Lexus CT rumoured to return as a fully-electric crossover SUV in 2024, with hybrid and petrol options

Almost one year on since Lexus has forced to pull the CT200h from the Australian market due to new safety regulations, a successor appears to be brewing

Luxury car manufacturer Lexus is reportedly preparing to resurrect its CT nameplate as a fully-electric crossover-style SUV in 2024.

Japanese outlet Best Car Web has reported that a successor to the CT hatch is being developed by Lexus with a variety of drivetrains including electric, hybrid and petrol options.

Lexus UX 2023 front 3/4 — The Lexus CT is rumoured to come back as a crossover SUV

Little is currently known about the future of the CT successor but the report claims it will be sold alongside Lexus’s UX small SUV, despite its transformation into a more rugged SUV.

The report goes on to say that the second-generation CT will arrive between December 2024 and May 2025, so there is still a significant period of time before it makes an appearance.

The first-generation CT hatch was based on the underpinnings of the previous-generation Toyota Corolla and made its debut in 2011.

Lexus CT200h 2018 front and back — The CT200h was pulled from sale in Australia last year

Lexus sold the CT exclusively as a hybrid vehicle, known as the CT200h, but was forced to pull the hatch from sale in November, 2021, in Australia due to the introduction of a new Australian Design Rule known as ADR 85/00 – for side impact protection.

The IS sedan and closely-related RC coupe were also withdrawn from the market, as were other vehicles such as the Nissan GT-R and Alpine A110 coupes.

It’s worth noting that the CT200h is still on sale in a select few markets including Japan.

What powertrains will be sold in the 2024 CT?

With the reported introduction of the second-generation CT up to three years away, newer powertrain options could emerge but there are a number of good options currently at Lexus’s disposal.

The UX300e is Lexus’s first production fully-electric vehicle and is motivated by a single electric motor on the front axle producing 150kW of power and 300Nm of torque, though the 315km (WLTP) maximum driving range of that set-up may prove limited for some buyers,

Lexus UX 300e 2022 Sports Luxury charging — The CT could share an electric drivetrain with the UX

Lexus also offers the UX with a hybrid system that pairs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with an electric motor. Together, the drivetrain produces 135kW of power with an unstated amount of torque.

A petrol-only option is also available and makes 126kW/205Nm and could find a place in the new-generation CT’s line-up as a more affordable entry-level option.