Photo: Lexus
Lexus’s CT, the first compact hatchback ever offered by the Japanese brand, is not considered a success concerning sales results.
The CT200h was an experiment of the brand, which tried to stray from its usual lineup with something designed for younger customers. The target audience did not reply in the form of sales figures, preferring the millennial approach that involves “seeing” a message without ever responding.
In spite of the CT200h’s lower than expected sales figures, the hatchback is somewhat popular in Europe, but not a hot-selling product. It is evident for those at Lexus that there is a demand for a premium model in the compact segment with a hybrid drivetrain, but the CT200h might not be the best configuration for this product.
Instead, Lexus engineers and designers are experimenting with a new idea, which comes in the form of a premium crossover with a hybrid drivetrain. The replacement of the Lexus CT is expected to be the production version of UX Concept, which was revealed at this year’s Paris Motor Show.
The UX Concept is a compact-sized crossover with SUV styling and ride height. If you look at the current trends in the European market, SUVs and crossovers are hot-selling items, and Lexus is expected to apply its hybrid recipe in this segment. With the concept presented this October, the production model could come as early as next fall.
Unlike other concept vehicles, the example from Lexus was shown with an exterior that appeared to be close to production cars, but its interior was far from what you can see in a showroom of the Japanese brand if you enter it today. However, with Toyota’s C-HR model freshly released in the segment, Lexus should have no problem finding a base to develop the interior of the CT200h’s successor.
It is important to note that Lexus has already trademarked the UX name in multiple configurations, which means that it might also be available without the hybrid drivetrain. The same solution was applied to other models from this brand, and it proved to be popular among consumers wanting something different, but not necessarily a hybrid vehicle.
In spite of the CT200h’s lower than expected sales figures, the hatchback is somewhat popular in Europe, but not a hot-selling product. It is evident for those at Lexus that there is a demand for a premium model in the compact segment with a hybrid drivetrain, but the CT200h might not be the best configuration for this product.
Instead, Lexus engineers and designers are experimenting with a new idea, which comes in the form of a premium crossover with a hybrid drivetrain. The replacement of the Lexus CT is expected to be the production version of UX Concept, which was revealed at this year’s Paris Motor Show.
The UX Concept is a compact-sized crossover with SUV styling and ride height. If you look at the current trends in the European market, SUVs and crossovers are hot-selling items, and Lexus is expected to apply its hybrid recipe in this segment. With the concept presented this October, the production model could come as early as next fall.
Unlike other concept vehicles, the example from Lexus was shown with an exterior that appeared to be close to production cars, but its interior was far from what you can see in a showroom of the Japanese brand if you enter it today. However, with Toyota’s C-HR model freshly released in the segment, Lexus should have no problem finding a base to develop the interior of the CT200h’s successor.
It is important to note that Lexus has already trademarked the UX name in multiple configurations, which means that it might also be available without the hybrid drivetrain. The same solution was applied to other models from this brand, and it proved to be popular among consumers wanting something different, but not necessarily a hybrid vehicle.
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