Lexus axed its CT200h and it won't be in the U.S. market by 2018. The entry-level hybrid model, introduced in 2010 as a hatchback, continued to drop in sales as consumers can't seem to learn to love the car.
Lexus fans kept complaining and were unsatisfied with the CT200h, as per Carbuzz. Sales in 2016 netted just 8, 8903 units when the company's goal was to have 18,000 units sold annually. The Lexus CT200h also paled in comparison to other entry-level cars like the Mercedes-Benz CLA-class and the Audi A3, which last year sold 25,792 and 31,538 respectively, Car and Drive reported.
The vehicle shared a drivetrain with the Prius and was supposed to be the fancier hybrid version yet its overall specs, form and design lagged behind. It had a 42-mpg EPA fuel economy rating while the Prius was at 52-mpg as a newer but cheaper model.
The Lexus CT200h arrived on the market for $31,000 and made its debut at the New York Auto Show. Fitted with a 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, the hybrid also had a small electric motor that produced a maximum output of 134 horsepower at 40 mpg on the highway. It was designed to appeal to European consumers living in America but it's been more sellable among Asian consumers, in particular, families with school kids.
The Lexus CT200h might be out of the U.S. in 2018 but it will remain in other markets, according to Carscoops. In its place, consumers in America will find the Lexus NX crossover as a better replacement. Lexus is also planning to introduce a subcompact crossover named UX soon.
Unsold units in the U.S. market have been heavily discounted for $20,000 as it's going out of production, as per Jalopnik. Some dealers even offer a more affordable lease program and a Lexus CPO unlimited mile warranty.
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