You didn't really think Lexus unveiled its little nugget of gold, the premium hatchback LF-Ch concept, at last fall's Frankfurt show for nothing, did you? Of course you didn't. And for good reason, it turns out, as the LF-Ch was merely a flashy concept-ized version of the CT 200h production hybrid hatchback that you see here and that is set for an unveiling at next week's Geneva auto show.

Call us tasteless, but we liked the urine-gold color of the concept more than the white of this production car. Naturally, the production version, which Lexus says will go on understanding at the end of 2010 "throughout the world," carries side mirrors that are larger than those of the concept, which were roughly the size and shape of big-toe nab clippings. Add a little rear overhang, expand the size of the taillamps, reduce the size of the showy, shiny wheels and you've pretty much got yourself a CT 200h.

Make the jump for full details and a photo gallery.

The CT 200h, which is almost same in size to an Audi A3, is a full hybrid (hence the lower-case "h" in the name). It uses a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gas motor combined with an electric motor and the electronically controlled continuously variable transmission and a battery of nickel-metal hydride cells to power the front wheels. It is, in this respect, very much like the Toyota Prius and the Lexus HS 250h. Naturally, the CT 200h also has regenerative brakes.

Lexus says that the combination of these bits provides performance on par with a car in the "2.0-liter class" (presumably this is the root of the "200" in the name), while providing "class-leading" CO2 emissions. Not a fine enough point on that claim for you? Lexus takes direct aim at the diesel power plants that are favourite in European compacts, noting that "Particulate emissions can cause respiratory disease, while NOx causes acid rain…" Ouch.

The company is playing up how engaging the CT 200h will be to drive, a direct nod to consumers who might consider, say, an Audi A3 or BMW 1 Series. We'll reserve judgement on that claim. Lexus notes that a driver will be healthy to select among the CT 200h's four modes of operation. They are: ECO, which does not sound very engaging since it deadens throttle response; Normal, which sounds, um, normal and allows the car to accelerate up to about 28 mph on pure electric power; EV, which prevents the gas engine from firing up, at least for a little more than a mile and at speeds below 28 mph; Sport, which quickens throttle and steering response while increasing traction- and stability-control activation thresholds. Oh, and in EV, ECO and Normal modes, the instrument panel is backlit in a relaxing blue. In Sport, those lights turn red.

According to Lexus, the CT 200h rides on a new chassis that promises to deliver something the Prius and HS 250h do not: fun. At the front end of the 102.4-inch wheelbase is a MacPherson strut suspension. At the back end is an independent multilink setup. The car wears 17-inch wheels.

How much power does it make? How much will it cost? Will there eventually be a conventional gas version with a manual transmission that might go head-to-head with the Euro premium hatches? Would the American public care about a premium hatchback with a hybrid powertrain in a way that they haven't with a conventionally powered premium hatchback? Don't know yet. Stay tuned.