Lexus Reveals CT 200h Price

Yeah, I am 6"5 and when I drove it it was roomy enough up front. Seating position was low and sporty compared to the Prius.

Its Lexus first attempt. The Nu Luxe is actually an eco seat compared to leather. Someone told me they have zippers so you can change the seats quickly! I thought it was done real well for not real leather, its softer than the fake leather in German cars. Remember this is for Europe really and fake leather is a huge sell there (and cloth).

I've driven both, the CT handles far better and its not close. I've driven a CR-Z manual and the CT is the better handling car too. Pretty amazing for a Lexus. With F-sport parts and the coming aftermarket for the CT, it can be quite the handling car.

Rumors of an optional turbo for the CT are getting louder.:rockon:

 

Lexus using a new type of seat material called 'nuluxe' IIRC. It's not quite like leather, not like fabric. They had it on car at SF show and it seemed nice.

 

The white one up on the platform at the SF autoshow didn't have leather? Sure? It had every other option.

seemed like leather to me. maybe nuluxe is that good.

BTW, no way those wheels on that car would work IRL. They were rubbing on the fenders !

 

Just another chime-in here that wow - they've really got a low price on this! I can't believe it's going to sell for what we paid for our GenIII Prius. They will sell every one they can bring in up here, I'm sure.

My buddy's girlfriend has been obsessed with this car ever since she saw the prototype at the CIAS last year; I can't wait to tell her about the pricing. She'll put down a deposit as soon as she can.

-Iain

 

Just for kicks, I went to their site and configured one to match (as closely as one can) the options I have on my Prius V w/ nav, which had an MSRP of ~$30K. The CT 200h was ~$40K, or 33% more.

Seems like a big premium vs. the Prius, plus I believe the Prius has a larger interior. Is this the typical Lexus premium vs. comparable Toyota models?

 

Prior to the Prius, I drove luxury sport sedans (BMWs, Mercedes AMG) and sports cars (Porsches) for 20+ years, so I'm with you on the "touches" you find in premium cars. It just seems like a one-third premium for those touches is a lot (plus it's actually a smaller car, so the premium is greater).

Then again, how much would it be worth to not have all the rattles and squeaks that exist in the Prius? Priceless!!

 

What spec shows CT to have a 9.9 gallon tank?

 

Well consider the BMW/Mini Cooper. Last time I checked, you pay the same amount for the same leather in a Mini Cooper as a BMW, but you get much less leather.

Most amenities are marked up ridiculously, especially on European luxury models. Lexus has always had good pricing on their packages. Hopefully this isn't the beginning of the end.

 

This is a VERY different car than a Prius guys, in fact I don't think anybody would really even cross shop them. The Prius is better compared to the HS250h, the CT is very small, boy racer small...if anything its best compared to the Honda CRZ. Its kind of Subaru Impreza 5 door sized...

Its a great little car, handles very well, elegant and cutting edge feeling.

 

It may also be that BMWs have better vinyl accompanying the leather than the Mini, making you feel like there is more leather than there actually is.

I've always been fascinated by the fact that most BMWs and Mercedes don't actually have leather, below an S class or 7 series, MBTex or BMW Leatherette is standard (fancy words for fake leather), leather is a $1,500 or so option and generally has to be special ordered. So you can buy a $60,000 E550 or a 535i and will likely have fake leather seats...

 

I've never been a fan of "pleather" but a lot of people's rational is it wears better over time with the benefits of leather (easy to clean etc).

Having sat in the CT with the "nu-luxe" and German "pleather" cars neither can fool one used to leather in cars but maybe to those that don't know better. The CT nuluxe also felt more like fake leather to the Germans which has more hard and tough.