2026 Lexus ES 350e

The significance of the all-new Lexus ES goes beyond being the latest evolution of the Lexus luxury sedan. Fulfilling the promise of the bold Lexus LF-ZC concept car, first revealed at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, it presents new directions in design and technology and captures the essence of what luxury means to today's customers.

The eighth generation of a model that has been part of Lexus since the founding of the brand, the all-new ES is more spacious than ever before. It is designed to deliver greater driving rewards and unprecedented comfort, supported by Lexus' unique Omotenashi hospitality principles. The debut of a new, more powerful and responsive software platform opens up a wealth of new features and functions, including more sophisticated and wide-ranging information and entertainment, enhanced instrumentation and augmented safety functions.

The new model follows Lexus' multipath philosophy for offering customers electrified powertrain options that meet their personal needs and preferences, while helping reduce emissions towards the goal of carbon neutrality. To this end, the all-new ES is available in both battery electric and self-charging hybrid forms, and with front and all-wheel drive options

A Lexus original

The ES is an "original Lexus". Its history goes back to the very start of the Lexus brand, first introduced alongside the LS limousine in 1989. Since then, it has achieved global sales well in excess of three million units.

The ES's European heritage is more recent. It arrived here in 2018 with the launch of the full hybrid seventh generation, ensuring Lexus continues to have a desirable sedan proposition in the marketplace.

Although the all-new ES is a larger car in every dimension than its predecessor, its Clean Tech x Elegance 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 the Lexus Driving Signature.

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.

DESIGN: "CLEAN TECH x ELEGANCE"

Across seven generations, the ES has distinguished itself as an elegant luxury sedan in the best traditions. Lexus designers were challenged to reinterpret these qualities as they worked on producing not just an all-new model, but the first ES to adopt a fully electric powertrain.

Exterior design

The design concept was defined by the term "Clean Tech x Elegance," signifying a harmonious combination of functional, technology-inspired design with styling that expresses the premium quality and hand-crafted luxury that are fundamental to the ES and the Lexus brand. Inspiration was drawn from the Lexus LF-ZC Concept, which previewed Lexus design thinking at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show.

Designed on a new platform for new powertrains

The all-new ES is built on Lexus' global architecture K-platform, redesigned to accommodate the model's electrified powertrains. The design team applied the "golden ratio" principle to achieve an ideal relationship between the car's dimensions (wheelbase, length, height and width) to create a sedan that is both elegant and visually striking and which and has a spacious cabin.

Sporty and elegant frontal design

Viewed from the front, the all-new ES displays the signature Lexus spindle body, extending across the bonnet to the edges of the bumper. Chief Designer Kumai wanted to retain a wide and low "face" and to keep the height of the front wings low to preserve the characteristic look of a premium sedan. The height difference adds a sporty touch while keeping a suitably dynamic sedan-style expression.

The low-set bonnet contributes to giving the driver an improved forward view. The hybrid models are distinguished from the BEVs in having an additional cooling aperture in the upper grille.

The car's spindle body rises from the low-set nose: the distinctive shape expresses its electrified power and makes the car instantly recognisable on the road as a Lexus. Details include a new front light arrangement that creates a twin L-shape with outward-facing turn indicators and inward-facing daytime running lights, a new signature for Lexus' electrified models.

Sleek and elegant side view

The side view is a key factor in capturing the elegant look of a sedan. Taking the height increase into account, the desired result was achieved by introducing a black side moulding. The effect is a reduction in the perceived height of the car, creating a slimmer, longer and sleeker appearance. The moulding is also used as design feature to link the front and rear sections of the vehicle.

The flowing silhouette creates a "trunkless" look with the cabin tapering to the rear. The contrasting lower body comprises both planar and sculpted surfaces and muscular aerodynamically efficient shoulders that are powerfully contoured and give the ES a "leap forward" profile.

A sweeping rear end

The rear end design has a smooth, flowing, rearward sweep, styling that has been a characteristic of successive ES models.

Chief Designer Yahiko Kumai explains: "The shape that cuts through the rearmost volume is a dynamic surface, unprecedented on sedan. We were very particular about its appearance and have a produced a beautiful broad surface. It gives the car an incredibly well-planted silhouette and while we have retained ample space in the cabin, it is strongly tapered to control airflow." This tapering also emphasises the car's low centre of gravity, generating a sporty and athletic look.

The rear illumination features a single, seamless light bar that integrates the LEXUS logo and incorporates the tail and stop lights. As well as amplifying the wide stance and enhancing the sculpted rear profile, the light bar also contributes to aerodynamic performance. In design-first for a Lexus, the rear combination lights are housed in signature L-shaped units located towards the lower rear corners, further emphasising the sedan's wide stance.

Vehicle dimensions

The new Lexus ES is larger in all principal dimensions than its predecessor, increases that contribute to significantly more cabin and load compartment space.

At 5,140 mm, the overall length is greater by 165 mm; within that length, the wheelbase has been extended by 80 mm to 2,950 mm. Vehicle width is 1,920 mm (+55 mm) and height 1, 560 mm (+115 mm) for the BEV and 1,555 mm (+110 mm) for the hybrid model.

Aerodynamic efficiency details

In addition to the ES's smooth, tapering exterior design, the model incorporates many detailed elements to manage air flow over, under and around the car and achieve excellent aerodynamic performance. This contributes to a comfortable, quiet and stable ride and overall fuel and energy efficiency.

The car has a full, dimpled undercover to smooth air flow beneath the vehicle. In a Lexus first, fins have been added to the undercover to suppress turbulence in the air flow away from the rear of the car, promoting a refined and stable drive. Further aero-stabilising fins are featured on the sills, to supress body roll, and on the rear light clusters and the rear bumper, again to enhance stability.

Other details include a revised bonnet front tip profile; door mirror covers shaped to improve airflow convergence; positioning of the wiper arm mounting system below the windscreen glass, reducing noise; flush belt mouldings; and semi-flush door handles.

The battery electric models feature grille shutters which open and close automatically to control air flow to the motor or engine, reducing aerodynamic drag and helping maximise driving range and fuel economy.