#2011LexusCt200h

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After its debut at the Geneva Auto Show just a few weeks ago, Lexus has now officially announced it will sell the CT200h hybrid hatchback in the United States. The CT200h will be the first full hybrid offered in the premium compact class.

Lexus will debut its latest model, the CT200h, in front of a North American audience for the first time at the New York Auto Show at the end of the month. Officially unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show last week, the CT200h is not only a luxury hatchback, but the first hybrid in the compact premium class.

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:

Lexus has announced that along with the world premiere of a new two seater supercar concept, it will show the LF-Ch hybrid hatchback concept for the first time in Japan. Unveiled last month at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the LF-Ch is expected to lead to a production model, in Europe, by 2011.

Last week Lexus teased us with a back shot of its upcoming hybrid hatchback and now we finally get a glimpse of what this new model will look like from the front. Called the LF-Ch Concept for now it is expected to be called the CT200h when it finally makes its way to production in 2010.

Lexus is set to debut a new hatchback model for the European market at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month and now word comes that the U.S. may also get this luxurious hot-hatch. Initially it was believed that the baby Lexus would not be offered in North America as it would be too close to the HS250h hybrid, which will not offered in Europe.