Lexus CT gets design tweaks and new tech for 2018 ~ station of gear

Entire range gets F Sport inspired tweaks, while new assistance features and infotainment appear too

2017-06-15 09:45

Lexus has refreshed its sole hatchback offering, issuing the ageing CT 200h with a minor facelift. It's the second time the hybrid hatchback has been refreshed within the space of a year, and small design changes inside and out, plus new technology and safety equipment make the cut.

• Best hybrid cars on sale 2017

From the outside it’s difficult to spot the difference between old and new, but the car’s face has been refreshed with a new signature spindle grille, boasting a new mesh. All models now get this F Sport style grille and front bumper, alongside new metallic grey fog light housings and tweaked daytime running lights that now sit above the main projector bulbs.

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Around the back, the LED taillights get a new L-shaped lighting signature, while the tailgate is more aggressively styled. The lower part of the rear bumper has been painted black and silver, and has been subtly reshaped too. Finally, new wheels ranging from 15 inches to 17 inches in size are available, and new paint finishes make the options list too.

Changes inside are restricted to a new, optional 10.3-inch infotainment screen mounted on top of the dashboard, plus a much wider selection of leather, cloth and trim colours and materials.

Given that all cars now receive the F Sport grille, Lexus has introduced an exclusive grille mesh for this model to differentiate it from the rest of the range. The fog lamps get a sporty makeover too, with mesh styled housings. Black trim pieces are found dotted around the car’s front and rear, and exclusive to F Sport interior colour combinations appear in the cabin.

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Finally, new safety and assistance tech arrives with the optional Lexus Safety System + package. Radar guided cruise control, a lane keep warning and assist feature, plus traffic sign recognition, automatic high beam lights and a pre-collision warning system now appear.

It’ll arrive on sale later this year, and prices should not drift too far from the current £22,585 starting price.

What do you make of the refreshed Lexus CT 200h? Let us know in the comments...

James Brodie

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