Lexus wants to triple its sales here

As we reported last week, Lexus has big plans for the future - and nowhere more so than in Ireland where it holds one of its largest market shares in Europe. Sales here this year will be just over 500, but the plan is that by 2008 these will have reached 1,575.

The Japanese marque is updating its dealer network, and three new dealers have also been appointed in Limerick, Wexford and Letterkenny.

But it's not simply extra floorspace that will drive sales. "We will also be launching eight new products in the next 24 months, including three new (petrol-electric) hybrids," says Mark Teevan, managing director of Lexus Ireland. Among these will be the RX400h, a hybrid version of its SUV. Going on sale in the middle of next year, it's expected to represent about 20 per cent of RX sales by 2006. Powered by a 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine offering up to 200bhp, it also features dual electric motors, bringing power up to 270bhp. All this is mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission, which in the end offers a 0-62mph time of less than eight seconds.

Other launches include the new GS range. It's likely that one of the three new hybrids will feature in the this range.

After this, the next launch is likely to be a new IS model, due here in the next 18 months.