Must we remind you how traditional passenger cars keep losing ground to crossovers and SUVs? We won't, even though we just did, and with this Schrodinger-like remark, we will put the hypothetical spotlight on one model that's been dead for one year – or six if you live in the United States: the Lexus CT.
Launched in 2011 as a rival to the similarly-sized five-door versions of the BMW 1 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Audi A3 Sportback, and the discontinued Volvo V40, the Lexus CT was related to the era's Auris. It came with an electrified powertrain before it was cool to have such models and was given a facelift for the 2014 model year when it added an interpretation of the spindle grille. The second mid-cycle refresh came out in 2018 and brought additional novelties.
In theory, Lexus' CT had all the premises to make it to a new generation: direct rivals in the forms of the models mentioned above (albeit not stateside), electrified power, and modern tech gear. In practice, Toyota's premium car brand decided to pull the plug on it last year for good and to focus on crossovers and SUVs because these are the best moneymakers these days. Thus, the nameplate remains buried for now, and even if it returns (there is no indication that it will do that), chances are it will be used on a future high-rider.
Lexus still has the means to make a new CT. After all, they can always build it on the same platform as the latest-gen Toyota Corolla, namely the TNGA-C, which is also shared with the Corolla Cross, C-HR, Prius, and Lexus UX. And it was the Corolla and the UX that served as inspiration for the latest renderings showcasing what a possible modern-day CT might look like as imagined by Theottle, sprinkled with the design of the LBX.
The pixel manipulator recently took to the online realm to reveal a pair of digital illustrations of the car. The model has a softer design compared to the real thing, a modern interpretation of the spindle grille and full-width LED taillights. Between us, it doesn't look that good, nor in a side-by-side comparison with the CT, but we think it would sell with the correct powertrain, better quality materials, and a price tag slightly north of the Toyota Corolla.
A possible new Lexus CT would be the entry-level point to the company's low-slung lineup and would cost less than the IS, which has an MSRP of $41,235. The 2023 Toyota Corolla starts at $21,700 before destination and dealer fees, and a correct price tag for the hypothetical CT would be in the region of $30,000. But would you buy one if they gave it another shot?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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