Track inspired Lexus CT 200h concept

By Karla Pincott
Carsguide
04 July 2011

18 inch alloys, lowered ride height and quad exhausts set this hybrid apart.

It?s one of the briefest appearances for a show car. But could lead to a showroom version.

Lexus has rolled out a special Nurburgring-inspired version of the CT 200h hybrid for the Australian International Motor Show. But it will be gone in a couple of days.

Inspired by the 2.4L hybrid CT that competed in the Nurburgring 24-Hour endurance race, the show car features polished quad exhausts, extra body kit in the form of front lip spoilers and rear air diffuser, 18-in alloy wheels, and rides on a modified suspension that slings it 20mm lower than the standard car.

Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb says the CT 200h Concept be a litmus test of public reaction. "The Australian International Motor Show gives us the perfect opportunity to engage with potential customers and assess their reaction," said Mr Cramb.

"There are elements of the CT 200h Concept that are currently under evaluation by Lexus for introduction into the local market."

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 8 comments

why don't they do a plug-in hybrid with a punchy diesel to the rear wheels and an electric motor to the front? would go good for punting round the city.
mannix Posted on 08 July 2011 12:30pm
Looks ok, and probably goes ok too. I sat in one at the motor show this week, and its clearly the best appointed/finished small vehicle under $50k. But you just can't take a hybrid seriously when it comes to performance. Why couldn't Lexus just put out a 2.2L turbo diesel option (eg. engine from the European IS220d - and call it the CT220d perhaps??) if they want to get the reduced emissions and still get some performance. Staggeringly the CT200h is actually outselling the 1-series and the A3 at the moment (I don't know how) - so the market is there - imagine if they had a diesel or even full petrol option instead of just a hybrid. The Euro's dominate this sector largely from the variety of engine options they have.
DJCJ of Melbourne Posted on 07 July 2011 5:47pm
@DM - 918 Spyder vs CT200h is comparing chalk to cheese. Track speeds of 100kw CT200h should be considerably less than 373kw + 160kw Spyder, so smaller brakes should be adequate, but heh, if you have serious doubts, talk to the Lexus engineers. What do they know...?
ND of Brisbane Posted on 06 July 2011 10:45am
forget it this thing wouldn't have enough grunt to pull the skin off a bowl of porridge. c'mon lexus forget the hybrid racers keep up with that v10 in the lfa
mannix Posted on 05 July 2011 5:37pm
ND of Brisbane. On a race track, regenerative braking isnt going to stop you going into a wall if you cant wipe off enough speed. Take a look at the brakes on the Porsche 918 Spyder. It also uses regenerative braking but maintains massive carbon ceramic brakes for a very good reason.
DM Posted on 05 July 2011 2:36pm
@DM - Are we forgetting the significant speed reduction due to regenerative braking?
ND of Brisbane Posted on 05 July 2011 1:42pm
Wow, Lexus have a wonderful racing pedigree to build on and give this model some credibility. NOT
Jabba The Hutt Posted on 05 July 2011 1:35pm
track inspired?... not with brakes that small it aint
DM Posted on 05 July 2011 10:33am

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