Lexus CT200h News

What is it about some cars, trucks and SUVs that make them more appealing the older they get?Is it familiarity? Faith in the fact that the manufacturer has had time to iron out all the big faults as well as niggling little problems?

Lexus Australia has moved to improve its aftersales offer by introducing more affordable capped-pricing servicing

Polo, CT200h and Lexus IS get maximum safety rating.The latest round of crash-test rankings has given five stars to a trio of fresh cars - while also giving them a backhander over the absence of safety gear that is standard on other models or in other markets.ANCAP takes the VW Polo and two Lexus models, the IS sedan and CT200h hybrid, to task for the entry-level variants' lack of active safety features fitted in other markets.As of this month, the Polo has emergency stop signal and secondary brake collision assist as standard. However, the base model does not have autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control (ACC), driver fatigue detection and reversing collision warnings.The Lexus CT200h also lacks ACC and AEB on the entry-level model. The IS sedan came under fire for the absence of those two items and lane departure warning - and for blind spot monitoring being standard only on top-spec examples.The IS, however, earns praise for its 'active' bonnet. In a collision with a pedestrian, the bonnet panel rises to provide additional clearance from the top of the engine to protect the pedestrian from serious head injury.ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh says the authority aims to encourage the car makers to include the equipment as standard. But it stops short of changing the requirements for a five-star ranking to include these features as standard.“We are continuing to see the majority of these important technologies either being withheld from base variants or not available at all," McIntosh says."I don't think it is unreasonable to say, -if you make these devices available in Europe, why not make them available here?' 'If we are to see a significant drop in the number of lives lost on our roads, these technologies need to be provided to all. Safety should not be seen as luxury or added extra."Costs of road trauma are huge, with 30,000 seriously injured every year here. In the US, autonomous emergency braking is credited with cutting the crash rate by 25 or 30 per cent - a huge number." VW Australia spokesman Karl Gehling says the company's decisions on whether to fit safety features are based on customer demand."We have offered these options on entry models. The data suggest buyers of the entry models were basing their decisions on value (rather than safety) and the take-up was less than 5 per cent." "The features on the Polo are class-leading and while we would love to be able to include them as standard they do come at a cost and we have to be conscious of what the consumer is going to bear. We could offer everything in one vehicle but if no one buys it there's no benefit to anyone."

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $20,000-$40,000New cars for 2014 | $59,000-$100,000New cars for 2014 | over $100,000 LIGHT CARSMini Cooper: Mini will bring the all-new third-generation ‘new Mini’ Cooper to our shores from May, with the entry models using a new 1.5-litre three cylinder turbo petrol or diesel engine, and the hot Cooper S to step up to a new 2.0-litre turbo petrol from the same family. The three-door hatch will be the only bodystyle to lob in 2014, with convertible and a new five-door hatch (at least) to follow later. (Approximately $31,000-$46,000)SMALL CARSAudi A3 sedan: Audi will add a sedan version of its A3 small car to the existing Sportback hatch lineup from January, with the hot S3 version to follow in April, and the drop-top A3 Cabriolet (from about $57k) to complete the lineup in about September. (Approximately $65,000)BMW 2 Series: The discontinued 1 Series coupe will be replaced by the new 2 Series coupe in around May, and will likely mirror the petrol and diesel drivetrains of the existing 1 Series hatch. A soft-top convertible is also in the works, but its launch date is still up in the air. (Approximately $45,000-$85,000)Lexus CT 200h: Lexus will complete the spindle grill-ification of its Australian lineup when it launches the mid-cycle refresh of the CT 200h hybrid hatch before July. Along with the stylistic alignment with the rest of the range, the new CT will feature revised suspension tuning and interior trim, with the possibility of sharpened pricing in the pursuit of sales volume. (Approximately $40,000-$58,000)Renault Megane: Also due around June is a mid-cycle refresh for the Megane coupe, cabriolet, and wagon models. (Approximately $20,000-$50,000)Subaru Impreza WRX: Underwhelming or otherwise, Subaru’s new WRX performance sedan is due in late March, ahead of a hotter-again STI version by mid-year. (Approximately $40,000)Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance: The upgraded Golf GTI Performance pack will complete the GTI lineup during 2014, with an extra 7kW, bigger brakes, tricky diff, plus xenon headlights, LED taillights, 19 inch wheels, and alcantara added to the tartan cloth interior trim. (Approximately $47,990)Volkswagen Golf R: The all-wheel drive Golf R performance flagship is also expected in 2014, with 206kW and 380Nm promising performance to trump all before it. (Approximately $50,000)FAMILY CARSFord Falcon: The once-mighty Falcon range is set to undergo its final facelift in the fourth quarter of 2014, ahead of it’s now certain doom in 2016. Minor styling revisions are expected, but the addition of Ford’s SYNC multimedia system and the return of the XR8 V8 model (as FPV is wound up) are likely to be the biggest changes. Approximately 37,000-56,000Infiniti Q50: Infiniti models are set to become a more common sight on Australian roads before June, with the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series-rivalling Q50’s arrival, boasting fresh styling, rear-wheel drive, and a choice of diesel or hybrid drivetrains. (Approximately $51,900-$73,900)Skoda Octavia RS: The Czech brand will launch the hot Octavia RS in the second quarter, with the petrol version matching the new Volkswagen Golf GTI mechanically, and the diesel version is expected to continue with the same spec as the Golf GTD available overseas. (Approximately from $40,000)Volvo S60 and V60: Volvo will introduce the first of its new Drive-E engines to the S60 sedan and V60 wagon range in March, with power and efficiency gains promised, along with a new eight-speed auto. (Approximately $49,000-$78,000)PEOPLE MOVERSHonda Odyssey: An all-new Odyssey eight-seat people mover will follow in February, with fresh styling, improved features and safety and a more efficient drivetrain. (Approximately $35,000-$43,000)Kia Grand Carnival: Later in the year, Kia will replace the segment-champion but ageing Grand Carnival model. Improvements to safety, features, and efficiency are expected, and should be a winner if the smaller new Rondo is anything to go by. (Approximately $39,000-56,000)SUV/4WDBMW X1: The baby bimmer SUV is also in line for a refreshing in March, with styling and interior tweaks expected. (Approximately 46,000-63,000)Ford Territory: The Territory SUV will also score similar SYNC-inclusive revisions at around the same time, ahead of the same 2016 fate. (Approximately $40,000-$63,000)Honda CR-V diesel: Honda will kick off 2014 by adding the first-ever diesel variant to the local CR-V SUV lineup in January. The 2.2 litre unit produces 110kW/350Nm, and will be available in six-speed manual or five-speed auto with all-wheel drive only. Official fuel consumption is as low as 5.8L/100km. (Approximately $35,000-$45,000)Isuzu MU-X: Isuzu will introduce the seven-seat MU-X in January, with the company’s first SUV sharing much of its design with the D-Max ute and Holden Colorado and Colorado 7 models. The MU-X will be equipped with the same 3.0-litre diesel engine as the D-Max, and offer family 4WD toughness for a lot less than Toyota’s Prado. (Approximately $40,500-$53,500)Kia Sorento: The final Kia model for 2014 is likely to be a significantly revamped Sorento seven-seat SUV, with a comprehensive design update inside and out to bring it in line with the fresher styling of its Hyundai Santa Fe mechanical twin. (Approximately $38,000-$51,000)Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: The stylish Range Rover Evoque is due for an update before June, with a new nine-speed auto delivering fuel economy gains of about 10 per cent, plus styling tweaks to bring it in line with the new full-size Range Rover and Sport models. (Approximately $50,000-$91,000)Mercedes-Benz GLA: Mercedes will bring the new A-Class-based GLA SUV to our shores in May, with the all-new model taking the fight to the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 in the premium compact SUV segment. Priced from about $45,000, the GLA will be available in front or 4MATIC all-wheel drive and engines from launch will include the 115kW/250Nm 1.6-litre GLA200 and 155kW/350Nm 2.0-litre GLA250 petrols, and 100kW/300Nm 2.2-litre GLA200 CDI and 125kW/350Nm 2.2-litre GLA220 CDI turbodiesel options. (Approximately from $45,000)Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Mitsubishi will introduce its first hybrid model in April, in the form of the plug-in hybrid Outlander SUV. Priced from about $50,000, the Outlander PHEV promises Holden Volt-rivalling efficiency for about $10,000 less, and wrapped within a more practical SUV body. (Approximately from $50,000)Nissan Pathfinder hybrid: Nissan will complete its new Pathfinder SUV lineup in the second quarter, with the addition of a new petrol-electric hybrid variant to help silence the naysayers lamenting the lack of a diesel option in the new model. The 187kW/329Nm hybrid drivetrain uses a 15kW electric motor paired with a supercharged 2.5 litre four cylinder petrol engine, resulting in a claimed 25 per cent fuel efficiency gain. (Approximately $55,000-$60,000)Nissan X-Trail: Nissan will replace its hugely successful X-Trail medium SUV in about July, with the bigger design offering seating for seven for the first time, and improved refinement to go with its softened exterior design. (Approximately $30,000-$47,000)Skoda Octavia Scout: The Octavia RS will be followed by the jacked-up Scout AWD variant in about mid-year. (Approximately $40,000-$45,000)Toyota Kluger: Toyota will introduce the third-generation of its Kluger large SUV in the first quarter, with the all-new larger model promising improved seating for seven and fresh styling, but its continued reliance on a petrol V6 might threaten its sales success next to the diesel and hybrid options offered by most rivals. (Approximately $40,000-$60,000)Volvo XC60: Volvo’s new Drive-E engines will also appear in the XC60 SUV in March, with power and efficiency gains promised, along with a new eight-speed auto. (Approximately $57,000-79,000)COMMERCIAL VEHICLESFord Transit: Ford’s commercial lineup will receive a boost in January with the arrival of an all-new Transit van model, with the light-duty Transit Custom touching down ahead of the heavy-duty Transit Cargo range in April. (Approximately $36,000-$52,000) 

Weak results in the booming prestige small-car market hope to change with Lexus soon to upgrade its smallest model, the hybrid CT200h.The $40,000-plus small-car prestige segment is the Australian market's best-performing category in year-to-date October figures, up 64 per cent on the same time last year.Big winners are the Mercedes-Benz pair of the A-Class and B-Class with 5468 sales to date, but the sole Lexus entry attracted 702 buyers, down 43 per cent on last year. But it remains the third best-selling Lexus, trailing the RX SUV and compact IS series.On sale from April, the improved CT200h adds better body rigidity, lower cabin noise and suspension refinement to improve ride and handling.It will also be the seventh model to get Lexus' new family spindle-shaped grille.The Toyota-based Prius hybrid 100kW/142Nm drivetrain won't be changed in the 2014 upgrade, with Lexus aiming all attention to reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) by making the body more rigid, the suspension more comfortable and wind noise reduced by attention to the car's aerodynamics. Lexus says there are 94 separate changes to the car to reduce NVH.The grille and the rear bumper will be the only exterior panels to be changed for the 2014 model, though it will receive 10-spoke alloy wheels in 16-inch or 17-inch sizes. The unusual design of the rear of the hatchback, with confused angles and window shapes, is a talking point and is not being changed.Cabin differences include a new, smaller-diameter steering wheel borrowed from the IS-series, a TFT screen within the main instrument panel, improvements to the satellite-navigation operation and the introduction of unique audio speakers made using bamboo. Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley says the changes will improve "its overall dynamic capabilities, driveability and visual appeal".Final specification and price will be announced closer to the car's launch.Meanwhile Lexus has added a entry-level hybrid version of its GS range. The GS300h uses the same hybrid drivetrain as the IS300h — 164kW/221Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder — and is priced from $79,000 for the Luxury. There are three GS300h models — the Luxury, F-Sport at $87,000 and the $102,000 Sports Luxury.The inclusion of these models has chopped the bigger GS450h Luxury hybrid ($99,900) and petrol GS250 Sports Luxury ($99,400) from the Australian market. The model shuffle places more emphasis on hybrid and sets Lexus up as a manufacturer of both conventional and electric powerplants.The writer is on Twitter: @cg_dowling 

Lexus has given the Lexus CT200h a mid-life upgrade for 2014, and released images ahead of the hybrid five-door hatchback's official unveiling later this month. The revision shows changes to exterior styling, including the new spindle grille that's been spreading across the Lexus family's faces.Restyled bumpers and alloy wheel designs largely comprise the rest of the facelift, with no word of any changes under the bonnet. The CT200h is likely to carry over its Prius-sourced drivetrain, with a 73kW/142Nm 1.8-litre engine coupled with a 60kW/207Nm electric motor -- which also performs the role of generator and starter motor -- and mated to a continuously-variable transmission.There was some thought that Toyota may update to a lithium-ion battery pack, moving on from the heavy and less efficient nickel-metal hydride. However the cheapness of the latter is likely to have won out, especially as Lexus is expected to be looking at strategic pricing that could lower the CT200h's $39,990 entry price to better arm it against the latest crop of rivals in the premium hatch sector.More details will be revealed when the CT200h is unveiled at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China on November 21, and is set to arrive here in the first half of next year.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

 This competition closed at 11.59pm Wednesday July 13.The winners will be announced on Carsguide.com.au on Monday July 18. Stay tuned… SMS codes have been revealed! Check out our online gallery here.Vote now for your favourite Carsguide Car of the Show and you could win a Lexus CT 200h in Vermillion red with a leather enhancement pack. There is also a runner up prize of a $1,000 prepaid gift card to be won in each region.If you're at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne, note the codeword on the yellow sign next to your choice for Carsguide Car of the Show and sms it to 199 888 00.If you're not attending the show, check out the Carsguide Car of the Show gallery in your local Carsguide lift-out, in the following papers:The Daily Telegraph - Saturday 2 July, Friday 8 July & Saturday 9 July 2011Herald Sun - Friday 1 July, Saturday 2 July, Friday 8 July & Saturday 9 July 2011Courier Mail - Saturday 2 July & Saturday 9 July 2011The Advertiser - Saturday 2 July & Saturday 9 July 2011Northern Territory News - Saturday 2 July & Saturday 9 July 2011The Mercury - Saturday 2 July & Saturday 9 July 2011The Sunday Times - Sunday 3 July & Sunday 10 July 2011.Then SMS your name and the codeword for the car you want to vote for. SMS cost 55c per entry. The SMS numbers for each state are:NSW/ACT: 197 467 67VIC: 199 888 00TAS: 197 036 63QLD: 197 197 22WA: 199 882 00SA/NT: 199 199 03We will be showing the full gallery and code words on carsguide.com.au from Monday, July 11.However ALL voting will be by SMS. To make sure the choice of winner is entirely by a legal random selection, we cannot enable voting by email, letter or phone call.MAJOR PRIZELexus CT200h in Vermillion red with the Leather enhancement Pack including all drive away costs valued at $47,254.71.You could own one of the world's first luxury hybrid hatch! The CT 200h reinforces Lexus' commitment to innovation. Lexus Hybrid Drive delivers an unmatched balance between performance and environmental sensitivity for a driving experience that is pure enjoyment.Introducing the Lexus CT 200hFind a Lexus dealerRequest a brochureRequest a test drive Enhancement Pack 1 includes:Ivory Leather-accented trim.17-inch alloy wheels.Front-seat heaters.Reversing Camera & self-dimming mirror with the reversing camera image shown in the mirrorStandard specifications:100kW hybrid powerplant.Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT).Drive Mode Select (EV, ECO, NORMAL and SPORT).Eight SRS airbags.6 speaker audio.Full active safety package of ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control.Emergency flashing brake lights.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).Mood lighting around the Drive Mode Select dial and overhead illumination.Dual-zone climate control air conditioning.Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).Smart Start.Multi-Information Display (MID).Alloy wheels with Yokohama 'dB decibel E70' tyres.60/40-split fold rear seat with flat floor.Genuine leather steering wheel.Hydrophilic and heated exterior mirrors.Cruise control.Rear spoilerEngine immobiliser.RUNNER UP PRIZESSix lucky runner up winners will each receive a prepaid gift card to the value of $1,000 (one winner per the following regions will be drawn: NSW/ ACT, VIC, TAS, QLD, WA and SA/NT).Competition closes 23:59 (AEST) 13/07/2011. Competition is drawn at 14:00 (AEST) 14/07/2011 at Salmat Interactive, 100 Arthur Street,North Sydney, NSW 2060. Prize includes Lexus Hybrid CT200h Prestige in Vermillion Red with the Leather Enhancement Pack. For full terms and conditions click here. Authorised under NSW: LTPS/11/05505; ACT: TP 11/02335; VIC 11/1181; SA: T11/1180 *Call cost 55c (inc GST) per entry.

It's the first full electric car to get the maximum safety score, although a range of petrol-electric hybrids, including the Toyota Camry, which has just moved up in local testing, have managed a five

The app lets players challenge each other slot-car style, on virtual circuits, and switch between Sport and Eco driving modes to log the best lap times while bringing in a good fuel figure.The two players who finish with top scores overall on all the app’s tracks will get to face-off in person at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne on Sunday, June 19. The final winner will take the grand prize: a Lexus CT 200h.The two finalists will receive return flights to Melbourne from their nearest capital city and accommodation in the luxurious Crown Metropol.Lexus spokesman Peter Evans says the mobile app is “the perfect launch platform” for the all-new CT 200h. "The CT 200h is a completely new proposition for Lexus and brings with it a new, younger audience,” Evans says.“The addition of mobile applications to our marketing activity makes perfect sense.”The Lexus CT City Challenge app is available now at the following link: Lexus CT 200h on iTunes

The hybrid fight comes as Lexus uses the high-profile event to introduce its compact CT200h to local buyers, as well as the drivers who will compete in the 2011 celebrity challenge.Hybrids have run in Formula One, as well as major sports car races and some touring car events, but only in contests open to normal petrol-powered cars.No-one in a CT200h will be going for all-out efficiency at Albert Park, or running the car on pure battery power, but Lexus believes the AGP is an ideal way to change the green focus away from the efficiency of the Prius to the potential driving enjoyment of the CT."We want to show that hybrids can be sporty and they can be fun. This is a world first," says Lexus executive, Peter Evans. "We also think this is the single biggest bang-for-your-buck opportunity to launch a new car in Australia. It's an amazing platform with 4.6 million people at the peak television viewing and 310,000 spectators over four days."Evans avoids discussing the potential on-track carnage with the cars but promises a field with far more genuine celebrities than recent AGP celebrity contests."Our target is to try and get a new group. Not so much new faces, but different faces. So not someone like Guy Leech," he says."We want high-profile people. We're targeting a 50:50 mix of male and female and we're going for people who match the intended buyer profile, so younger and almost half will be women. Most will be under 40. We're still working to finalise the list and we'll announce that in Melbourne next week. We don't want a repeat of 2008 when the motocross racer Robbie Madison cleared out and won by half a lap."The celebrity race commitment will gobble the early supply of CT200h cars, although they will head to dealerships afterwards for promotional work and likely sale.Evans also promises a record number of chances for non-celebrity drivers to take part in the race."There will be 30 cars, 27 on track and three reserves. They will be made up of 24 cars representing our dealer sites, plus three competition cars. There will be a consumer competition, a dealer competition and a buyer's competition. If you sign a contract to buy a CT200H then you go into a draw to win a drive. There will also be two winners in the race, an outright and an index-of-efficiency prize."The celebrity race program will be run by retired Australian rally champions Neal Bates and Coral Taylor, who drove for Lexus in Targa Tasmania with an IS200. They will be responsible for everything from car preparation at Bates' race base in Canberra to the training and licensing of the celebrity drivers, although Lexus technicians will also be involved in maintenance of the cars during the AGP meeting.