Lexus CT 200h

One of the more significant debuts in Geneva, the CT200h is the production version of the car previewed by the LF-Ch in Frankfurt last year. A new entrant to the premium C-segment, its design clearly references both the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. The positioning of the front axle betrays its front-drive platform, while the overall proportion of the body clearly references the 1 Series in its cab proportions.

The exterior form sits heavily over its wheels, with most designers we spoke to feeling the design lacked the fine detailing and surface resolution that will be expected in the segment. The DRG clearly references the rest of the Lexus range, but features a much weaker treatment than the Frankfurt concept car - with less pronounced details and fussy surfacing around the lower-bumper's outer corners - losing the subtly powerful aggression of the LF-Ch's face.

Moving down the car, the lower rocker cover surface fails to relate to the surface bleeding off the bumper ahead of the front wheelarch, and contributes to an excessive sense of weight in the flanks of the car. It is easy to draw comparisons with the 1 Series again, a shoulder-line beginning above the front wheelarch, but whereas in the BMW this is sharply defined and fades out just ahead of the rear lamp cluster, on the CT200h it fades clumsily above the rear door handle and fails to relate with the bone lines above and below it. The rear screen wrap-around and C-pillar treatment are reminiscent of the Toyota iQ overall.

The interior is more successful, the upper IP segment with infotainment screen and HVAC controls sitting proud of a high center tunnel, which contains Lexus's computer mouse-like controller for navigating the infotainment system and a Prius-like hybrid drive controller. The overall impression of quality and detail design still falls some way short of the standards being set by the likes of Audi however.

Overall, the CT200h feels like a missed opportunity, lacking the levels of surface resolution and perceived quality that buyers in this segment have come to expect.