Lexus Malaysia has introduced the CT 200h to its local lineup, and the hybrid brings the number of models available in the Malaysian stable to seven.

The five-door hatchback, which is made in Kyushu, Japan, rolls in wearing a “hybrid luxury compact” tag, and though it’s powered by the same the same powertrain combination as found on the ZVW30 Prius, the ZWA10R is slotted in as a more upmarket offering compared to its Toyota sibling.

As mentioned in an earlier report about its impending arrival, the CT 200h is available in two guises, standard and Luxury, with a fair amount of items on the kit list to separate the two.

Common equipment to both variants are perforated leather seats (with seat heaters), dual-zone air conditioning and cruise control. Safety-wise, there’s a host of stuff – ABS, BA, VSC, TRC and EBD, as well as eight airbags and rear seat Isofix points, and both versions of the car come wearing the same wheel, which is a 16-incher wrapped with 205/55 series tyres.

The standard CT 200h, priced at RM168,000 without insurance, comes with a CD-player/six-speaker audio system, with USB/auxiliary port connectivity, halogen headlamps and manual adjustment for both driver and front passenger seats.

Going the Luxury route, which brings the price to RM196,500 (again without insurance), bags a six-disc in-dash CD-changer/10-speaker entertainment system, replete with Bluetooth connectivity and a high performance DSP eight-channel, full-range class D amplifier, twin LED low beam lamps – along with arrowhead-shaped daytime running lamps – and eight-way powered adjustment for the driver’s seat.

Speaking of LEDs, here’s something for the trivia fans; the CT 200h has the largest number of external LEDs yet fitted to a Lexus model, 89 in total.

The Luxury version also gets smart entry, an Electro Multi Vision (EMV) screen, rain sensing wipers and a rear reverse camera, a Lexus navigation system and Remote Touch multi-function controller, as well as a unique lateral performance damper system that make for a more linear steering feel and enhanced ride comfort.

The CT 200h is powered by a 2ZR-FXE 1.8 litre Atkinson cycle petrol block developing 98 hp at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm at 4,000 rpm and tuned for RON 95 fuel. Together with a permanent magnet synchronous motor/168-cell NiMh electric drivetrain offering 80 hp and 207 Nm, the total combined output is 134 hp, identical to the Prius.

Other numbers include a competitive 375 litres of luggage capacity for the boot, which goes up to 985 litres with the rear seats folded down.

The CT 200h comes with a choice of seven exterior colours, of which two – Fire Agate Mica Metallic and Flare Yellow Mica Metallic – have been specially developed for the car and are available only with the Luxury version.

Lexus Malaysia is aiming to sell around 800 units of the CT 200h this year, and ordering one now will see you getting delivery sometime in June. Look after the jump for a full live photo gallery from the launch in the brand’s Mutiara Damansara flagship outlet.

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