Lexus unveils all new ES luxury mid-size sedan in Singapore

Launched and unveiled by Chief Engineer Yasuhiro Sakakibara at the Changi Exhibition Centre, the all new Lexus ES is currently into its seventh generation, forging a new, more ambitious path. Long known for its unparalleled comfort, refinement and luxury appointments, the all new ES builds on its strengths with a new GA-K platform that allows for a more dynamic exterior design and even better driving performance.

LED lamps wrap around the quarter panels to evoke a continuous styling line

A further expression of Lexus' design direction and commitment to crafting vehicles that provoke excitement, emotional connection and passion, the Lexus ES is the first core model that expands the brand's future to a broader audience after the LC flagship coupe and the LS flagship sedan.

Buyers familiar with Lexus will find the new ES more spacious, quieter and safer than ever before while a new generation of customers will be introduced to a sedan with sharpened performance, class-leading active safety technology and a level of craftsmanship rarely found in this segment.

As compared to the previous ES, the all new ES is 65mm longer, 5mm lower and 45mm wider with wheels that have been pushed closer to the corners, thanks to a 50mm longer wheelbase and wider tread front and rear. Its stance and proportions create a more stable and rigid chassis while reflecting its newfound performance capabilities.

In a break from past iterations, the all new ES design features a sleek, sloping roofline that emphasises the vehicle's lower stance and aerodynamics. Innovative measures were also taken underneath and on the sides to help direct airflow smoothly around the body, helping contribute to fuel efficiency, reduced noise and vibration, and enhanced handling and high-speed control.

A lower hip point and a carefully configured headliner preserve headroom while the longer wheelbase delivers more legroom

When designing the look and feel of the interior of the all new ES, Project Chief Designer, Yasuo Kajino and his team started with the Lexus Future Interior concept, which blends a driver-centric cockpit with a spacious and comfortable area for passengers.

First introduced in the flagship LC, refined in the flagship LS and now expanded to the all new ES, this concept helps keep driver's focus on the road ahead by placing all controls within reach and all information in the driver's field of view.

The entire floor board of the all new ES is now covered both inside and outside. Even the A, B and C pillars have partial filling with polyurethane foams, so that sound can no longer travel from other parts of the chassis to near the occupants' ears. The all new ES300h gets a special three-layered padding at the firewall, called Hybrid acoustics, to absorb or reflect sounds such as high-pitch tones from inverter and Motor Generators, further enhancing the quietness of the car.

More importantly, rear seat passenger comfort has long been a hallmark of the ES and the seventh generation model still prioritises rear package capability despite the sleeker exterior roofline. A lower hip point and a carefully configured headliner preserve headroom while the longer wheelbase delivers more legroom.

The new eight-speed auto delivers the direct feel of a dual-clutch and the smoothness of a torque converter

On Luxury trims, the rear seats are also able to recline to eight degrees for enhanced relaxation through the rear seat control together with the controls of sunshades, air-conditioning and audio as well.

The all new ES also features a precision-crafted steering wheel found in the flagship LS and exquisite Shimamoku wood trim, a multi-layered work of art inspired by a Lexus-exclusive design that requires 67 manufacturing steps over 38 days.

There are two models, each with an Executive or Luxury trim option, offered at launch. The all new ES250 is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, which produces 203bhp and 247Nm of torque.

The all new ES300h is powered by a new, fourth generation self-charging hybrid drive system that can deliver exceptional fuel efficiency, responsive performance and minimal emissions. An ultra-efficient 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine that brings the total system power to 214bhp and 221Nm of torque is combined to deliver an optimal 21.7km/L.

All models get the high-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), which helps vehicles travel at a consistent speed that is set by the driver. DRCC adds a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode that assists the driver by adjusting vehicle speed to help maintain a pre-set distance to a preceding vehicle when the preceding vehicle is traveling at a lower speed.

Prices as of press time (inclusive of COE)

Lexus ES 250 2.5 Executive (A) - $208,800 (OMV $39,991)
Lexus ES 250 2.5 Luxury (A) - $228,800 (OMV $47,655)
Lexus ES 300h 2.5 Executive (A) - $218,800 (OMV $45,586)
Lexus ES 300h 2.5 Luxury (A) - $238,800 ($50,848)