The icon of reliability and easy maintenance among luxury family sedans has turned the next chapter. The 2019 Lexus ES marks the seventh-generation and has an all-new platform. Lexus highlights its coupe-like design, enhanced performance, and innovative technologies. The new model presents two all-new iterations – the ES 300h, an electrified hybrid model, and the Lexus ES F-SPORT model, designed to enhance driving excitement by a responsive oneness with the driver.

“The first generation of this best-selling sedan debuted in 1989, and over the past 30 years, Lexus ES has evolved to constitute, thanks to its supreme quality and unbeatable dependability, a key staple in many houses and fleets,” said Mohamed Maktari, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Lexus. Lexus ES constitutes over 70% of Al Futtaim Lexus sedans sold. The introduction of the new electrified variant is expected to spike the sales as people and companies move towards the sustainability targets set by the UAE Government’s Vision 2021.

The new ES underlines its perpetual strengths – spaciousness, quietness and class-leading active safety technology. Lexus has complimented this with exhilarating performance and a rare display of craftsmanship in this segment.

Elegance is the key

The new ES is longer, lower and wider, and is embellished with daring design elements.

The provocative elegance of the design begins with the latest iteration of the brand’s signature grille, but adds individual cues that are unique to the ES such as the vertical grille pattern and satin-plated trim, adding slim headlamps with distinctive L-shaped marker lights. The low hood creates a dynamic yet fluid shape while enhancing the driver’s visibility. The rear of the all-new Lexus ES is marked by three-dimensional, L-shaped LED tail lamps that wrap around the quarter panels to provide a continuous styling line from any angle.

The ES 250, ES 350 and ES 300h get standard 17-inch and two 18-inch wheel designs while the ES 350 F SPORT gets 19-inch wheels as standard. Sunlight Green and Ice Ecru are the two new shades in the 10 exterior paints available. The F-SPORT model gets to keep two: White Nova, embodying ultimate purity, and Heat Blue that expresses high energy.

Technologically superior interior

The new Lexus ES has a driver-oriented left half and a passenger oriented right half. The centre display screen, instrument panel and available heads-up display are placed in a tight cluster to let the driver focus on his or her field of view. Front passengers occupy a more open and spacious area that inspires relaxation.

The interior advances include a 12.3-inch multimedia display, a 10.2-inch colored and adjustable head-up display (HUD), a 7-inch color multi-information display (MID), a wireless charging system for smartphones, an LED ambient illumination, the Lexus Climate Concierge with a 3-zone independent temperature control system, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, multi-adjustable power and ventilated front seats, power reclining rear seats, a rear armrest with multi-operation panel, and a hands-free power trunk lid.

Despite the coupe-like design, rear seat passenger comfort – what the ES is best known for – remains priority. A lower hip point and a carefully configured headliner preserve headroom while the longer wheelbase delivers generous legroom. ES 350 and ES 300h offer Shimamoku wooden trim and Bamboo trim, which give the ES a handcrafted appearance that luxury buyers expect.

Lexus ES F-Sport

Lexus ES F SPORT wears its bold and aggressive personality on its façade as well as in the numerous upgrades such as a retuned suspension, 19-inch wheels and tires, and unique aluminum interior trim.

The F-SPORT model flaunts an all-new kind of metallic cabin trim, inspired by the making of “Katana” a traditional Japanese sword, and uses “Hadori”, a polishing technique that gives the ornamentation panels a three-dimensional appearance.

A New Era of Performance

While quiet comfort has been the selling feature, this time the team has focused on delivering exhilaration as a driving quality. The engineering team started with the newly developed GA-K platform, an exceptionally rigid front-wheel-drive chassis, rivaling the GA-L rear-wheel-drive platform used for the LC coupe and LS sedan in terms of torsional stiffness.

For enhanced performance, the F-SPORT model offers an Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) similar to the one found on the LC coupe. It has a Sport+ mode that activates the most aggressive engine, transmission and suspension settings. This mode brings up an Engine Sound Enhancement feature that adds another layer of engine noise for effect.

New 8-Speed Direct-Shift Automatic Transmission

ES 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a new 8-speed direct shift automatic transmission, with an update to D4-S fuel injection, designed to deliver commanding acceleration along with an invigorating sound. The impressively smooth engine now throws 301 horsepower, up significantly by 11%, compared to the older model, while delivering 16% better fuel economy. [The engine has garnered appreciation in the Camry.] The new ES 250 also comes with an 8-speed Automatic Transmission and offers 13% better horsepower and 25% better fuel economy with 17.2 KM / L.

Fourth Generation Hybrid Drive System

The hybrid combines two power sources consisting of a petrol engine and two electric motors. Lexus highly commends its increased driving satisfaction and engagement provided by its advanced technologies and cabin quietness, as well as its smooth acceleration, especially at the start. The ES 300h offers over 80% better fuel savings compared to the current petrol model. Theoretically, the ES 300h can go 24.1km on one liter of petrol, which adds up to 1205 kilometers on a full tank before stopping for refuelling.

The all-new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine incorporates fast-burn combustion technology that makes it one of the most thermally efficient engines ever offered in a Lexus. The all-new nickel metal hybrid battery is smaller than before which allows it to be mounted underneath the back seat so it doesn’t infringe on trunk space.

Safety sets standard

The new Lexus ES range features Lexus Safety System+, an advanced safety technology package that includes Pre-Collision System (PCS) with pedestrian detection during daylight and certain low-light condition, all-speed range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with a new feature called Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), and two-stage adaptive high beam system (AHS). In addition, the car features a comprehensive array of safety features to protect its occupants, such as 10 SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Parking Support Alert (PKSA), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA), Active Cornering Assist (ACA), and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), among many others.

The ES range starts from AED 195,000.