selling F Sport and flagship Sport Luxury models get electric seat adjustment on the passenger-side front seat.

As well, the Sport Luxury gains the premium Mark Levinson audio system that is also optional on the F Sport variant as part of a pack that includes parking sensors and moon roof.

The sat-nav system has been updated, with the former DVD-based technology dumped in favour of a hard-drive. As well, the system gains live traffic alerts and new user graphics.

The price of the F Sport increases $750, to $50,990, while the Sport Luxury rises $1750, to $57,990, to account for the addition of the new audio system that previously cost $3600 as an option.

Revised shock absorbers are said to deliver improved ride compliance.

Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb said the improvements brought the CT200h in line with recently launched Lexus models and responded to tightening road rules.

"CT200h's additional specification enhances what is already a compelling package and once again provides significant additional specification over our competitors as standard," he said.

The CT200h is the second-best-selling Lexus model is Australia, with its 1413 sales in the first 11 months of 2012 trailing only the sales tally of the RX SUV (2025).

CT200h sales are up 16.9 per cent this year, contributing to Lexus’ overall sales growth of 9.5 per cent.

2013 Lexus CT200h pricing*

Prestige (a)	$39,990
Luxury (a)	$46,990
F Sport (a)	$50,990
Sports Luxury (a)	$57,990

*Plus on-road costs