LEXUS CT 2011-2014 Photos, engines & full specs

After getting a good hybrid experience with the Prius, the Japanese car maker introduced the first premium compact hybrid vehicle on the market, the Lexus CT, at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

The Toyota Prius was the car that shifted the market attention toward hybrid vehicles. The first generation of the Prius was introduced in 1997 and, by 2010, the hybrid system was already to a higher level of efficiency and performance. It was ready to be introduced to the first compact hatchback built by Lexus.

The front aggressive styling looked typically Lexus. The raked A-pillars and straight roofline were followed by an abrupt descent of the tailgate. The C-pillar was moved over the rear wheels and not behind them, as it usually happens on the hatchbacks. The headlights and the taillights were designed in the same angular style of other Lexus models.

Inside, the Lexus kept its name as a premium brand. The dashboard was divided into two distinct zones: an upper, Display Zone, with an 8", LCD Multi-display screen, and a lower, Operation Zone, which allowed access to the shift lever and system controls such as the Remote Touch.

The drivetrain was a carry-over from the Prius. It featured a 1.8-liter Atkinson engine and an electric motor, in the parallel scheme. The CT200h could work in EV mode at speeds up to 45 km/h (28 mph) for up to 2 km (1.24 miles).