ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS A NEW SALOON FROM LEXUS

The year 1989 was a milestone for motoring with the arrival of Lexus on the scene with their large LS400 saloon, a car that went on to challenge the premium brands from Germany and to firmly establish the brand.

In recent years, it is true to say that Lexus moved in a different direction bringing a number of well-appointed SUVs to the market and now comes news of a new Lexus saloon, the ES. The newcomer will arrive amidst a sea of SUVs as interest in a saloon has somewhat diminished and it will be the eighth generation of the global luxury saloon. Clearly Lexus has recognised the need on a global basis for a saloon. New technologies and advanced comfort, connectivity and safety to sustain the model’s global reputation and the aim has been to ensure the ES can be enjoyed by all occupants: a connected, rewarding experience and sense of always being in control for the driver and first class comfort for everyone on board.

Just like its ancestor the LS400, the ES has always enjoyed ride quality, comfort and quietness; now they will be taken to an even higher level. With the new ES, an extended model range that includes both full hybrid and battery electric powertrains, with different power options and the choice of both front and all-wheel drive. The electrification programme brings battery electric technology to the company’s premium saloon for the first time. Where intelligence is concerned, the model benefits from technology innovations such as the Lexus-first “Hidden Tech” switches, which are made possible by Lexus’s Arene software platform and the latest sophisticated multimedia and safety systems. With the diversification of its model range, Lexus is designing products that can fulfil multiple roles; the ES may be a saloon in the classic style, but it has character, style and performance to appeal to customers across both the private and business sectors. While the ES has been a key model for the company in North America and Asia for more than thirty years, its arrival in Europe was in more recent years; launched in Eastern European markets with the sixth generation model in 2010, and in the UK and Western Europe with the current model in 2018.

Although the new car is a larger car in every dimension than its predecessor, its clean x tech design delivers a sleek and elegant look, both inside and out. The investment made in comfort, refinement and luxury moves it closer to the quality, spaciousness and specifications associated with larger F-segment models. At the same time, its performance and handling, both in hybrid and battery electric versions, delivers the high levels of comfort, confidence and control that define Lexus. The development programme was based at Lexus’s Shimoyama technical centre in Japan, where planning, design, engineering and evaluation teams were able to collaborate under one roof to systematically test and refine the car. The world premiere was at the recent Auto Shanghai in China and the new ES will be launched in Europe with the start of sales from spring 2026. We can expect further details regarding specifications over the coming months.

Ian Lynas