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Although the 2011 Lexus CT 200h may use the Toyota Prius‘ powertrain, Lexus aims to incorporate sportiness into the hybrid’s design. To accomplish that task, the Japanese automaker spent countless hours perfecting the sporty driving position in the CT 200h.
According to Lexus, the CT 200h features the sportiest driving position in its lineup this side of the ISF. This was done to ensure that drivers comprehend the hybrid’s sporty intentions from the first second behind the wheel. In order to perfect the driving position, Lexus optimized the seat design and location, steering wheel position, and even the angle of the pedals.
A key factor in achieving a sporty driving position is getting the driver’s hips low, and as close to the center of gravity as possible. This presented several problems, as mounting the driver seat low in the car meant that forward visibility became a problem. In order to correct this, Lexus actually redesigned the air intake such that the hood could be lowered while still meeting European pedestrian crash regulations.
In addition to moving the driver’s hip point as close as possible to the center of gravity, the seats in the CT 200h feature larger side bolsters for added lateral support when the road gets twisty. Other hybrids’ relatively flat seats make attempting twisty roads something of a chore.
We’ll have to wait until we can get behind the wheel of the CT 200h to evaluate whether or not these changes worked, but we enjoy a car that allows us to get into a comfortable driving position and keeps us planted. What about you? Is driving position an important factor in purchasing a car?
Source: Lexus
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