Lexus CT 200h Headed for the U.S.

It looks good, but the design language is more Toyota than L-Finesse. I wonder why they did that.

I think this is a way better idea than the HS, but yeah, I'd expect it to have the larger motor. I'm not sure how this will work, pricing-wise, either, given that the HS picks up where the Prius leaves off...plus there's the small issue of neither the A3 nor the 1 being a big volume product...

If they put the bigger engine in this and sell it for under 30 to start, they will sell well. If it is as slow as the Prius, I think they will have problems. I have yet to see a HS250H on the road, or maybe I have and I thought it was a Carolla. This looks great.

I don't like the profile. There is just something about the shape of the rear door and the greenhouse that looks wrong to me.

I'm always up for more hatchbacks in the marketplace though.

Hopefully they do this right-- good gas mileage (40+ mpg), good handling (it's FWD, but it can be done), priced well ($28K or less) and a strong 0-60 time (<8.0 seconds; not that important to me but it'll help their marketing... plus, if it's going to take 10 seconds, I could get a Prius/Insight/Fit).

I like the idea of this car-- I'm looking for a small wagon/hatch in the size of an A3, but with better reliability. Outside of VW/Audi, nobody is really offering anything that isn't "economy" car status.

Looks-wise, I keep seeing Toyota Venza in the profile-- not great, but something I can live with.

I wish they would release some specs on this... I'm currently exploring the Golf/Jetta TDI or leasing an Insight ($200/month) but these both have tradeoffs that I don't really want to make (reliability on one axis, fun-to-drive on the other).

Yes its coming to the USA thats good. It looks very nice too.

http://www.patscowindshieldrepair.com/

The HS250h *starts* at $35k, so no, you won't be seeing this under $30k. If you're looking for a bargain, try a non-hybrid Toyota.

@throwback - I've seen a few of the HS250's and they are NOT pretty. Can't see why somebody would buy that over a Prius, I really can't.

Hmm...I posted a comment here earlier and I don't see it?

Anyways, this car looks a lot like a current generation Matrix. I guess that makes sense since it's built on the very same Corolla platform.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/9478048/112_0712_11z%2B2009_toyota_matrix_xrs%2Bfront_view.jpg

hmmm... lexus.com has this on their website stating only a 1.8L engine, so I'm doubtful that they are going to: a) have another engine option; and b) get any performance out of this.
I was reading on another site that the "sport" mode only tightens up the steering.

Still hoping (not sure why) for something attractive to definitively come out on this car.

how is the front different from the prev gen mazda6?

Sales success will be highly dependent on pricing and the street price of gasoline. IMO, the HS is priced too high for the avg. street price of gasoline. Move the starting price down on that vehicle even $5,000 and I think they'd sell a lot more. Similarily, if gas goes back up to $5.00/gallon they'll be flying off lots.

I hope Lexus/Toyota is smart enough to price this vehicle better.

bhahahahahaha. It looks like a Mazda3 with a Lexus badge. They're gonna slap a 30k price tag on this dog and somehow it will outsell the better looking, sportier, more enjoyable A3 TDI.

I think the comparison to the A3 TDI will be very interesting... I would suspect that for comparably equipped cars, the Lexus will be thousands less (talking sticker price). That combined with better reliability (current issues aside) may give the slight edge to the Lexus for a good segment of the market.
Of course, if it handles like a pig then it'll be DOA.

It is a car only a Lexus fanboy could think is nice looking......it is another new car you cant see out of.....look at that back window.....barf

Wondering why people think this will be reasonably priced. Have they looked at the Lexus Corolla-like hybrid? 41k with just the navi package. Egad!

This thing will likely start in the high thirties and package up close to fifty thousand dollars. I'm guessing that the stench of failure coming off Toyota will reach its peak right about when this thing hits dealer lots. I love the hatchback idea and like the shape of this vehicle but hybrid means weak and expensive so it won't work.

This would have made more sense as a Prius variant. Not sure it will work as a Lexus. I applaud the hatch idea as that is something that is missing in the hybrids. I agree that visibility looks to be an issue. I would love a hatch/wagon that was fun to drive and got 40 MPG (and was not a diesel/VW). Right now the closest to that is the Mazda3 but it only gets 29 MPG hwy.

Promising - reminds me of the Audi A3 or Nissan Rogue.
Unfortunately, Prius-type Hybrids have trouble with our NW USA winters (a former co-worker had to carry chains for his).
While the large Lexus RX400h hybrid (and its obese RX450h successor) have an AWD option, I'm not sure AWD will trickle down to the CT200h.

The only way to sell "premium" hatchs in the US...make it a Hybrid...

how about a 6 cyl PETROL version? OR a Turbo DIESEL ?

f...ing hate hybrids!!!!!!!

1. This wont be cheap- see HS250 for reference. That car tops out at over $45k
2. Offering it only with a hybrid powertrain is stupid
3. This car does not fit in with other Lexus models in terms of interior or exterior designs
4. Why is Lexus continuing to ADD FWD cars to their luxury lineup?

wow I actually yawned when I first saw it. The concept looked like Lexus had finally engineered something interesting, but the final product does away with any of that, as they inject the usual 32-bit 16.7 million shades of boring into their latest lexbucket.