Hey there, just wondering if CT can make a tall driver comfortable

I'm actually more optimistic than you are about tall drivers fitting comfortably in the Lexus CT, based on this just-released document from Lexus UK:

PRIME POSITION FOR A SPORTY DRIVE
Lexus focuses on ideal driving position for new CT 200h

KEY POINTS

- Lexus configures ideal driving position for new CT 200h full hybrid – the sportiest set-up of any regular Lexus production model

- Driver hip point brought as close as possible to the car’s centre of gravity

- New air intake system designed to ensure bonnet profile can maintain pedestrian protection quality without compromising forward vision from the low-set driver’s seat

- Driver’s seat includes additional lateral and lumbar support

- Design enables drivers to make the most of CT 200h’s agile handling and responsive performance

The moment drivers get behind the wheel of the new CT 200h, there will be no mistaking the sporty character of Lexus’s debut model in the luxury small car market. Great attention has been paid to perfecting the ideal driving position, with seat design and location, steering wheel position and even the angle of the pedals calculated for the best possible results.

Lexus considered this element of the full hybrid CT 200h to be so important, it even came up with a new engine air intake design so that the bonnet profile could be kept low to ensure a clear view from the low-set driver’s seat, without compromising pedestrian safety performance.

The result is the sportiest driving position of any mainstream Lexus production vehicle, much in line with that of the high performance IS F. Central to this achievement is the low hip point of the driver’s seat, which has been brought as close as possible to the car’s centre of gravity.

Low hip point


This is complemented by a new sports steering wheel with a wide grip cross-section, set at a lower, 21-degree angle. The accelerator and brake pedal are also angled to take the lower hip point into account.

Optimised steering column angle


The driver’s seat design – like that of the IS F – has extra lateral and lumbar support built-in to hold the driver firmly and comfortably in place as he or she makes the most of the car’s dynamic performance.

Focus on lateral support


With agile handling, responsive steering and a choice of driving modes, the driver, CT 200h demonstrates that Lexus’s full hybrid drive technology can deliver great driving pleasure as well as environmentally efficient performance.

Lexus will present the CT 200h – the new gateway model for the Lexus range – at the Paris motor show. UK sales will start early next year.

PRIME POSITION FOR A SPORTY DRIVE

nocycle said:

Hi there folks, I know the CT is still 8 months away from US showrooms, but just curious if it will make a tall driver like myself feel comfortable.

I'm all of 6'2" tall (188cm) with looong legs , 35 or 36" inseam (90cm), luckily under 200 lbs. I'm usually one of the tallest dudes in most rooms so to speak.
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I had the same concern. I'm 190cm (6ft3), with 35" inseam (weight: about 80 kgs / 175 lbs). I like a snug and sporty driver's position, but the car should fit like a glove & not make me bend to fit. In smaller cars, I usually can't push back the seat far enough to get proper leg support. This was the case with Toyota's small hybrid, the Auris. Therefore, I was a bit worried about the CT200h as well.

Trying it out, the ct200h showed to be a very different car indeed. I was comfortable, I found the driver's position to be perfect, with good leg support. It was "snug", i.e. not very wide; but tall drivers will not have a problem at all. I believe much of the car's space has been allocated to the driver, hence the roominess.

I also really liked the handling. It reminded me of the couple of months I had an Alfa Romeo 147: instant love. Another plus is the car's quietness. The CVT and engine noise is much less intrusive than in the Toyota hybrid.

I can't comment on the roof height. It didn't strike me as an issue, but then again I knew the roads and didn't need to look up much. I imagine roof height is only one of the factors determining upwards visibility. If the roof is low but the windscreen extends to nearly above the driver, you'd have perfect upwards visibility...

Hope this helps...