“Welcome to the darker side of green,” reads the Lexus Web site in regard to the upcoming arrival of its newest hybrid offering. Marked by the traditional “h” moniker, the 2011 CT 200h is a five-door hatchback, sporty in stance but eco  in cred. Underneath the hood of the luxury car, drivers will find a 1.8-liter Continuously Variable Valve Timing with intelligence engine, mated with a high-output electric drive motor.

What’s really happening is this: Lexus is dropping its touted Hybrid Drive technology into a compact car for the first time, emphasizing fun-to-drive attitude in eco-friendly fashion. All the driver needs to do is shift into “Sport” mode for faster response time on the open road… when crawling city streets, “EV” mode will run purely on the electric motor, “Normal” mode will handle like a traditional hybrid, while “Eco” mode reduces throttle response depending on the angle of the gas pedal–and also adjusts air conditioning settings for optimum fuel economy.

Essentially, by toggling through each of the four modes, drivers can craft an on-the-road experience that suits their auto attitude. After all, there are some days when even the most environmental of us just want to get out and drive. Fast. And look good doing so, naturally, which is easy thanks to a sleek aerodynamic exterior design. With smooth front and rear corners, tapered shaping and a low roof line, the CT 200h lends modern appeal in a look that’s just stylish enough to exude premium caliber without demanding the attention of Prius’ pie-slide profile.

While the car was initially designed for European audiences, Lexus has assured us it will be available to the U.S. and Japan as well, most likely in the first quarter of 2011, with pricing rumored to start under $30,000.

Related: previously on altCon -  Cars and Transportation