Daily Slideshow: The CT Could Return as Tesla Model 3 Fighter
Banished from America, the hybrid Lexus CT might undergo a radical transformation in the near future!
New, Electric World
The Lexus CT 200h bowed way back in 2011, but just never really caught hold here in America. So the luxury automaker decided to pull the plug on the hybrid hatch, at least here in the states, last year. Meanwhile, the rest of the world received a mildly refreshed model. But with all-electric vehicles, the new hot thing, could Lexus be preparing to redesign the CT as a sort of Tesla Model 3 fighter? According to a recent report by Auto Express, that's precisely the plan.
>>Join in the conversation on the return of the CT as a competent EV Lexus right here in ClubLexus.
Reading Between the Lines
According to the report, the next-gen CT will still be offered as a hybrid vehicle. But it would be joined by an all-electric version as well with an eye toward competing against Tesla's entry-level EV. Lexus Europe Boss Pascal Ruch dropped a few clues surrounding the CT redo in a recent conversation with the British automotive publication.
>>Join in the conversation on the return of the CT as a competent EV Lexus right here in ClubLexus.
Thinking Outside the Box
"The CT has a high conquest ratio of 70 to 75 percent. It's useful for bringing new people to the brand. People buy the CT for efficiency; with the UX, we’re looking for a different customer," Ruch said. "If the question is 'Will we replace the CT?', let’s say so. We might have to think about a different approach to the sector. Maybe it's the time to find something new in the CT’s segment."
>>Join in the conversation on the return of the CT as a competent EV Lexus right here in ClubLexus.
New Platform, New Life
In America at least, the UX is the subcompact replacement for the CT. And if Lexus does, in fact, decide to keep the small hatch around for another generation, it too will receive the very same Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) C platform that underpins the UX and numerous other current and future Toyota/Lexus products. Though none of those products, at least for now, are offered as an EV.
>>Join in the conversation on the return of the CT as a competent EV Lexus right here in ClubLexus.
Truth or Fiction?
So when, exactly, might we see this new Lexus CT EV? According to Auto Express, the all-new model is scheduled to arrive in 2020, helping Lexus work towards its goal of selling 10+ battery-electric models by the early 2020s. But that seems like a rather aggressive timeline for a car that, at this point, is only rumored to exist. In the meantime, you can bet we'll be keeping a close eye on this rumor!
>>Join in the conversation on the return of the CT as a competent EV Lexus right here in ClubLexus.
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