What if Lexus Made a Truly Hot Hatch?
It seems Lexus is starting to get some mileage out of its new 2.0-liter turbocharged motor. The new engine first debuted in the NX 200t, but Lexus just announced that the newly redesigned RX will also feature the small turbo engine in certain markets. If I was Lexus though, I would skip the crossovers and use that new motor to turn one of its least attractive products into one of its best. Imagine if that motor replaced the hybrid system in the CT 200h and create the CT 200t.
The Lexus CT is the perfect platform for a luxury hot hatch, it just needs a bit more grunt. I reviewed one of these little machines a few months back and I loved everything about it. The CT has an angry style that looks great, the seats are perfectly bolstered for sporty driving, and the suspension and steering setup even feel sporty for a Lexus. Sadly, you step on that gas pedal and not a lot happens.
Now, with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the little 2.0 turbo is just powerful enough to make a dent in the sporty hatch market. How many buyers want something like a Focus ST or Golf GTI, but they don’t want to sacrifice their style, comfort, or luxury? Just because you want to drive fast, doesn’t mean you want a car with lime green paint and a huge spoiler (looking at you Focus ST). I think that there is a market that would happily pay the premium to own a sporty and practical hatch that has the style, reputation, and luxury fittings of a Lexus.
It even makes sense from a pricing standpoint. The current CT 200h has a base price of $32,200, and the most expensive Volkswagen GTI starts at $31,540. Which would you park in your driveway, a 235 horsepower Lexus or a 220 horsepower Volkswagen? Imagine if Lexus could cut that price slightly thanks to the loss of the battery tech.
Lexus, please build this thing and market it to the younger crowd. It would be one of the best cars in the entire portfolio to drive, would likely sell well, and it would bring new and younger buyers into the brand.
BUILD IT! AND LET ME DRIVE IT ALREADY!
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