Geneva show: Compact Lexus to debut as CT200h

LEXUS has confirmed its first small car will be named CT200h when the all-new dedicated hybrid model goes on sale globally next year.

The Japanese luxury brand’s inaugural rival for the likes of BMW’s 1 Series and the Audi A3 has been partly revealed via an image of its rear quarter showing the nameplate of Lexus’ fourth model line.

Previewed at last September’s Frankfurt motor show by the LF-Ch concept, CT200h is expected on sale in Australia in early 2011. Priced from under $50,000, the dedicated hybrid hatchback is expected to become the top-selling Lexus model in Australia.

However, based on the tightly cropped teaser image, the CT200h production car – which will make its world debut at the Geneva motor show on March 2, appears to bear little resemblance to the five-door LF-Ch show car.

Left: Lexus LF-Ch concept at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show.

Lexus revealed no further details of the CT200h, saying only that the first full hybrid in the premium compact segment would “offer new levels of refinement, sophistication and attention to detail, without compromising style or driving pleasure”.

Equipped with second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive technology, the MkIII Prius-based CT200h will appear at Geneva alongside the Lexus LFA supercar. Five examples of the circa-$750,000 super-coupe, pre-orders for which are about to close in Europe, have been earmarked for Australia