Lexus has released more details of its new production-ready CT-200h, ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

Lexus’ first  premium compact hybrid is set to enter production late in 2010 and will go on sale worldwide. The full hybrid model, which features a passing resemblance to sister-brand Toyota’s Prius, will be the carmaker’s most accessible hybrid yet.

Based on the LF-Ch concept revealed at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new model is actually smaller than the Prius, yet slightly wider in its dimensions. However like the Prius, the new model will use the familiar 1.8 VVTi petrol engine coupled with a powerful electric motor. Drivers have the choice of four selectable drive modes: ECO and NORMAL place the emphasis on efficiency and comfort, while SPORT focuses on dynamic performance.

As a full hybrid, the CT 200h also has an EV (electric vehicle) mode that allows for ultra-quiet running on the electric motor alone, which will reduce the car’s fuel and reduce CO₂, NOx and particulate emissions. The car is capable of running in EV mode for up to 1.2 miles at speeds up to 28mph. Emissions and fuel consumption has yet to be confirmed, but expect it to be sub-100g/km CO2.

In spite of its compact, efficient design dimensions, the new CT200h promises a roomy interior and a luggage capacity of 345 litres.

The CT 200h is built on a new platform with a dedicated double wishbone and trailing arm rear suspension system. It has been developed specifically to combine the ride comfort expected of a Lexus with superior driving involvement and handling agility.

Set to appeal to company car drivers, the new CT 200h will likely compete with traditional favourites such as the BMW 1 series. The new model will join Lexus’ established hybrid line-up in the form of the Lexus-GS 450h, Lexus-LS 600h and the Lexus-RX 450h.

Luxury carmaker, Lexus is to unveil a new full hybrid model at the forthcoming Geneva motor show.

Proclaimed to be the first full hybrid within the ‘premium compact’ sector, the new CT 200h will join the brand’s blooming hybrid range which includes the RX 450h, GS 450h and LS 600h.

Described as a car for those that ‘want to lower their emissions, but not their standards’, the new car will be unveiled to the world’s motoring press when the doors open on the 80th Geneva show on March 2. The carmaker has so far issued only this teaser shot (pictured) but expect the new Lexus to be of a similar size to parent firm, Toyota’s Prius model.

The latest model is revealed just six months after the Japanese carmaker revealed its new LF-Ch hybrid concept was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The Lexus LFA supercar will also be on show at Geneva, just ahead of the initial order period for the model coming to a close, although this model will be without the eco-credentials of its hybrid brothers.

Following on from yesterday’s news that Toyota will recall around 436,000 hybrid models worldwide (see article), new reports suggest that the car manufacturer will halt domestic production of two of its hybrid models.

The Nikkei reports the Toyota Motor Corporation will suspend domestic production of both the Sai and Lexus HS250h Hybrids, which are to be recalled for faulty brakes later this week.

The report states that the Sai and Lexus hybrid use the same braking system as the Prius and output will be halted at subsidiary Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc with shipments suspended on Monday.

Currently, a remedy for their braking systems is being formulated and both production and shipments will restart once it is ready. With output closed for one week, at least 2,000 units for both models will be put on hold.

According to reports, Toyota has currently sold 7,700 Sai hybrids in Japan as well as around 18,000 Lexus HS250h Hybrid models worldwide.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for the beleaguered Toyota Motor Corporation following a series of vehicle recalls, now it appears that two more of its hybrid cars will be affected.

According to reports in the Nikkei, Toyota will begin recalling both the Sai Hybrid and the Lexus HS250h Hybrid, which use the same regenerative braking system as the Prius Hybrid.

The report suggests it is planning to notify the Transport Ministry early this week after deciding to recall the latest model of the Prius due to concerns surrounding the brakes.

The Sai debuted in December, while the Lexus HS250h was made available last July. Toyota is expected to notify authorities as soon as a fix for the system is ready – it could affect about 4,000 units of each model in Japan and around 10,000 of each worldwide.

There was more good news for manufacturers of hybrid vehicles as reported sales leapt by 42 per cent in December 2009 compared to the previous year.

Sales reached 25,167 units during the month thanks in part to the fact that December 2009 had 28 selling days compared to 26 in the prior year. The figures do not include sales of the new Mercedes S400 hybrid or the new BMW ActiveHybrid X6 which reached BMW centres during the month.

Overall however, sales for the year 2009 fell by 7.5 per cent at 290,280 units representing a new vehicle market share of 2.8 per cent. This means that hybrid cars compared comparatively well when examined with the rest of the market as overall vehicle sales were down 21.2 per cent. Here is how each manufacturer faired:

Ford – During December its hybrid sales totalled 2,843 – up 147.4 per cent compared to the previous year. Sales of the Escape and Mariner hybrids totalled 1,157 units; while sales of the Fusion and Milan hybrids reached 1,686 units. Over the full calendar year, Ford hybrid sales totalled 32,502 – up 72 per cent compared to the previous year.

General Motors – With total hybrid sales of 1,407 units in December, GM saw a 45.9 per cent drop in hybrid sales. Over the course of the year, however, GM hybrid sales increased by 30 per cent compared to the year before to 16,142 units.

Honda – The Japanese manufacturer reported total hybrid sales of 2,110 units in December – up 103.5 per cent compared to the previous year. The Civic Hybrid only posted 471 units, a drop of 54.5 per cent, but the new dedicated hybrid Insight enjoyed 1,639 sales. Over the course of the calendar year, Honda’s hybrid sales rose 13 per cent to 35,692 units.

Nissan – There was a nice sales boost for the Altima Hybrid during December – 842 models sold represented an increase of 18.6 per cent compared to the previous year. Over the calendar year, Altima hybrid sales totalled 9,357 units – an increase of 6.1 per cent.

Toyota – The hybrid car leader sold 17,964 units during the month, that’s up 47.2 per cent compared to December 2008. The Prius totalled 11,775 units, up 49.8 per cent; the Camry Hybrid sold 1,513 units, a decrease of 19.9 per cent; the Highlander Hybrid posted 1,029 units, an increase of 15.6 per cent; while the Lexus RX posted 1,598 sales, up 9.2 per cent, the GS hybrid posted 54 units, up 5.9 per cent, and the LS hybrids posted 15 units, down 70 per cent. The new dedicated hybrid Lexus HS250 also sold 1,980 units.  During the course of the year, Toyota hybrid sales totalled 195,545, down 19 per cent compared to 2008.

Great news for hybrid cars, as reported US sales of the vehicles leapt by 21 per cent year on year in November 2009 to 20,003 units.

Even though overall light duty vehicle sales were generally flat for the month, according to figures from Autodata, reported hybrid sales increased to now represent 2.7 per cent of the new vehicle market – up from 2.2 per cent in the same month last year. Indeed for the first 11 months of the year, hybrids have held a 2.8 per cent light duty vehicle market share. Here is how each manufacturer faired:

Ford – Impressive results for Ford, which finished behind only Toyota in the hybrid tally with 2,361 models sold – an increase of 73.5 per cent compared to the previous year. The Escape/Mariner hybrids sold 960 units, down 30 per cent year on year; but the new Fusion/Milan sold 1,401 units and represented 8.7 per cent of total Fusion/Milan sales.

General Motors – The company reported a total of 1,020 hybrid vehicle sales, which is down 25.5 per cent compared to the previous year. The two-mode Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade models were down 36 per cent to 489 units; while the two-mode Sierra and Silverado pick-ups dropped 52 per cent to 156 units. Sales of the Saturn VUE hybrid also declined by 31 per cent to 134 units; while the Saturn Aura saw its hybrid sales drop by 17 per cent to 29 units. Only the Malibu mild hybrid showed any positive numbers with 212 units sold – an increase of 371 per cent.

Honda – The Japanese manufacturer sold a total of 1,646 hybrids in the US during the month – an increase of 57.8 per cent. Sales of the Civic Hybrid fell sharply by 77 per cent to 243 units; but the new Honda Insight Hybrid sold 1,403 units.

Nissan – With only the Nissan Altima Hybrid available in the US, the company sold 503 units during the month, up 42.5 per cent compared to the previous year.

Toyota – Remaining the hybrid car leader, Toyota sold 14,473 hybrids during the month – up 16.3 per cent compared to the previous year. The Prius sold 9,617 units, up 11 per cent; while the Camry Hybrid sold 1,465 units, down 33 per cent; and the Highlander Hybrid sold 722 units, down 20 per cent. Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus also faired well – the new Lexus HS250 posted 1,407 units; the RX Hybrid sold 1,210 units – almost double its figure in 2008; the GS Hybrid sold 37 units, down 11.9 per cent; and the LS Hybrid sold 15 units, down 60 per cent.

Hybrid sales in the USA enjoyed a significant leap during October, increasing by volume to 24,475 units – an increase of 11.4 per cent and a 2.9 per cent market share.

The figures were boosted in part by the fact that October 2009 had 28 selling days compared to 27 in the previous year. However, with overall light duty vehicle sales remaining essentially flat over the month, there are clear signs that hybrid cars are developing into a more mainstream alternative.

Here is how each of the major manufacturers faired:

Ford: The company sold a total of 2,282 hybrid units during the month – an increase of 14.3 per cent compared to the previous year. Sales were led by its new car hybrids, the Fusion and Milan, which posted 1,333 units. Sales of the Escape and Mariner crossover hybrids fell 52.5 per cent to 949 units.

General Motors: During October, GM reported a total of 1,159 hybrids sold – that’s a 22.5 per cent drop compared to the previous year.

Honda: Thanks to the introduction of the new Honda Insight Hybrid, which sold 1,739 units during the month, Honda reported a 21.9 per cent increase in hybrid sales during October with a total of 1,978 vehicles sold. Sales of the Civic Hybrid however, dropped 85.3 per cent year on year to 239 units.

Nissan: With just 299 Altima Hybrids sold during October, Nissan suffered a 46 per cent drop in hybrid sales during the month.

Toyota: The Japanese manufacturer posted 18,757 hybrid units during the month – an increase of 15 per cent, and representing a 12.3 per cent market share of its sales during the month. The Toyota Prius posted 13,496 units, up 14.3 per cent year-on-year; the Toyota Camry Hybrid posted 1,407 units, down 49.6 per cent; and the Highlander Hybrid posted 700 units, down 31.5 per cent. Toyota’s luxury division Lexus enjoyed a boost during the month with the RX Hybrid posting 1,567 units, an increase of 154.8 per cent; the GS Hybrid posting 39 units, an increase of 77.3 per cent; and the LS Hybrid posting 21 units, down 61.8 per cent. The new HS Hybrid meanwhile posted 1,527 units.

Three in every ten cars sold by Toyota in a decade’s time will be hybrid, a senior executive told the Financial Times on Wednesday.

As Toyota took the wraps off its latest hybrid offerings at the Toyko Motor Show, the carmaker vowed to build petrol-electric versions of all its vehicles by 2020, in anticipation of a booming market for hybrids.

In an interview with TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, UK press relations manager, for Toyota, Michael Valvo said that hybrid is ‘core technology for the future at Toyota’. On the back of the success of the original hybrid, the Prius, Toyota has for the first time put a number to the expected sales of hybrid cars to justify its corporate focus on the technology.

Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota executive vice-president in charge of product development, disclosed the estimate as the Tokyo Motor Show opened yesterday to the world’s media.

Despite showcasing a new electric model along side the new hybrid model, Toyota said they did not see electric cars as being as feasible as hybrid.

According to the FT.com, Mr Uchiyamada said: “We don’t think electric vehicles will spread that fast.”

Nonetheless Toyota is showcasing the FT-EV II, a compact electric vehicle designed for short distance travel similar to the iQ, yet even smaller. Designed for urban mobility, Toyota say it will still have room for four seats on board. With drive-by-wire technology, the vehicle functions to be controlled using a joystick, including the accelerator, brakes and steering. By removing the throttle and brake pedals, Toyota freed up legroom at the front, to allow for room in the back. To ensure easy access in tight spots, the FT-EV II has electric sliding doors on both sides. Top speed is above 60mph and a fully charged battery will give a range of more than 50 miles.

Featuring alongside this electric offering however, is Toyota’s other big unveiling at the show, the Sai hybrid, a larger, more upmarket version of the Prius. The Japanese carmaker intends to begin retailing it in its homeland from December. Revealed along side it is the sporty LF-Ch hybrid five-door under its Lexus brand.

The list of participants at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, which kicks off to the Press tomorrow (October 21), is perhaps indicative of Japan’s waning fortunes.

The country is reeling from a shrinking population and a rapid exodus from the countryside to the cities where owning a car is often considered a hassle due to the expensive car parks and congested roads. In Tokyo itself, car ownership stands at under 0.5 per household – less than half of the national average.

Throw in the on-going global financial crisis and it’s no surprise that some members of the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) had considered scrapping this year’s Tokyo Motor Show altogether. Indeed the 41st edition of the vehicle showcase is as notable for its absentees as it is for the manufacturers that are displaying at the event, with no major foreign car maker to exhibit at the show and its floor space to halve.

Nevertheless, the show retains its importance for home-grown manufacturers and with Japanese Government incentives centring on low-emission cars it’s no surprise to see this year’s event adopt a green theme. Here we look at the green cars to be introduced by the three major Japanese manufacturers at the event:

Honda – Introducing a world first

When the Honda CR-Z (Compact, Renaissance, Zero) Concept (see article) made its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 it was described as the “world’s first hybrid sports car”. Two years on, its questionable as to whether that tag can still apply, but there’s no denying the appeal of the production version of this model.

The Honda CR-Z is intended to be sporty, efficient and inexpensive and will feature the same Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) as the Honda Insight Hybrid. Unlike most hybrid cars it has also been confirmed to have manual transmission as an option.

Keep your eyes peeled too for the Honda EV-N and Honda Skydeck concepts. The EV-N has a retro design not dissimilar to the Trabant and is said to be based on the 1960s N360 hatch. It is a little bit longer than the Smart ForTwo and carries a lithium-ion battery pack. The Honda Skydeck Concept meanwhile, is a six-seat hybrid car that has a higher rear-end and flatter roofline than the CR-Z. This MPV features a centrally mounted battery to give more space inside the cabin and has three rows of seating with a pair of seats in each row.

Nissan – Turning over a new LEAF

The Nissan LEAF (Leading, Environmentally-friendly, Affordable, Family car) (see article) is an electric car announced by Nissan earlier this year that is expected to be marketed across Europe, North America and Japan from autumn 2010 (for footage, see article).

It has been stealing the headlines ever since it was announced thanks to its advanced IT system which is connected to a global data centre and provides support, information and entertainment for drivers. It has a top speed of 87mph and can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in around 30minutes with a quick charger. The Nissan LEAF is expected to be the centrepiece of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s partnership with Better Place as it can be charged using the Better Place charge spots, although it will not contain the battery switch feature.

Also scheduled are a new generation of the Nissan Fuga, to be known as the Infiniti M (see article); and the Nissan Roox, which, despite its small size – it is just 3,395mm long – promises to be the most spacious four-seater in its class. Perhaps the most notable debutant however, is the Nissan Land Glider (see article), a two-seat electric vehicle that leans into corners – for video footage, click here.

Toyota – Going electric

So often the keenest supporter of hybrid cars, Toyota will showcase a pure electric vehicle in Tokyo in the form of the Toyota FT-EV II (see article). It is a modified version of the Toyota iQ and differs from the original FT-EV because it seats four people, has transparent body parts and electrically operated sliding doors. A joystick can be used to control its acceleration, braking and steering, and it has a top speed of 100km/h with a range of 90km.

Another debutant will be the Toyota FT-86 Concept (see article) that is manufactured jointly by Toyota and Subaru. All that is known about the car so far is that it will be a light front engine, rear drive, four or five seat coupe with a new 2.0litre Toyota boxer engine mated to a Subaru six-speed manual transmission.

Toyota’s luxury division Lexus will also get in on the act with the full hybrid LF-CH (see article); while mini-car specialist Daihatsu will bring six concept cars to the event (see article).

We’ll bring you all the news from Tokyo as it breaks – including more details on these exciting concepts – in the news section at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.

Faye Sunderland

What would happen when the cash for clunkers sales boom came to an end has been a question many automotive executives in the USA dared not think about. Well, now they have their answers.

September 2009 light duty vehicle sales dropped back to pre-incentive lows with 745,997 cars and light duty trucks sold during the month according to Autodata. This meant that sales were down 22.7 per cent year on year, and dropped 41 per cent compared to August.

Hybrid sales were not immune from the troubles either. Reported sales dropped 4.1 per cent compared to the previous year at 19,977 units (though they do not include sales of the Mercedes S400 Hybrid which went on sale in the USA at the end of August). Compared to August results, this meant that hybrid sales were down 48.4 per cent and market share dropped down to 2.7 per cent from its high of 3.6 per cent in July.

Here is how each manufacturer faired:

Ford: The company reported a six per cent drop in sales year-on-year. However, it sold 2,138 hybrids in September which is 116 per cent up compared to September 2008 – sales of the Milan/Escape hybrid were down 11.3 per cent, but the new Fusion and Milan hybrid accounted for 1,260 units.

General Motors: With 155,679 light vehicles sold, the company suffered a 45 per cent drop compared to the prior year. In total, 1,011 hybrids were delivered in the month.  

Honda: Total vehicle sales reached 77,229 a decline of 20 per cent with hybrid sales dropping six per cent to 1,898 units. Sales of the Civic hybrid plummeted by 92.5 per cent to 152 units, but the new Honda Insight sold 1,746 units.

Nissan: Total sales reached 55,393 units – a decrease of seven per cent compared to the previous year. Sales of the Altima Hybrid suffered a particularly significant fall down 26.6 per cent to 345 units.

Toyota: Japanese manufacturer Toyota reported September sales of 126,015 vehicles, which is down 12.6 per cent compared to the previous year – hybrid sales fell to 14,585 units, down 5.3 per cent. The Prius enjoyed a sales surge of one per cent compared to the previous year at 10,984 units, but Camry Hybrid sales dropped 68.7 per cent year-on-year to just 872 units. The Highlander Hybrid sold 269 units, down 70.8 per cent; while Toyota’s luxury division Lexus saw sales of the RX hybrid rise by 57 per cent to 1,168 units, the GS hybrid sell 38 units, up 31 per cent, and the LS600h post 12 units, down 74.5 per cent. The new HS250h meanwhile, sold 1,242 units.