Almost one year on since Lexus has forced to pull the CT200h from the Australian market due to new safety regulations, a successor appears to be brewing
Luxury car manufacturer Lexus is reportedly preparing to resurrect its CT nameplate as a fully-electric crossover-style SUV in 2024.
Japanese outlet Best Car Web has reported that a successor to the CT hatch is being developed by Lexus with a variety of drivetrains including electric, hybrid and petrol options.
The Lexus CT is rumoured to come back as a crossover SUV
Little is currently known about the future of the CT successor but the report claims it will be sold alongside Lexus’s UX small SUV, despite its transformation into a more rugged SUV.
The report goes on to say that the second-generation CT will arrive between December 2024 and May 2025, so there is still a significant period of time before it makes an appearance.
The first-generation CT hatch was based on the underpinnings of the previous-generation Toyota Corolla and made its debut in 2011.
The CT200h was pulled from sale in Australia last year
Lexus sold the CT exclusively as a hybrid vehicle, known as the CT200h, but was forced to pull the hatch from sale in November, 2021, in Australia due to the introduction of a new Australian Design Rule known as ADR 85/00 – for side impact protection.
The IS sedan and closely-related RC coupe were also withdrawn from the market, as were other vehicles such as the Nissan GT-R and Alpine A110 coupes.
It’s worth noting that the CT200h is still on sale in a select few markets including Japan.
What powertrains will be sold in the 2024 CT?
With the reported introduction of the second-generation CT up to three years away, newer powertrain options could emerge but there are a number of good options currently at Lexus’s disposal.
The UX300e is Lexus’s first production fully-electric vehicle and is motivated by a single electric motor on the front axle producing 150kW of power and 300Nm of torque, though the 315km (WLTP) maximum driving range of that set-up may prove limited for some buyers,
The CT could share an electric drivetrain with the UX
Lexus also offers the UX with a hybrid system that pairs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with an electric motor. Together, the drivetrain produces 135kW of power with an unstated amount of torque.
A petrol-only option is also available and makes 126kW/205Nm and could find a place in the new-generation CT’s line-up as a more affordable entry-level option.
Keyword: Lexus CT rumoured to return as a fully-electric crossover SUV in 2024, with hybrid and petrol options