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Lexus sales rising strongly in Europe – up 33 per cent in Western Europe

The new Lexus IS (pictured) is leading Lexus’s sales growth in europe There’s lots to like about the Lexus range (even if we would like to see proper gearboxes proliferate), and it seems buyers across Europe are getting more and more enamoured of Toyota’s luxury brand. Lexus are reporting soaring sales in Europe so far in 2014, with sales up by 25.4 per cent over the same period in 2013 (and by 33 per cent in Western Europe) and the Lexus IS leading the way. Lexus IS sales were up to 6,923, followed by the Lexus RX SUV and the compact Lexus CT, with even the massively expensive Lexus LS chipping in 265 sales in the first six months of the year.

BMW confirms its hiring of former Opel product chief Frank Weber

BMW AG confirmed it has hired Frank Weber, former head of product planning at General Motors Co.'s Opel/Vauxhall unit. Weber will become head of vehicle architecture and integration at BMW, a spokesman for the premium carmaker told Automotive News Europe today. The spokesman did not give details of when Weber will start at BMW.

New Toyota FT-1 and FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo Concept revealed

The new Toyota FT-1 Concept (pictured) will debut at Pebble Beach At the Detroit Motor Show in January, the impressive Toyota FT-1 Concept was revealed, with the general concensus being that it pointed firmly at a future Toyota Supra. And that thought is reinforced with the arrival of a new FT-1 Concept, ahead of a debut at Pebble Beach – and a ‘virtual’ FT-1 Concept in the guise of the Toyota FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo Concept. The new FT-1 Concept comes complete with a new graphite paint job, but perhaps the more interesting aspect is that the interior now looks more upmarket and more appealing.