Lexus Europe Hopes for Next-Generation CT Hatchback

argh

The respectable Chevrolet Bolt has the same wheelbase as a current gen CT. To avoid comparison with mainstream all-electric cars from Chevrolet, Nissan, etc. this mythical, next-generation, all-electric CT would need to sprint from 0-60 in 7 seconds (or less) in rear or all-wheel drive. This would likely up the starting price a bit, but prevent the model from becoming discontinued (a la the CT and HS) in the biggest market for Lexus.

People are not lining up to buy Bolt... Chevy is losing money on it. It is not aspirational vehicle.

Why should Lexus do Bolt? It should not.

Now, if they have to do it for tax, emissions reasons, sure. Another story. But luxury buyers want Tesla competition, not Bolt.

argh

The respectable Chevrolet Bolt has the same wheelbase as a current gen CT. To avoid comparison with mainstream all-electric cars from Chevrolet, Nissan, etc. this mythical, next-generation, all-electric CT would need to sprint from 0-60 in 7 seconds (or less) in rear or all-wheel drive. This would likely up the starting price a bit, but prevent the model from becoming discontinued (a la the CT and HS) in the biggest market for Lexus.

People are not lining up to buy Bolt... Chevy is losing money on it. It is not aspirational vehicle.

Why should Lexus do Bolt? It should not.

Now, if they have to do it for tax, emissions reasons, sure. Another story. But luxury buyers want Tesla competition, not Bolt.

spwolf

People are not lining up to buy Bolt... Chevy is losing money on it. It is not aspirational vehicle.

Why should Lexus do Bolt? It should not.

Now, if they have to do it for tax, emissions reasons, sure. Another story. But luxury buyers want Tesla competition, not Bolt.

Through the many points provided as to why Lexus should not compete too similarly with EVs from non-luxury brands, there is no suggestion they should make the same car as one automaker.

spwolf

People are not lining up to buy Bolt... Chevy is losing money on it. It is not aspirational vehicle.

Why should Lexus do Bolt? It should not.

Now, if they have to do it for tax, emissions reasons, sure. Another story. But luxury buyers want Tesla competition, not Bolt.

Through the many points provided as to why Lexus should not compete too similarly with EVs from non-luxury brands, there is no suggestion they should make the same car as one automaker.

CT is the reason why Lexus dealerships are still in business in EU. It's their ES car. So a successor truly makes sense. I just cant tell if they want to play the hatch game again or they want to go A3 way.

CT is the reason why Lexus dealerships are still in business in EU. It's their ES car. So a successor truly makes sense. I just cant tell if they want to play the hatch game again or they want to go A3 way.

mediumhot

CT is the reason why Lexus dealerships are still in business in EU. It's their ES car. So a successor truly makes sense. I just cant tell if they want to play the hatch game again or they want to go A3 way.

whats A3 way? Sedan? Hatch still outsells it.

FWD sedan would do well in other parts of the world, like US, Russia, China, etc.

mediumhot

CT is the reason why Lexus dealerships are still in business in EU. It's their ES car. So a successor truly makes sense. I just cant tell if they want to play the hatch game again or they want to go A3 way.

whats A3 way? Sedan? Hatch still outsells it.

FWD sedan would do well in other parts of the world, like US, Russia, China, etc.

I feel honored for having my post transplanted to a completely new thread. :)

Too bad the CHR and the Aurus already seem to have AWD in Europe but not in North America but an AWD BEV variant of either the UX or the CT a few years down the road will be very tempting. I don't need a lot of power. I just want a decent good handling AWD BEV and old-fashion Toyota reliability.

CHR -> UX
Toyota Corolla Hatch / Aurus -> CT

I feel honored for having my post transplanted to a completely new thread. :)

Too bad the CHR and the Aurus already seem to have AWD in Europe but not in North America but an AWD BEV variant of either the UX or the CT a few years down the road will be very tempting. I don't need a lot of power. I just want a decent good handling AWD BEV and old-fashion Toyota reliability.

CHR -> UX
Toyota Corolla Hatch / Aurus -> CT

The good thing is

Ruch. “If we look back since 2012, the brand has experienced, step by step, a strong evolution. But I believe all the segments we are now in, it’s important to stay there.”

Is this means that also new generation GS will appears soon

The good thing is

Ruch. “If we look back since 2012, the brand has experienced, step by step, a strong evolution. But I believe all the segments we are now in, it’s important to stay there.”

Is this means that also new generation GS will appears soon

zander

The back of the NX has this odd pinched look where the tail lights are that bothers me. Also the service manager at my dealer told me the hybrid is lousy and it doesn’t really add much mpg savings. It also seems expensive. You’re right, I never even noticed the plastic wheel surrounds. Why does it look so obvious and weird on UX?

Color makes a big difference, but I would expect it's just the effect of looking at photos as opposed to seeing it IRL.

internalaudit

I feel honored for having my post transplanted to a completely new thread. :)

Thanks for the link!

zander

The back of the NX has this odd pinched look where the tail lights are that bothers me. Also the service manager at my dealer told me the hybrid is lousy and it doesn’t really add much mpg savings. It also seems expensive. You’re right, I never even noticed the plastic wheel surrounds. Why does it look so obvious and weird on UX?

Color makes a big difference, but I would expect it's just the effect of looking at photos as opposed to seeing it IRL.

internalaudit

I feel honored for having my post transplanted to a completely new thread. :)

Thanks for the link!

krew

Lexus Europe Hopes for Next-Generation CT Hatchback

Current update will be around for at least two more years.

View the original article post

krew

Lexus Europe Hopes for Next-Generation CT Hatchback

Current update will be around for at least two more years.

View the original article post

internalaudit

I feel honored for having my post transplanted to a completely new thread. :)

Too bad the CHR and the Aurus already seem to have AWD in Europe but not in North America but an AWD BEV variant of either the UX or the CT a few years down the road will be very tempting. I don't need a lot of power. I just want a decent good handling AWD BEV and old-fashion Toyota reliability.

CHR -> UX
Toyota Corolla Hatch / Aurus -> CT

Auris does not have AWD in Europe, of any kind.

My belief is that the CT has never had the full commitment from Lexus that it needed. One engine option only the design has been allowed to drag on for too long without a proper update.
The question is why, many folk have really enjoyed this car and with a wider range I believe would have been very successful particularly in Europe where hatchbacks and smaller cars are more in demand.
Hope the new one comes with electric power and real luxury there is a demand for a smaller luxury car which no can do better than Lexus for they commit to this model.

Rob Grieveson

My belief is that the CT has never had the full commitment from Lexus that it needed. One engine option only the design has been allowed to drag on for too long without a proper update.
The question is why, many folk have really enjoyed this car and with a wider range I believe would have been very successful particularly in Europe where hatchbacks and smaller cars are more in demand.
Hope the new one comes with electric power and real luxury there is a demand for a smaller luxury car which no can do better than Lexus for they commit to this model.

CT still sells in Europe, and they had another refresh recently.

But sure, it is pretty old now, on older platform and older powertrain. But so is 1 series or A3.

I once thought the CT was a stupid car and it should be killed. But now I think Europe and China deserves an entry-level product like this, especially with how well-made the new Auris and Corolla Hatch are. But I always have to ask the same question: why would people buy the CT when they can buy UX? The UX is a hatchback no matter what Lexus calls it.

The Lexus CT is a car that is mostly interesting for the European market. I hope there will be a new one, a more dynamic one. With the ES now comming to Europe, a new CT is quite important. When a market diminishes, there is always potential in it as a niche. Unfortunately 3 door hatches are done.

ssun30

I once thought the CT was a stupid car and it should be killed. But now I think Europe and China deserves an entry-level product like this, especially with how well-made the new Auris and Corolla Hatch are. But I always have to ask the same question: why would people buy the CT when they can buy UX? The UX is a hatchback no matter what Lexus calls it.

"Rugged" plastic cladding CUV stigma?

Levi

The Lexus CT is a car that is mostly interesting for the European market. I hope there will be a new one, a more dynamic one. With the ES now comming to Europe, a new CT is quite important. When a market diminishes, there is always potential in it as a niche. Unfortunately 3 door hatches are done.

The CT actually has a lot of potential in China as well. They sell just as many CTs as NX hybrids; sales are not insubstantial at close to 1k per month for a hybrid. Easily could get more volume with a cheaper gas-only CT200, even better with a sedan variant. MB CLA is gaining a huge amount of momentum this year, threatening ES's domination in the premium sedan segment.

Its great as a small city car and Lexus really needs to consider a 2nd gen along the UX....

ssun30

I once thought the CT was a stupid car and it should be killed. But now I think Europe and China deserves an entry-level product like this, especially with how well-made the new Auris and Corolla Hatch are. But I always have to ask the same question: why would people buy the CT when they can buy UX? The UX is a hatchback no matter what Lexus calls it.

why do people get C-HR when there is Auris? But they do, and it is completely different market... with C-HR selling crazy numbers of 130k per year in Europe, Auris dropped only few % when C-HR was introduced... so Toyota with C-HR doubled their sales in similar market space as Auris.

Partially it will be because CT is slightly smaller and cheaper, in the end it is different market.

ssun30

Easily could get more volume with a cheaper gas-only CT200, even better with a sedan variant. MB CLA is gaining a huge amount of momentum this year, threatening ES's domination in the premium sedan segment.

MB are doing their usual business to deceive public opinion. I mean who wants to buy a low budget brand model spending premium money?

Check the following videos and tell me how the following cars fare in terms of refinement and cabin noise on high speed autobahn? :the rough and unbearably noisy auris hybrid (that's what journalists say), or the "best or nothing" on the 2nd video? You are going to get shocked!




By the way you should check those safety and agility tests from km77 on YouTube channel. Check how some peasant budget brand models (prius, civic, 308,3008, Mitsubishi crossover) fare compared to the ones, people here perceive as superior competition to CT200h!

I think Lexus should take their own route. Toyota is good enough to compete with the "premium low budget" models.

I was pretty impressed. The Yaris was definitely getting a bit sporty near the top speed, but the Benz started bouncing like a jackrabbit in the 170 km/h range and got much, much worse. At the top speed it looked and sounded a bit like trying to ride a bull in a tornado. No wonder M-B salespeople want nothing to do with these low-end cars.

mikeavelli

Its great as a small city car and Lexus really needs to consider a 2nd gen along the UX....

Yaasss...The CT is a true hatchback whereas the UX is a CUV, similar but not the same. Lexus should have kept the 2018 CT for North America. Lexus lost some potential sales with the refreshed 2018 CT. The UX should be on sale in the U.S. by the end of November of this year and I look forward. Lexus bring back a 2CT with a few variants such as CT 250h and CT 200e to coexist with the UX 200 and UX 250h and I believe there will also be an electric version of the UX as well.

BMW has vehicles which are very similar and almost cross into different categories such as the 3 Series wagon, 3 Series GT and the X1, all great vehicles serving different needs in different categories.

ct200e

Great news!I was thinking of leaving the brand after the ugly UX project presentation.



You mean the "brand new" Auris that is copying the one-decade old Lexus LF-Ch design ? I don't think (and hope) so... The design of the first ALL ELECTRIC Lexus MUST be unique!

That is a pretty good pick up there! Although I always thought it looks more like an opel/holden/GM astra but...now I don't!

spwolf

why do people get C-HR when there is Auris? But they do, and it is completely different market... with C-HR selling crazy numbers of 130k per year in Europe, Auris dropped only few % when C-HR was introduced... so Toyota with C-HR doubled their sales in similar market space as Auris.

True, I know of this fact. But my question was what, do you think, is the reason behind the C-HR not actually cannibalizing Auris sales?