Lexus CT Hatchback Could Live On Despite Growing SUV Sales

Introduced back in 2010 at the New York Auto Show and put into production one year later, the CT 200h is the oldest vehicle in Lexus’ lineup.

Still, a potential replacement is at least two years away, the company’s Europe chief, Pascal Ruch, told Autocar, admitting that an official decision has yet to be made.

Ruch said that the biggest obstacle for a new Lexus CT is the similarly sized UX. The latter, though, is a crossover and isn’t necessarily seen as a replacement for the compact hatchback, as the automaker believes this segment is quite competitive.

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“The size of the segment the CT competes in is still very significant. At the moment, I see the UX as delivering additional volume, not necessarily replacing the CT”, commented Ruch. “We’ve just updated the CT, so we have at least two more years of sales to make an evaluation from. There is no rush to make a decision.”

Previous reports claimed that a successor of the CT would be based on the TNGA platform. The architecture is already being used on various models, including the Toyota Auris, or Corolla Hatchback as it’s known in North America, and supports electrification.

Besides a potential hybrid, the rumored next-gen CT could also be offered with a zero-emission powertrain. This move would give it an obvious advantage over the BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 Sportback and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, none of which offer a ZEV option.