Lexus is pinning the expectations for its new CT 200h, billed as “the dark side of green,” rather high. According to Brian Bolain, the automaker’s national advertising and marketing manager, Lexus expects to sell about 1,000 CTs here in the U.S. per month. We wish them the best of luck, but have some reservations.
Consider that the combined sales of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 (which represent the vehicles most likely to be cross-shopped with the CT) tally up about 1,500 sales per month, according to Wards Automotive. For what it’s worth, the 1 Series, which is the only non-dedicated hatchback and easily the sportiest of the bunch, makes up the vast majority of the segment’s sales.
As you’re surely aware, the CT 200h is indeed a dedicated hatchback and it offers up a comparatively paltry 98 horsepower from its Prius-derived Atkinson-cycle 1.8-liter four-cylinder, aided by another 36 ponies from its two electric motors and 28 Ni-MH batteries. As we said in our First Drive of the CT, that power level, particularly when coupled to a continuously variable automatic transmission, doesn’t exactly equal driving excitement.
Also factor in the sales flop that is the Lexus HS 250h dedicated-hybrid, who’s yearly sales will struggle to hit half the 20,000 units Lexus had counted on, and you can see why we’re a tad skeptical that Toyota’s luxury division will manage to move a thousand CTs per month. In any case, we look forward to spending some quality time with the hybrid hatchback in day-to-day driving scenarios where it will become much more clear how the machine stacks up to its competitors.
[Source: Wards Automotive]
