Automotive News has actually reported that Lexus will not be the recipient of any diesel engine technology from BMW as part of the new collaboration between the parent company, Toyota and the German automaker, BMW. BMW and Toyota are getting ready to come up with the next generation of green technology, though the two right now have their plates full, currently working on a new lithium ion battery instead of swapping diesel technologies. BMW will be serving up a few small displacement diesel engines for European Toyota, but they will not be providing their competitor, Lexus, with any oil burning lumps. As of right now, European buyers can expect to see 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter BMW diesel engines to show up under the hoods of certain Toyota products very soon.
That should help Toyota immensely in a market where 52 percent of all vehicles sold are diesels. Lexus, meanwhile, will continue to focus on plug-in hybrid and hybrid models to position itself as a niche innovation company. Automotive News reports Lexus has nailed down a European market share of just 0.2 percent over the past 11 months.