Also mentioned in last week’s news.com.au interview with the president of Lexus International, Kiyotaka Ise, was the possibility of a CT with a gas-only engine option:
Lexus, though, could offer a regular petrol engine in its CT hatch. The rival for the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series has remained since launch with just a single drivetrain – a petrol-electric arrangement borrowed from the Toyota Prius.
Ise-san says the hybrid drivetrain reinforces the premium aspect of the hatch but admits consumer demand could persuade them to offer an alternative.
“Some customers are asking [for a petrol engine],” said Ise-san. “[So] it’s worth thinking about.”
With the CT now established and selling well in markets around the world, expanding the engine options to include a gas engine is a smart move — the model’s driving dynamics are excellent, and something more powerful than the CT 200h’s 134 total system horsepower would be most welcome.
Naturally, this leads to some speculation — what engine will be used? Could the CT be in line to get the new turbo-charged four-cylinder engine announced last week?
[Source: news.com.au]
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