One of the smallest and most affordable Lexus models on the market for the past several years has been the CT. This little car is one that’s been offered in a variety of ways including the hybrid version that can be the fun and active car you want to drive but also experience savings in fuel with the impressive efficiency offered. This little car has been a hatchback we’ve admired for a while, but it might be time for the CT to go by the wayside in order to make room for another model.
The Luxury Hybrid Hatchback Challenge
Hatchback vehicles have a specific challenge in the market and luxury models experience this challenge even more. While a mainstream hatchback is often built on the most affordable platform in an automaker’s lineup, the luxury hatchbacks are more difficult to move for dealers. Even so, the Lexus CT has been one of the most popular models in the market around the world but the new UX crossover SUV is a vehicle that’s extremely close in size to the CT. With much of the market moving toward SUVs, this could mean the end of the CT as we know it now.
Thankfully, the CT is still a car that attracts significant attention, especially among hybrid shoppers in Europe. This market is where we already see the UX crossover SUV from Lexus which makes us wonder if the two can coexist peacefully in the same market from the same automaker. This question has come up and it appears the CT will continue on because the Lexus team in Europe sees the UX as a crossover that offers a significant improvement in volume over the CT, which means the two are viewed as two completely different models.
Will the Lexus CT Continue to be the Model We Know
As it moves toward a new generation, the CT is a car that you should get to know a bit better. This impressive small luxury hybrid hatchback is built on a platform that it shares with the Toyota Prius. As such, it uses a 1.8-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain to make 134 horsepower, which are the same numbers you’ll find when you take a look at the Toyota Prius. As of right now, the US market doesn’t benefit from the Lexus CT, but it’s still a popular choice around Europe.
Right now, the plan is to have the Lexus CT continue to be part of the European market for at least two more years. At this time, Lexus will consider whether to replace it and allow it to continue on or delete it from the lineup. If the UX is built as a hybrid, which could come in the form of the UX250h model, the CT could easily be replaced by a vehicle that’s a little larger. This may mean we’ll see a new CT in North America or we might see a new UX SUV that’s offered and the CT will be no more.
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