Toyota Korea unveils new Lexus CT200h

Toyota Korea, the local unit of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp., aims to recapture the hearts of Koreans with its revamped Lexus lineup. And the carmaker’s latest offering is the Lexus CT200h, a compact luxury hybrid hatchback.

The New CT200h will make its appearance in two trims ― the standard “Supreme” and the sports package “F SPORT,” according to the carmaker.

The sporty exterior with a spindle grille, luxurious interior in diverse color variations and the brand’s first attempt at a two-tone design on the roof and body give the hybrid a much more dynamic look.

Although in the United States and Japan the two-tone design is only endorsed in the F SPORT, in the local market it has been integrated in both models to fulfill the distinct interests of Korean consumers.

The car is equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder VVT-i engine and an electric motor, which together churns out a maximum of 136 horsepower and a torque of 14.5 kilogram-meters. Its combined average fuel efficiency recorded 18.1 kilometers per liter.

The carmaker also significantly strengthened the safety of the hybrid by employing technologies like the Hill-start Assist Control and wide-angle mirrors, placing the car among the top of its segment.

Moreover, in spite of these added features, Lexus managed to set a lower price for the new CT200h than its previous verison.

It is competitively priced in the local market at 39.8 million won ($37,250) for the Supreme package and 44.9 million won for the F SPORT model, excluding any additional benefits.

“Lexus has shown steady growth in the hybrid market, which will surely aid us towards our goal in becoming the most admired brand in Korea,” Toyota Korea CEO Akihisa Yoshida said during a recent press conference.

The country chief also pledged that the Lexus brand will see accumulative sales of 100,000 units by 2020 in Korea.

The all new CT200h, which is set to be manufactured completely in Japan, will go on sale April 2 in Korea.

By Kim Joo-hyun (jhk@heraldcorp.com)