LEXUS has announced a series of improvements and price reductions for the CT 200h, its hybrid-powered BMW 1-Series-sized hatchback.
Most models are now cheaper, with the entry-level CT 200h reduced by £1000 to £20,995. At the top end, the Lexus CT 200h Premier falls by £1500 to £29,495, although the price of the mid-range 200h Advance is unchanged at £23,995.
Zero road tax and 10% company car tax are still the same
Among the changes for 2014: a wider, lower grille designed to give a ground-hugging look, with the CT 200h Sport getting a nose treatment similar to that on the IS F Sport saloon. There’s also a new rear spoiler with integrated air ducts, as well as new wheel designs and a shark’s fin antenna for the whole CT range.
Inside there’s a new slimline seven-inch monitor on the centre console, a steering wheel adopted from the latest IS and an altered shift lever design.
The mid-range Lexus CT 200h Advance, although unchanged in price, gets the biggest upgrades – parking sensors, heated front seats and the fully integrated Lexus Navigation system are now standard – and there are minor enhancements to the upper trim levels, too.
Lexus says that it has also tweaked the CT 200h under the skin to provide better ride quality, stability and handling. Laser welding and body adhesion techniques, already used on the Lexus IS and LS models, are now being applied to the CT 200h as well.
The key advantage of the Lexus CT 200h, especially for business users, is left unchanged by the latest updates – its 82g/km CO2 emissions, which allow it to qualify for zero road tax and ten per cent company car tax rate.
Finance offers include rates from just £219 per month for the CT 200h S, and from £259 per month for the higher specification Advance model through Lexus Business Drive contract hire.