Welcome, the CT200h

MANILA, Philippines - Last Monday, February 21, Lexus Manila finally unveiled perhaps its most awaited model to date, a hatchback hybrid called the CT200h. Regular followers of this space might recall that as early as October 13 last year, we had already written about our time behind the wheel of the Japanese luxury car maker’s newest hybrid. That day marked the first day that anyone was allowed to officially write about the CT200h, which gave The Philippine STAR bragging rights as the first media outfit to spread the news on Lexus’ newest hybrid in these shores. Well, today, we can finally say that time has caught up with us and that the Lexus CT200h has now officially arrived.

During a chat with The Philippine STAR immediately prior to the CT200h’s launch, Lexus Manila president Danny Isla made it clear that the CT200h is a full hybrid. This means that unlike mild hybrids, the car is actually capable of being propelled around via electricity alone. Simply put, given the Lexus CT200h’s myriad driving settings, the car is capable of running without burning fuel while spewing zero harmful emissions. This Lexus has four “on demand” drive modes – EV, ECO, NORMAL or SPORT. To simplify things, let’s just say that those modes, in that order, make the car go from sedate to aggressive. Choosing the “SPORT” mode, of course, makes for a more spirited drive while “EV” gives one the most fuel economy (and the least emissions).

And when we mention fuel economy, we mean that the CT200h really pushes the envelope. We drove the CT200h through some 200 plus kilometers of rolling terrain, long straight stretches of road and through traffic back in October. Rough computations have the CT200h going for an average of 26 km/l. It is said to emit a class leading 89g/km of carbon dioxide even as it generates significantly less nitrous oxide and particle emissions than an equivalent diesel engine. If you must know what kind of power that equates to, we’ll have to just give you an example, as the car’s Lexus Hybrid Drive system cannot be measured as conventional combustion systems are. For clarity’s sake, we’ll go as far as to say that the power delivery is comparable to that of an internal combustion engine equipped with around 135 horses.

One might argue that the number is nothing to call home about but as we had earlier mentioned, the Lexus Hybrid Drive system propels the car in a totally different manner. As such, despite the seemingly paltry numbers, the Lexus CT200h can actually accelerate from a standstill to 100km/h in roughly 10 seconds. What’s more, Lexus Manila thought it wise to bring in the “F Sport” variant, whose main differentiating feature from the base CT200h model is the unique lateral performance damper system. The said system was specifically designed to absorb and minimize body vibrations. Think of the system as a lateral strut bar with a shock absorber. The result is a car that sticks to the road as well as any sports sedan can even as it provides comfort. In other words, the car is quite capable of providing the best of both worlds – sportiness and comfort.

The Lexus CT200h, as evidenced by the accompanying photo, has a sleek, sharp-edged look. It is defined by sweeping lines that flow from its front end to its rear, giving it a determined, purposeful stance. It also has a wide track and a reasonably long wheelbase given its hatchback configuration and can thus boast a low center of gravity, giving the car great balance. The car’s cabin is typically Lexus, meaning it is both efficient and elegant. The car’s combination of head-turning looks, stellar handling, commendable combination of driving dynamics, unique energy management system and promise of exclusivity with its world renowned badge make for an interesting argument for the CT200h. However, those qualities would mean zilch if people felt that the price for a luxury hatch might be a bit too steep.

Well, we’d say the people at Lexus Manila did a swell job at positioning and subsequently pricing the CT200h. The base CT200h is priced at a reasonable (for the market segment it competes in) P2.308 million while the all belles and whistles F-Sport package will send one back P2.888 million. Those numbers may not be too attractive to the average Toyota buyer but for the Lexus target market, that’s quite an appealing offer – especially since the promise of a unique, hybrid driving experience comes with a Lexus CT200h purchase. To find out for yourself if the price is worth the package, do visit the Lexus Manila showroom at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.