Has anyone figured out what the middle cutout is for? I can't think of anything with that small a diameter that people would carry regularly.

 

Maybe its a bridge to hold both cups together i guess
Not sure

 

I've wondered myself too. Perhaps an energy drink can? Also the car was designed by a woman for women, so perhaps there's something us guys are not getting. lol. i do love these cupholders way more than the ones in my IS which are very shallow and very narrow.

 

Clearance for cup handles?

 

Designed by a woman for women? Source?

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2010/04/...hief-designer/
https://europe.autonews.com/article/...s-with-ct-200h

Mixed up with UX designer?
https://newsroom.lexus.eu/a-fireside...er-chika-kako/
Still has no reference to female target audience.

 

She also is lead on the UX as well. Nothing wrong with that. I'm not at all bothered by this.

 

Looks like she was the chief engineer with the CT, the designer was Takeshi Tanabe.

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2017/12/...ice-president/
https://lexusenthusiast.com/2010/04/...hief-designer/

 

I applaud strong females leading the charge. This is all old news. Read all these articles years ago. I remember the discussions and articles where she had very strong input on seating position, materials, feel and all. CT is very popular with women.

"LB: How is the CT representative of Lexus’ developmental direction?

CK: The car is more fun to drive, and stylish. My biggest passion is to make a cool interior with innovative solutions and a warm atmosphere."

 

I don't mind the cupholders, thought about that small cutout too and agree with mcomer it helps with some handles. If i had to gripe, I don't like that they are in-line with each other. When my arm is on the arm rest (which sits farther back for me, I may not be tall, but I'm not "short" either at 5'10") and when both holders are full, it's awkward to get the item out of the rear holder. The position of the front holder is perfect to grab. plus if my arm is there, my wife has to (in a sense) reach over my arm to get her coffee mug out of the aft space. I won't use the door spots for anything that doesn't have a screw close lid.

 

Owners manual states that "The partition in the cup holder can also be used to store a small cup or can."
It's mentioned somewhere in the interior features of the car.

 

Well now I feel stupid. Never occurred to me to look up cup holders in the owners manual. (It's page 463 in mine) Not that I've ever seen a can that small.

 

Maybe like those little cans of V8 juice?

 

Probably. V8 drinkers have been ignored by every other car on the market. And catering to them didn't work out for the CT. Maybe there are more V8 drinkers in Europe....

 

one of my favorite cupholders on any car i've owned. The cupholder fits my iPhone XS Max perfectly. also my keys. i put all sorts of stuff in it. unfortunately my dog steps into it too when she's hopping around in the front. it's like falling into the grand canyon.

 

yeah I can't blame you. I never bothered to look either haha. I know in Japan they have tons of those smaller cans for coffee (like Boss coffee) or pop. They barely fit in your hand.
Like these: