Eighth generation Lexus ES is coming (Update)

An all-new Lexus ES made its world-first appearance a few weeks ago at the Shanghai Auto Show, signalling the introduction of an eighth generation of the global luxury sedan later this year. Lexus has now also provided some details about the battery.

While the ES has been a key model for Lexus in North America and Asia for over thirty years (since 1989), its arrival in Europe was more recent. The sixth-generation model was launched in Eastern European markets in 2010, and the current model was launched in Western Europe in 2018.

Following its world premiere at Auto Shanghai, the all-new ES will be launched in Europe and start sales in spring 2026. Details of local specifications will be announced in due course. Following Lexus’ multi-pathway strategy, the car will be available as a fully electric vehicle (BEV) or a hybrid (HEV).

Electric

The ES 350e has a 165 kW front engine and is expected to achieve a range of up to 530 kilometers according to the WLTP standard. The ES 500e is a 252 kW all-wheel drive version with two electric motors, which can accelerate from a standstill to 100 kph in 5.7 seconds instead of 8.2 seconds.

According to Lexus, the DIRECT4 all-wheel drive system can variably distribute power between 100:0 and 0:100. Thus, the ES 500e can sometimes be a pure front-wheel drive vehicle but also a pure rear-wheel drive vehicle.

Lexus has now provided further details about the lithium-ion battery. The ES 350e’s battery has a capacity of 77 kW, while the ES500e’s has a capacity of 75 kW. There is also information on the charging capacity: depending on the outside temperature, the standard charging process at a 150 kW charging point can take between 30 minutes and an hour to reach 80%.

In China, these are relatively meagre figures, especially since Toyota’s joint venture partner GAC already demonstrated a charging process with a peak of 480 kW in 2021 and charged from zero to 80% in eight minutes.

Hybrid

There are two hybrid variants in Europe. In Western Europe, the ES 300h is offered with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with a system output of 148 kW. In Eastern Europe, the ES 350h offers an 182 kW system output from the same drive unit.

The saloon is 5.14 m long, making it 16.5 cm longer than its predecessor. In width, the ES has increased by 5.5 cm to 1.92 m, in height by a full 11 cm for the hybrid and 11.5 cm for the BEV version to roughly 1.56 meters. The wheelbase measures 2.95 m, eight cm longer than before.

The front suspension is a MacPherson strut arrangement, while at the rear, a multi-link system is used for the first time in an ES. The aim is to enhance power transmission to the road and smooth vehicle posture control.

Digital cockpit

The ES features a brand-new digital cockpit experience that integrates the 12.3-inch combi instrument, the new 14-inch LexusConnect multimedia (making its market debut), and the LexusLink + app.