The main attraction at the Lexus booth at the Geneva Auto Show is the CT200h, a hybrid hatchback from Toyota’s luxury division, aimed squarely at the European marketplace. It aims to compete against vehicles like the Volvo C30, BMW 1 Series and Audi A3, but will be the first full hybrid in the premium compact segment.

Power comes from a version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system using a 1.8-liter VVT-i 4-cylinder, however, Toyota has yet to announce any engine output numbers. A similar setup used in the Prius makes just 134-hp, but we’re hoping for something closer to the HS250’s 187-hp. Lexus claims a fully electric range of 1.2 miles in EV mode at speeds up to 28 mph, while driver’s can also select Normal or Sport driving modes. The CT200h is a front-wheel drive model and runs 17-inch wheels.

The interior is certainly of a reasonably premium level, with some typical Toyota hybrid touches like the small gear shifter and push button ignition. The dash is divided into two “zones” with a Display Zone for vehicle information (which includes an 8-inch LCD screen) and an Operation Zone, which includes the Lexus Remote Touch mouse control.

As a hatchback, Lexus rates the car’s storage capacity at roughly 12 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a total of 25 cubic feet with those seats folded flat.

Designed specifically for Europe, Lexus has announced this new model will be offered world-wide.

GALLERY: Lexus CT200h

After a leaked brochure earlier this week, Lexus has has now officially revealed the CT200h hybrid hatchback with news of “worldwide sales.” Set to debut next week at the Geneva Auto Show, the car was initially designed for Europe, but according to the Lexus press release Toyota’s luxury arm will offer the car in other markets – including the U.S.

Power comes from a version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system using a 1.8-liter VVT-i 4-cylinder. A similar setup used in the Prius makes just 134-hp, but we’re hoping for something closer to the HS250′s 187-hp. Lexus claims a fully electric range of 1.2 miles in EV mode at speeds up to 28 mph, while driver’s can also select Normal or Sport driving modes. The CT200h is the first full hybrid in the premium C-Class segment and is front-wheel drive, running on 17-inch wheels.

The interior is certainly of a premium level, with some typical Toyota hybrid touches like the small gear shifter and push button ignition. The dash is divided into two “zones” with a Display Zone for vehicle information (which includes an 8-inch LCD screen) and an Operation Zone, which includes the Lexus Remote Touch mouse control.

As a hatchback, Lexus rates the car’s storage capacity at roughly 12 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a total of 25 cubic feet with those seats folded flat.

We’ll bring you more on the CT200h and the rest of the cars at the Geneva Auto Show with live coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: 2011 Lexus CT200h

Official release after the jump:

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With a debut set for next week, a brochure of the European Lexus CT200h hybrid hatchback has leaked out online, although details are still hard to come by. The car is powered by a 1.8-liter VVT-i 4-cylinder engine, an electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride battery, although no output numbers are available yet. Power does go to the front 17-inch wheels using a CVT transmission and Lexus has designed the car with three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. As a full hybrid it will be able to run completely on electric power for short periods of time.

As for the rest of the car, it measured 170-inches in length, is 69.5-inches wide and 56-inches tall, with a 102-inch wheelbase. The interior looks like a genuine premium vehicle, as the Europeans would expect, with a few typical Toyota/Lexus hybrid cues, like the strange transmission shift mechanism. Cargo space is rated at 12 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a total of 25 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.

Outside, the car isn’t nearly as dramatic as the concept, which first debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year. To help spice it up a bit and to grow the Lexus brand with younger buyers in Europe, the CT200h will be offered in two new exciting colors: Flare Yellow and Fire Agate. Plus, it has LED lighting.

The car is set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show next week and we imagine we’ll find out both engine output numbers and the more importat fuel economy numbers at that time. Lexus is also eager to point out that this hybrid setup produces far fewer emissions than a similar diesel engine.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Lexus CT200h Brochure

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Lexus will unveil the first full-hybrid premium compact car at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Called the CT200h, it is inspired by the LF-Ch concept that the automaker debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year.

Interestingly, the teaser image that Lexus has sent us looks more like a sedan than the LF-Ch hatchback we’ve been seeing, but that’s probably to keep people guessing. Lexus is eager to get into the premium hatchback market in Europe, competing against models like the Audi A3 and Volvo C3, as well as against vehicles like the BMW 1 Series.

Under the hood we’re likely to find either the same hybrid setup as found in the Prius or the Lexus HS250h. We’re certainly hoping it’s the latter, which still only delivers a modest 187-hp. And if the HS250 is any estimate, then it should get close to 35 mpg (combined).

Lexus initially said the CT200h would not be offered in North America, but it has since been showing it at several different venues (including the LA Auto Show) in order to gauge interest on this side of the Atlantic.

We’ll be sure to bring you more on the CT200h, with live coverage of the Geneva Auto Show starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

Official release after the jump:

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***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here***

Toyota has said it will unveil a new hybrid concept car at the Detroit Auto Show, and according to recent reports it will be a subcompact and will go on sale in 2012. Two teaser photos of the car most certainly show a small car and now the Detroit News is reporting that as a subcompact it will slot in underneath the Prius in Toyota’s lineup.

The car will debut in concept form on January 11th at the Detroit Auto Show but has already been given the green light for production, with sales beginning in early 2012 in North America.

There is a possibility that this new subcompact hybrid will use the Prius name, as it already has a strong following and has become the most recognizable name in hybrids.

Toyota’s current subcompact is the Yaris, but it is not known if this new model will use the same basic architecture. It will, however, most certainly undercut the Honda Insight and is likely to get better fuel economy that the Honda hybrid. (Honda is expected to deliver a hybrid subcompact in the near future as well). Some reports have suggested it could use more powerful lithium-ion batteries, but we have to think Toyota will first debut that technology on the Prius plug-in hybrid.

In addition to this news, the Detroit News is reporting that a premium Lexus hybrid hatchback, based on the LF-Ch concept, is being fast tracked to market. It is expected to be called the CT200h.

GALLERY: Toyota Hybrid Concept

[Source: The Detroit News]