SMART cars are dinky little, high-economy, two seaters which are at their best buzzing around the city – true?
Well, yes and no. In fact, the really smart car of 2010 is a brand new Lexus hybrid which is so clever it can offer its driver three different driving modes and which even changes the mood of the interior to match the way you drive.
Sounds a little too futuristic? Maybe, but the new Lexus CT 200h will be hitting our streets in the autumn and its makers claim that it takes the company's full hybrid drive technology to a new level with a choice of driving modes that let drivers tap into the car’s full dynamic potential, or opt for optimum eco-performance.
The Lexus CT 200h has two distinct driving “moods” – dynamic and relaxing – which it adopts in line with the driver’s choice of mode for the full hybrid system, which uses a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol engine, an electric motor and an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).
EV (electric vehicle), ECO and NORMAL modes place the emphasis on ride comfort, smooth acceleration and low NVH levels in the cabin for a relaxing drive.
The CT 200h can operate automatically in EV mode, switching off the petrol engine and running on its electric motor alone, at speeds from start-up up to 30mph, with driving range determined by the level of battery charge and local conditions. EV mode can also be selected manually by the driver.
Switch to ECO mode and the car’s systems are automatically adjusted to deliver maximum efficiency. Throttle responses are moderated when the driver presses hard on the accelerator and air conditioning performance is altered to reduce its impact on fuel consumption.
Sport mode lets the driver exploit the car’s dynamic qualities, increasing power delivery from the electric motor and maximising performance and agility. Engine revs are held higher as the driver accelerates while settings for the throttle and electric power steering are also adjusted to give sharper response.
Even the look of the instrument panel changes to reflect the move to more dynamic performance: the instrument backlighting automatically changes from cool blue to hot red and the hybrid power meter is replaced by a tachometer display.
The CT 200h will have its public launch at the Paris Motor Show at the end of this month and will go on sale from October.
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