Lexus believes the new ES will “radically change the concept of luxury comfort”
It has been just a few days since a partial image of the all new ES (which stands for Executive Sedan), was posted on the internet. Now Lexus is releasing the first official teaser of its luxury sedan. The car will be fully revealed at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show in China on April 25 . This is yet another indication that the People’s Republic has become more important to premium automakers.
Toyota’s luxurious marque is keeping it secret. The press release talks only about the midsize sedan and says that it is “more than just an attractive face”. It also explains how the new model will “transform comfort for luxury consumers around the world”.
The new ES will be able to replace the aging GS, which is rumored to have been discontinued due to low demand. It will be a completely different model as it will switch to the Toyota New Global Architecture. This means that it will share many similarities with the Avalon. The new platform will bring improved packaging and possibly a lighter vehicle, which should have a positive effect on handling.
A 3.5-liter V6 engine will power the ES 350. It’s likely that buyers will be able purchase one upon launch. The engine produces 301 horsepower and is channeled to each wheel via an eight-speed auto transmission. The ES 300h will be preferred by those who value fuel economy. This hybrid powertrain could be adapted from the Camry Hybrid.
The seventh-generation ES will be available in the United States by Lexus sometime this year or early 2019, once production has started at Toyota’s Kentucky assembly plant, where the Camry (and Avalon) are also being made.