New Lexus Hybrid: CT 200h (42 MPG) Updated with F-sport Debut
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Toyota USA doesn't list a different curb weight for the 17"-wheel Prius, but according to toyota.jp, the 17"-wheel Prius is 40kg heavier than the 15"-wheel model. And guess how many pounds is 40kg? 88 lbs! Yup. In other words, the CT200h's weight is now officially IDENTICAL to the Prius's!!! Not a pound more, not a pound less. IDENTICAL. That makes why the CT200h gets only 42mpg while the 17"-wheel Prius manages 50mpg an even bigger mystery.
Last edited by Mister Two; Sep 21, 2010 at 03:41 PM.
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Lead Lap
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One possibility: If I'm not mistaken, CT 200h and Prius have fundamentally the same MPG in city driving, but Prius has better highway fuel economy. The likeliest factor: Prius' 0.25 drag coefficient versus CT 200h's 0.29 on 17" wheels and 0.28 on 15" wheels.
Lead Lap
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Hmm quite likely. Does that mean the European fuel economy testing does not take into account a car's drag coefficient like EPA does? If they don't, that would explain why the two cars get nearly identical ratings in Europe.
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lol MT crashed the CT event but are mostly complimentary toward it.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html
Lead Lap
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lol MT crashed the CT event but are mostly complimentary toward it.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html
I don't think that's an accurate statement. The Sport mode sharpens up throttle response and tightens up steering but does not give the electric motor an "extra boost", unless the PR failed to mention something this significant. And of course the CT in Sport mode feels noticeably quicker than a Prius in Normal mode. The real question is how it compares to a Prius in Power mode.
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Oh I missed that then. Does that mean the electric motor can output more than 80hp for a short period of time? If so, does the peak system output become more than 134hp in such cases? Very curious about what this "extra boost" in the Sport mode really means. It could simply mean to "un-handicap" the electric motor from its Normal and Eco modes, which would otherwise not be allowed to reach 80hp.
All interior pics to date only have heated at most
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The CT 200h will also be equipped with four drive-modes: Normal, Eco, Sport and EV. Normal mode has an essentially linear throttle response that gives naturally progressive power while the Power Control Unit (PCU) limits drive voltage to a maximum of 500 volts. The Eco mode adjusts air conditioning settings and the throttle for the best possible fuel economy. For an enhanced fun-to-drive experience, Sport mode, a first for the Lexus hybrid line-up, can be selected. Sport mode provides more direct Electric Power Steering (EPS) settings and throttle while the PCU boosts drive voltage to a maximum output of 650 volts. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) are less intrusive when Sport mode is selected, allowing for more lively driving. In EV mode, under certain circumstances, the vehicle can be driven up to one mile using only the electric motors.
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http://www.toyota.ie/innovation/prius/
Since the Prius's Power mode also sharpens throttle response, I guess the only thing special left for the CT's Sport mode is its adjustment to power steering, which MT finds un-sporty still.
Originally Posted by Motor Trend
If the CT 200h fails to live up to its sporty claims anywhere, it's in the steering. Light and lifeless, its best redeeming quality is that it's very responsive with no noticeable dead zone on center. Switch over to Sport mode and the steering sharpens further, but it's still very isolated from the wheels.
Last edited by Mister Two; Sep 24, 2010 at 04:35 PM.
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