The All-New Lexus ES Goes on Sale in Japan

TOKYO, Japan (October 24, 2018)―Lexus today announced the start of 2019 Lexus ES sales at all its dealerships across Japan.

The ES was introduced in 1989 as part of Lexus’ debut vehicle lineup alongside the brand’s flagship model, the LS. Armed with unparalleled ride quality, quietness, and a spacious cabin, the ES helped establish the Lexus brand across the world, serving as the brand’s core product in many countries and regions. Now, it is available in Japan for the very first time.

As it enters its seventh-generation, the Lexus ES further enhances its world-renown ride comfort and driving dynamics all at the same time. Blending key elements of design and performance, the new ES will challenge the traditional expectations of consumers.

Following in the path of the LC and LS flagship coupe and sedan, the ES is the latest expression of the new generation of Lexus vehicles, instituting a fresh era of design and performance.

Built on the GA-K platform, which demonstrates high torsional rigidity and a low center of gravity, the all-new ES features a sleek and bold exterior, a spacious, plush interior, and exciting driving performance, all longstanding Lexus trademarks. The new platform/powertrain combination delivers flawless silky, smooth ride comfort, inheriting and further enhancing the DNA of past ES models. With sharp handling response and rock-solid stability, the ES exemplifies the Lexus”Yet” philosophy―the successful pairing of two contradictory ideas―with its “smooth, silky ride yet sharp handling.”

The ES comes equipped with the world’s first production Digital Side-View Monitors, as well as the brand’s innovative active safety package Lexus Safety System+. Utilizing the very latest in automotive safety technology offer drivers greater peace of mind and emphasizes the brand’s strong commitment to safety.

The all-new ES will be priced from ¥ 5,800,000 to ¥ 6,980,000 (tax included).^*2

• Taking advantage of the GA-K platform’s low center of gravity, the ES’ low, wide exterior proportions mirror the way the sporty sedan performs on the road. With the slightly aft placement of the A-pillars and the revised angle of the rear pillars, Lexus designers have succeeded in creating a sleek, dynamic silhouette. With this new body shape, Lexus designers sought to produce a sportier car with class-leading aerodynamics, while maintaining the ES’ customary spacious cabin. High-quality materials and fastidious attention to the smallest of styling details make the all-new ES the very example of functional beauty and high quality.
• A more expressive face was achieved through combination of a new mesh pattern for Lexus’ signature spindle grille, defined by a continuous flow of small “fin” shapes; the sharp, sculpted edges of the car’s body, and newly designed headlamps with three compact LED lamps.
• The rear design adopts Lexus’ distinct personality traits, including the stable stance of the wide rear tires and combination tail lamps featuring three L-shaped lenses.
• Two new colors are introduced: Ice Ecru Mica Metallic that emphasizes the car’s elegant nature and Sunlight Green Mica Metallic, a gorgeous deep shade that affords the car dramatic presence.

• The all-new ES positions driver and passengers as the focal points of the interior. The cockpit seemingly cocoons the driver, facilitating a complete connection with the car and delivering a truly exhilarating driving experience. Passengers are enclosed in a comfortable, safe environment where they can relax and enjoy the ride.
• The center console and armrest flow together in unity, while the upper/lower front seatbacks have been designed to allow easy operation of the controls and viewing of the monitor without necessitating a change in driver posture. The upper part of the seat, placement of the fully adjustable steering wheel, and strategic positioning of the foot pedals have been designed to achieve the optimal driving position. This and the lateral support provided by the seat were the result of vigorous testing and data gathering. The instrument panel and door trim meet in a seamless flow, creating a wide and spacious atmosphere in the cabin.
• The rear passengers are also treated to an expansive atmosphere, in part due to the abundant legroom, as well as the enveloping nature of the interior layout, which produces a sense of safety. The seats themselves have been designed for maximum comfort and support, featuring rich materials and a new electric reclining feature.^*4
• As an option, door armrest upholstery is offered in a material that incorporates Viscotecs TM^*5 technology and features a three-dimensional pattern. This material is used throughout the cabin for an elegant feel and a sense of spaciousness.

GA-K platform and 2.5-liter Lexus Hybrid Drive System help deliver the Lexus signature driving feel in the new ES

With significantly enhanced supple ride quality that has been an integral part of the ES DNA, the new ES also exhibits a newfound sportiness that thoroughly captures the ideals of the new generation of Lexus. At the heart of the car’s more athletic nature is the brand’s latest driving technology, namely, the GA-K platform and new-generation hybrid system. After thoroughly analyzing human movements and responses, Lexus engineers have created a car that, as much as possible, serves as a natural extension to the driver’s body. The engineers focused especially on precisely executing the driver’s inputs, immediate vehicle response, and creating a comfortable cockpit.

GA-K platform

• In addition to demonstrating high rigidity and possessing a low center of gravity, the new Lexus platform features a double-wishbone rear-suspension setup with an optimal overall geometry that results in excellent handling and stability. The sharp response provided by the rack-mounted electric power steering system gives the new ES precise steering, part of Lexus’ signature driving feel. The low placement of the driver’s seat (low hip point), a fully adjustable steering wheel, and the strategic positioning of the pedals help promote the optimal seating position for the driver.
• The front shock absorbers of models not featuring Adaptive Variable Suspension are equipped with a new ultra low-velocity valve in the piston that manages oil flow in response to the most minor of road irregularities and generates appropriate damping force. This swing valve shock absorber is a world-first.^*1 Even when the stroke speed of the shock absorber is low, it will exert appropriate damping force, providing excellent responsiveness on all varieties of road surfaces, resulting in a consistently even ride quality.
• To enhance the extremely quiet nature that has been an integral part of the ES’ DNA, Lexus engineers adopted the highest levels of sound absorption, sound insulation, and noise-cancelling measures, including a flowing body shape that was developed through many hours of wind-tunnel testing. Additional features, such as noise reduction wheels and sound-insulting acoustic glass from the flagship LS sedan, have also been employed. Sound produced by the engine and audio system has been precisely tuned, resulting in cabin sounds set at a frequency most comfortable to the human ear.

Lexus Hybrid Drive System

• The 2.5-line inline-4 engine is equipped with laser-clad intake valve seats, which permit increased airflow into the cylinder and a new intake port shape that increases the tumble-flow turbulence of incoming air and fuel for high-speed combustion. The new engine achieves world-leading thermal efficiency, combining robust power delivery with excellent response to deliver superb fuel efficiency of 23.4 km/liter (under the JC08 test cycle).
• The ES hybrid system achieves excellent fuel efficiency and powerful acceleration due to the new hybrid transaxle with improved efficient internal power flow and a higher-efficiency power control unit^*6.
• A new, more compact hybrid battery is located beneath the rear seats, contributing to ideal weight balance and low center of gravity, while enlarging cargo space.