In a recent interview with The Motor Report, Lexus Australia Sean Hanley confirmed that the CT 200h will receive a mid-cycle refresh ahead of an all-new model in 2016:
Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley is refusing to admit defeat – or even disappointment – with the CT 200h baby hybrid.
“We see the CT 200h as our greatest opportunity,” Hanley said, speaking at today’s Lexus ES briefing in Sydney.
Hope is on the horizon however, with a facelift due in early 2014 ahead of an all-new model in 2016.
We can expect to see the updated CT 200h late this year or early next year, before going on sale around the middle of 2014 – likely with a new, lower starting price to combat the Europeans.
The timeframe was confirmed in a similar GoAuto article, who also suggest the CT may receive additional variants:
But Lexus says a mid-model facelift and repositioning are coming next year to make the CT200h more competitive against the sharply priced and fresher rivals.
In the longer term, a broader spread of CT models is believed to be in the offing at the next full-model change about 2016, possibly with a sedan to join the range to help global sales, particularly in the United States and China.
A Lexus CT sedan would require a significant reworking of the design in order to hold any real appeal — it brings to mind two renderings I created in 2010 of a Lexus CC (Compact Coupe) and CS (Compact Sedan):
Either of these models would help Lexus compete with the Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1-Series, and more importantly, would provide another model to help expand the brand’s position in the compact segment. Interested to see if there’s anything to this rumor.
[Source: The Motor Report & GoAuto]
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