TORRANCE, Calif. (May 26, 2011) –The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today announced the all-new Lexus 2011 CT 200h hybrid vehicle earned a “Top Safety Pick” award.

The “Top Safety Pick” is the highest safety designation awarded by the IIHS.  To qualify for the award, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of “good” in the IIHS’ front, side, rollover, and rear impact evaluations and be equipped with electronic stability control.  The announcement was released on the IIHS website www.iihs.org. The IIHS is an independent non-profit research and communications organization funded by auto insurance companies.

According to Lexus, the body structure of the CT 200h plays a key role in the fundamental safety characteristics. To help protect the driver and passengers, the body is designed to be strong but strategically resilient to help absorb and distribute energy in the event of a crash. High-strength steel components are carefully located in the body structure to help ensure strength in key areas.

The CT 200h incorporates a standard eight-airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with dual-stage front airbags and knee airbags for driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags, and front side airbags to help protect front and rear passengers in certain types of severe frontal or side collisions.

The front passenger’s twin-chamber airbag helps disperse the forces applied to the passenger immediately after deployment. Additionally, front seatbelts incorporate pretensioners with force-limiters to help protect occupants in the event of certain severe frontal collisions. The CT 200h also has Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seat concept that features a new seat back structure and headrest design.

The CT 200h, which went on sale in March 2011, has 134 total system horsepower and has achieved EPA estimated fuel economy ratings of 43 mpg city and 40 mpg on the highway for a combined 42 mpg utilizing regular 87-octane gasoline.

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