All-new Lexus ES arrives Down Under

LEXUS has confirmed pricing and specification for its all-new, seventh-generation ES sedan, which will be offered exclusively with the parallel-hybrid powertrain, and starts from $59,888 plus on-road costs.

 

Price of entry to the range has come down by $3862 for the ES300h Luxury, while the more expensive Sports Luxury has increased by $2978 to $74,888.

 

The ES300h uses the same combination of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor as the new-generation Toyota Camry, and it develops a combined power output of 160kW, up 9kW on the outgoing version.

 

Teamed to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), official combined fuel consumption stands at 4.6 litres per 100km, a drop of 16.4 per cent over the previous generation.

 

The 3.5-litre V6, which produces 224kW/362Nm in the new-gen Camry, will no longer be offered on the ES.

 

Speaking at the ES global reveal in April, Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson said the decision to drop the V6 was part of an effort to increase electrification in the Lexus range.

 

“In Australia, hybrid accounts for 30 per cent of Lexus sales, so offering the latest-generation ES solely with an advanced self-charging hybrid system represents another significant milestone towards greater electrification of our line-up,” he said.  

 

Lexus has upped the technology in the ES, incorporating a new 12.3-inch infotainment screen (up from an 8.0-inch unit), head-up display and a 7.0-inch instrument cluster display.

 

Also standard across the range is DAB+ digital radio, a 10-speaker sound system, satellite navigation, leather upholstery with 10-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a moonroof, an electronic park brake and a new touch pad controller that integrates haptic feedback.

 

Opting for the Sports Luxury adds 14-way adjustable driver and 12-way passenger seats with ventilation, adjustable heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, three-zone climate control, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and a hands-free power bootlid.

 

The Lexus Safety System+ includes a suite of active safety technologies such as active cruise control, reversing camera, hill-start assist, pre-collision with daytime cyclist detection and 10 airbags.

 

Sports Luxury variants add a surround-view monitor, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

 

Based on the new global architecture platform, length and width have increased by 60mm and 45mm respectively, while the ES sits 5mm lower than before.

 

Wheelbase length has increased by 50mm, while track width has grown by 10mm at the front and 30mm rear.

 

Rear legroom has been increased from 1015.4mm to 1022mm, and boot space is 454L, while the drag coefficient has reduced from 0.27 to 0.26Cd.

 

The ES adopts Lexus’ swoopy styling and “provocative elegance” design language, complete with the signature pinched grille, LED headlights with L-shaped turn lights, long, thin wrap-around LED tail-lights, and 17- or 18-inch alloys.

 

Ten colours are available, including two new hues – Glacial Ecru and Radiata Green. Premium paint colours cost $1500.

 

Changes have been made to the ES’s driving characteristics, including a new suspension system with MacPherson front struts and a trailing-arm, multi-link rear set-up with new shock absorbers.

  

Lexus Australia this year has sold just 141 examples of the ES, down 20.8 per cent compared to the same time last year.

 

It trails sales leaders in the $60,000-plus medium segment, including the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (3723), CLA (2295), BMW 3 Series (2177) and Audi A4 (1065).