The eerily quiet Lexus CT200h hybrid hatchback has made a roaring start – the first shipment of 300 cars has sold out.
Lexus Australia says it could take two to three months to fill new orders.
"The dealers received most of their first allocation of cars on the 14th of March and they're all spoken for," said Tony Cramb, chief executive of Lexus Australia. "More cars are on the way."
There are four models in the CT200h line-up: the $39,990 Prestige, the $48,990 Luxury model, the $49,990 F-Sport model and the $55,990 Sport Luxury model.
Cramb said the most popular models in the line-up were the dearer versions – despite the sharp $39,990 starting price.
"The $39,990 price does get people in the showroom, but once there they see the value up the chain, they tend to upgrade," he said.
The CT200h shares much of its engine, underpinnings and hybrid system with the Toyota Prius and has an average fuel consumption rating of 4.1L/100km, marginally higher than the Prius (3.9L/100km). As with the Prius, 96 per cent of the battery pack can be recycled.
It has more interior space than the first Lexus sold in Australia, the IS200 sedan – yet is lighter and more fuel efficient.
The CT200h has the lowest fuel consumption and longest driving range of any Lexus in the Australian lineup – able to travel up to 1098km between refills, depending on driving conditions.
Lexus says vehicle running costs are still top of mind of prestige customers, who increasingly find themselves in stop-start traffic.
"The CT200h comes into its own in stop-start driving, and in many cases buyers will find themselves running on electric power much of the time," he said. "This car will make a real dent on fuel bills."
One of the fuel saving measures includes the use of tiny, low energy LEDs lights instead of regular bulbs. Indeed, there are 89 LEDs dotted on the inside and outside of the car.
Following a lukewarm reaction to the driving dynamics of the CT200h following the its global media launch in Paris last year, Lexus was keen to address the suspension tuning of the Australian versions.
At the media preview in Melboure this morning, Lexus said the CT200h is the first Lexus vehicle in Austraia to use performance dampers. Mounted between the front suspension tower, they are designed to improve body rigidity and reduce noise, vibration and harshness.
The special damper is only fitted to the F Sport and Sport models – and Lexus admitted there are no unique suspension settings for Australian-delivered CT200hs.
However, Lexus Australia corporate manager of product planning, Greg Gardner, said there would be a difference in the CT200hs sold in Australia compared to the ones tested by the media last year.
"The Paris preview was done with prototype vehicles, some of which were handbuilt. They were not using a final suspension tune, and they were not driving on the final specification Yokohama DB tyres."
Gardner said extra noise deadening had also been fitted to the cars. This followed criticism that the Lexus CT200hs sampled in Paris were noisier than a Mazda3, let alone noisier than other luxury cars.
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