Lexus CT could return as a high-riding hybrid hatchback – report

The second-generation Lexus CT could be revealed next year, with the latest reports out of Japan suggesting a new generation of the luxury hybrid model will become a high-riding ‘crossover’ – sitting somewhere between a traditional hatchback and a small SUV.

Respected Japanese publication Best Car reports the next Lexus CT is due launch in early 2024 – with the Lexus potentially moving away from the Toyota Prius and Corolla on which the original model was based on when it arrived in showrooms in 2011.

This artist impression by Best Car (top) shows what the 2024 Lexus CT could look like.

Some reports suggest the next-generation Toyota Prius will include a purely electric version, meaning the Lexus CT could be based on a different platform, and offered with a selection of hybrid engines as well as a battery-electric option.

A silhouette of a high-riding hatchback was shown in the background of the Lexus electric showcase in December 2021 (below), adding weight to the idea of a purely-electric variant of the CT being under development.

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According to the latest unsubstantiated reports, the new Lexus CT range could include a 2.0-litre hybrid petrol engine, a 2.5-litre non-hybrid petrol engine, as well as the aforementioned electric model. A 2.0-litre turbo engine has also been floated as an option.

The Lexus CT was discontinued in Australia in mid 2021, replaced by the Lexus UX small SUV as the brand’s entry-level offering.

Best Car reports the 2024 Lexus CT is expected be priced in Japan from ¥4.8 million – approximately $AU51,000 – positioning the model above the Lexus UX in the line-up, which is priced from $46,085 before on-road costs in Australia.