Lexus Gaining Traction in Europe

While Honda officials may be questioning the role of hybrids, Lexus, the luxury arm of Toyota , has no such qualms. Gasoline-electric technology could soon account for a quarter of Lexus sales in Europe, suggested the automaker's vice president, Karl Schicht, during a Geneva preview. Lexus sales have been steadily growing in recent years, he noted, though they fell slightly short of the maker's 30,000 target last year. The RX sport-utility vehicle has been the biggest seller for Lexus in Europe, and the RX400h hybrid racked up 4,612 sales in 2005, about 30 percent of total RX volume. That number, noted Schicht, "was constrained by volume," and should see a significant increase in 2006, "further proving that hybrids are a brand-shaping technology" for Lexus. A second hybrid, the GS450h, will be launched in 2006, noted Schicht, so for the year as a while, hybrids "could become 25 percent of our total sales," said the Lexus VP.

2006 Lamborghini LP 640  |  

For those who think the "base" Lamborghini Murciélago is underpowered, there's now the 640-horsepower Murciélago LP 640. The sports car took its bow in Geneva Tuesday, and will hit dealer showrooms by summer, likely at a European price tag of around 250,000 Euros. The four-wheel-drive LP 640 will be able to hit a top speed of 211 mph, noted Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann.