Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus has established a stellar reputation for producing hybrid cars and now it will bring its latest vehicle – the CT200h premium compact – to the US in 2011.
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The Lexus CT200h will be the first dedicated hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment and will be revealed to the US public at the New York International Auto Show which runs from March 31-April 11, following on from its Geneva debut earlier this month (see article).
Lexus CT200h Hybrid Car
Powered by a 1.8l Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine with variable valve timing, it includes two motor generators that each performs specific functions while also operating as both a motor and a generator. Firstly, the engine-driven generator can charge the battery pack or supply additional power; while the drive motor uses electric power from the hybrid battery pack to provide motive force for the front wheels.
The vehicle comes equipped with four drive modes – normal, eco, sport and EV. Normal mode has a linear throttle response for naturally progressive power; while eco mode adjusts air conditioning settings and the throttle to maximise fuel economy. Sport mode provides more direct electric power steering settings and throttle; while in EV mode, the vehicle can be driven up to one mile using only its electric motor in certain circumstances. As an added bonus for eco-conscious drivers, the car comes with an ECO driving indicator that illuminates when the vehicle is being driven in an environmentally sensible manner.
As with all Lexus vehicles, the CT200h will also come with an anti-lock brake system, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, TRAC and VSC to help prevent the drive wheels from spinning when accelerating in slippery conditions.
