Lexus CT 200h F Sport arrives in the UK. Starts at £27,850.

Lexus CT 200h F Sport arrives in the UK

It’s been a whole year since the Lexus CT 200h F-Sport hoved in to view with its add-on sporty bits and bobs, and now it’s finally arrived in the UK.

In case you didn’t read the headline properly – or the original story – the CT 200h F-Sport isn’t a fire-breathing ‘F’ version of the Lexus take on the Prius, but is instead a ‘sportified’ version, with add on bits and a tweaked suspension.

But despite the lack of extra horses, the CT 200h F-Sport does go part of the way to addressing the problems of the CT 200h.

When we reviewed the CT 200h earlier this year, we found it to be a bit of a lost soul. It has the underpinnings of the Prius, but it also has a suspension setup which is on the harsh side of harsh.

That wouldn’t be a problem if the CT 200h had a decent lump of power to make the most of that stiffer setup, but it doesn’t. It also looked rather bland and generic, so although it pretended to be sporty it just didn’t deliver on either the style or substance. But at least the CT 200h F-Sport delivers on looks.

The F-Sport version of the CT 200h gets a bigger spoiler at the back, a set of skirts, a mesh grill and a set of tweaked bumpers. There’s also a set of dark-finish 17″ alloys to complete the outside look.

Inside, the CT 200h F-Sport gets an F-Sport steering wheel, F-Sport black leather, aluminium pedals and scuff plates and comes with Cruise and heated seats for a more ‘Premium and Sporty’ feel.

Under the skin – despite nothing extra in the way of horses – the F-Sport gets lateral damping, Kayaba dampers and stiffer coil spring rates. Which probably makes the ride worse, but will give more feel.

It’s a step in the right direction for the CT 200h, more clearly defining it as a sporty offering. But we live in hope that Lexus will see the light and endow the F-Sport with a bit more power or, although it’s unlikely to happen, churn out a proper CT 200-F.

The Lexus CT 200h F-Sport starts at £27,850 and arrives in Lexus showrooms in January 2012.

(6 photos – click any thumbnail for full size)

By Cars UK