First 2019 Lexus ES Sedan Rolls Off Production Line in Kentucky


The very first 2019 Lexus ES 350 F SPORT has rolled off the production line at the Georgetown factory in Kentucky:

The Lexus line in Georgetown won a J.D. Power Platinum award in 2016 after its first year of production, and has just been awarded a Gold award for the second consecutive year.

The Lexus ES will be arriving in dealerships this September. Pricing has been announced, and here you can read our review of the all-new sedan.

Lexus ES: Sixth Generation
Comments
RAL
I noticed that too ... I think you are right.
As much as I like the design and the overall car in isolation, no way Lexus thinks this can stand a chance against the big players of the segment. I expect very aggressive pricing.
RAL
I noticed that too ... I think you are right.
As much as I like the design and the overall car in isolation, no way Lexus thinks this can stand a chance against the big players of the segment. I expect very aggressive pricing.
RAL
I noticed that too ... I think you are right.
As much as I like the design and the overall car in isolation, no way Lexus thinks this can stand a chance against the big players of the segment. I expect very aggressive pricing.
spwolf
- I have seen every Avalon review there is, almost every single one says it is class leading vehicle. So it has some torque steer with 300hp engine, so what? So do NX and RX and rest of the best selling Toyota/Lexus lineup - obviously customers dont think it is a big deal, and Avalon/ES are supposedly much better than those vehicles dynamically.

So engine introduced few days earlier in Avalon than in ES means that Toyota is leading and Lexus is following? Cmn, be realistic. Porsche uses VW engines. Audi uses VW engines that cheap Skoda uses. 3 and 5 and 7 series share engines. Mercedes uses Renault engines that Renault puts in $10k Clio.

That 2.5l is state of the art engine, it does not matter if it got shown 2 days before in Avalon. Heck I am surprised that they made it different from engine in Camry but I guess that does not matter anymore? It has to be all new engine? I mean thats funny.
We can agree to disagree about torque steer being a problem. US media hates it and so do many consumers, so the car will most likely be reviewed as dynamically inferior to competitors and even GS. It is what it is.

I have no problem with Lexus using Toyota engines and of course I understand the business case for shared engines across a wide array of vehicles. However,
Camry debuted TNGA-K
Camry debuted A25A-FKS
Camry debuted 2GR-FKS in a sedan
Camry debuted 2.5L THS II
Avalon debuted CarPlay
Avalon debuted minor revision of THS II with 7 more horsepower
...ES just showed up using all the Toyota hardware we've already seen

It would have looked better if they had at least staged the ES reveal before the Avalon to make it seem like something was sacred for Lexus. Considering the situation with GS, the optics of this are just bad for a "premium" brand. Adding insult to injury was the continued use of "new" in their press release and teaser materials setting expectations that the product didn't deliver on for the reasons I noted above.
spwolf
- I have seen every Avalon review there is, almost every single one says it is class leading vehicle. So it has some torque steer with 300hp engine, so what? So do NX and RX and rest of the best selling Toyota/Lexus lineup - obviously customers dont think it is a big deal, and Avalon/ES are supposedly much better than those vehicles dynamically.

So engine introduced few days earlier in Avalon than in ES means that Toyota is leading and Lexus is following? Cmn, be realistic. Porsche uses VW engines. Audi uses VW engines that cheap Skoda uses. 3 and 5 and 7 series share engines. Mercedes uses Renault engines that Renault puts in $10k Clio.

That 2.5l is state of the art engine, it does not matter if it got shown 2 days before in Avalon. Heck I am surprised that they made it different from engine in Camry but I guess that does not matter anymore? It has to be all new engine? I mean thats funny.
We can agree to disagree about torque steer being a problem. US media hates it and so do many consumers, so the car will most likely be reviewed as dynamically inferior to competitors and even GS. It is what it is.

I have no problem with Lexus using Toyota engines and of course I understand the business case for shared engines across a wide array of vehicles. However,
Camry debuted TNGA-K
Camry debuted A25A-FKS
Camry debuted 2GR-FKS in a sedan
Camry debuted 2.5L THS II
Avalon debuted CarPlay
Avalon debuted minor revision of THS II with 7 more horsepower
...ES just showed up using all the Toyota hardware we've already seen

It would have looked better if they had at least staged the ES reveal before the Avalon to make it seem like something was sacred for Lexus. Considering the situation with GS, the optics of this are just bad for a "premium" brand. Adding insult to injury was the continued use of "new" in their press release and teaser materials setting expectations that the product didn't deliver on for the reasons I noted above.
spwolf
- I have seen every Avalon review there is, almost every single one says it is class leading vehicle. So it has some torque steer with 300hp engine, so what? So do NX and RX and rest of the best selling Toyota/Lexus lineup - obviously customers dont think it is a big deal, and Avalon/ES are supposedly much better than those vehicles dynamically.

So engine introduced few days earlier in Avalon than in ES means that Toyota is leading and Lexus is following? Cmn, be realistic. Porsche uses VW engines. Audi uses VW engines that cheap Skoda uses. 3 and 5 and 7 series share engines. Mercedes uses Renault engines that Renault puts in $10k Clio.

That 2.5l is state of the art engine, it does not matter if it got shown 2 days before in Avalon. Heck I am surprised that they made it different from engine in Camry but I guess that does not matter anymore? It has to be all new engine? I mean thats funny.
We can agree to disagree about torque steer being a problem. US media hates it and so do many consumers, so the car will most likely be reviewed as dynamically inferior to competitors and even GS. It is what it is.

I have no problem with Lexus using Toyota engines and of course I understand the business case for shared engines across a wide array of vehicles. However,
Camry debuted TNGA-K
Camry debuted A25A-FKS
Camry debuted 2GR-FKS in a sedan
Camry debuted 2.5L THS II
Avalon debuted CarPlay
Avalon debuted minor revision of THS II with 7 more horsepower
...ES just showed up using all the Toyota hardware we've already seen

It would have looked better if they had at least staged the ES reveal before the Avalon to make it seem like something was sacred for Lexus. Considering the situation with GS, the optics of this are just bad for a "premium" brand. Adding insult to injury was the continued use of "new" in their press release and teaser materials setting expectations that the product didn't deliver on for the reasons I noted above.
KOHIPEET
You see, I doubt that. If a new GS is in development, then why release the ES in Europe? Only to have the IS, the ES and the new GS in a few years time, on a shrinking, extremely competitive market.

Unless Lexus wants to establish a brand new segment between the GS and the IS but this, I think is even less likely. (perhaps they'll price it just slightly above the IS but that would cannibalize IS' sales)

If they want to succeed in this segment (success meaning sales at least in ballpark with the other manufacturer's) they need to have another, more powerfull híbrid.
It's pretty obvious what they are doing, it's that simple :
- The ES is a replacement for the GS only in the markets that were get GS only - like Europe, Japan .. etc -
- The new generation GS is under development - by the way Toyota already developed a mid-size GA-L luxury sedan, which is the ALL-NEW Crown - the new GS testing is already done since it will be basically a re-skinned Crown.
- The countries that will get the new GS are only the countries that receive ES & GS together, like US.

KOHIPEET
You see, I doubt that. If a new GS is in development, then why release the ES in Europe? Only to have the IS, the ES and the new GS in a few years time, on a shrinking, extremely competitive market.

Unless Lexus wants to establish a brand new segment between the GS and the IS but this, I think is even less likely. (perhaps they'll price it just slightly above the IS but that would cannibalize IS' sales)

If they want to succeed in this segment (success meaning sales at least in ballpark with the other manufacturer's) they need to have another, more powerfull híbrid.
It's pretty obvious what they are doing, it's that simple :
- The ES is a replacement for the GS only in the markets that were get GS only - like Europe, Japan .. etc -
- The new generation GS is under development - by the way Toyota already developed a mid-size GA-L luxury sedan, which is the ALL-NEW Crown - the new GS testing is already done since it will be basically a re-skinned Crown.
- The countries that will get the new GS are only the countries that receive ES & GS together, like US.

KOHIPEET
You see, I doubt that. If a new GS is in development, then why release the ES in Europe? Only to have the IS, the ES and the new GS in a few years time, on a shrinking, extremely competitive market.

Unless Lexus wants to establish a brand new segment between the GS and the IS but this, I think is even less likely. (perhaps they'll price it just slightly above the IS but that would cannibalize IS' sales)

If they want to succeed in this segment (success meaning sales at least in ballpark with the other manufacturer's) they need to have another, more powerfull híbrid.
It's pretty obvious what they are doing, it's that simple :
- The ES is a replacement for the GS only in the markets that were get GS only - like Europe, Japan .. etc -
- The new generation GS is under development - by the way Toyota already developed a mid-size GA-L luxury sedan, which is the ALL-NEW Crown - the new GS testing is already done since it will be basically a re-skinned Crown.
- The countries that will get the new GS are only the countries that receive ES & GS together, like US.

Outside is OK, inside is a disappointment to me. Why make the dash look like the old RX?? And cheap looking door panels. Where the interior door releases looked fresh and artistic on the LC, these just look, well, cheap. Also, my most hated "feature" on my RC is the touchpad, and they put it in the ES. Sad face. My opinion of course.
I would rather have the Avalon with the cognac interior.
Outside is OK, inside is a disappointment to me. Why make the dash look like the old RX?? And cheap looking door panels. Where the interior door releases looked fresh and artistic on the LC, these just look, well, cheap. Also, my most hated "feature" on my RC is the touchpad, and they put it in the ES. Sad face. My opinion of course.
I would rather have the Avalon with the cognac interior.
Outside is OK, inside is a disappointment to me. Why make the dash look like the old RX?? And cheap looking door panels. Where the interior door releases looked fresh and artistic on the LC, these just look, well, cheap. Also, my most hated "feature" on my RC is the touchpad, and they put it in the ES. Sad face. My opinion of course.
I would rather have the Avalon with the cognac interior.
Madi
It's pretty obvious what they are doing, it's that simple :
- The ES is a replacement for the GS only in the markets that were get GS only - like Europe, Japan .. etc -
- The new generation GS is under development - by the way Toyota already developed a mid-size GA-L luxury sedan, which is the ALL-NEW Crown - the new GS testing is already done since it will be basically a re-skinned Crown.
- The countries that will get the new GS are only the countries that receive ES & GS together, like US.

So you're suggesting, that the new GS won't make it to Europe? They might as well abandon the entire segment in Europe alltogether.
Madi
It's pretty obvious what they are doing, it's that simple :
- The ES is a replacement for the GS only in the markets that were get GS only - like Europe, Japan .. etc -
- The new generation GS is under development - by the way Toyota already developed a mid-size GA-L luxury sedan, which is the ALL-NEW Crown - the new GS testing is already done since it will be basically a re-skinned Crown.
- The countries that will get the new GS are only the countries that receive ES & GS together, like US.

So you're suggesting, that the new GS won't make it to Europe? They might as well abandon the entire segment in Europe alltogether.
Madi
It's pretty obvious what they are doing, it's that simple :
- The ES is a replacement for the GS only in the markets that were get GS only - like Europe, Japan .. etc -
- The new generation GS is under development - by the way Toyota already developed a mid-size GA-L luxury sedan, which is the ALL-NEW Crown - the new GS testing is already done since it will be basically a re-skinned Crown.
- The countries that will get the new GS are only the countries that receive ES & GS together, like US.

So you're suggesting, that the new GS won't make it to Europe? They might as well abandon the entire segment in Europe alltogether.
KOHIPEET
So you're suggesting, that the new GS won't make it to Europe? They might as well abandon the entire segment in Europe alltogether.
Yes, unfortunately, in terms of European market, the GS will be replaced by the ES
KOHIPEET
So you're suggesting, that the new GS won't make it to Europe? They might as well abandon the entire segment in Europe alltogether.
Yes, unfortunately, in terms of European market, the GS will be replaced by the ES
KOHIPEET
So you're suggesting, that the new GS won't make it to Europe? They might as well abandon the entire segment in Europe alltogether.
Yes, unfortunately, in terms of European market, the GS will be replaced by the ES
Joaquin Ruhi
Is this the Sunlight Green grandiosely described as "replicating the color of ocean water brightened by the sun"? Looks more like the Ginger Ale Metallic recently offered on a number of Fords in North America or, worse, the widely derided Desert Sage (6U3) hue offered on the Lexus IS for the 2006-08 model years.
As always with Lexus press photos, wait to see the thing in person. From this photo it might be really cool in full sunlight and it might be really dumb. It's hard to tell.

emptystreets130
The interior is a big disappointment. To me it looks like a cross with the last generation RX and the current generation RX. It doesn't scream luxury with all the "white space" in certain area. The GS has a amazing interior.
The GS also starts at $10,000 more. That buys a lot of nicer interior parts.
Joaquin Ruhi
Is this the Sunlight Green grandiosely described as "replicating the color of ocean water brightened by the sun"? Looks more like the Ginger Ale Metallic recently offered on a number of Fords in North America or, worse, the widely derided Desert Sage (6U3) hue offered on the Lexus IS for the 2006-08 model years.
As always with Lexus press photos, wait to see the thing in person. From this photo it might be really cool in full sunlight and it might be really dumb. It's hard to tell.

emptystreets130
The interior is a big disappointment. To me it looks like a cross with the last generation RX and the current generation RX. It doesn't scream luxury with all the "white space" in certain area. The GS has a amazing interior.
The GS also starts at $10,000 more. That buys a lot of nicer interior parts.
Joaquin Ruhi
Is this the Sunlight Green grandiosely described as "replicating the color of ocean water brightened by the sun"? Looks more like the Ginger Ale Metallic recently offered on a number of Fords in North America or, worse, the widely derided Desert Sage (6U3) hue offered on the Lexus IS for the 2006-08 model years.
As always with Lexus press photos, wait to see the thing in person. From this photo it might be really cool in full sunlight and it might be really dumb. It's hard to tell.

emptystreets130
The interior is a big disappointment. To me it looks like a cross with the last generation RX and the current generation RX. It doesn't scream luxury with all the "white space" in certain area. The GS has a amazing interior.
The GS also starts at $10,000 more. That buys a lot of nicer interior parts.
Joaquin Ruhi
[​IMG]

Is this the Sunlight Green grandiosely described as "replicating the color of ocean water brightened by the sun"? Looks more like the Ginger Ale Metallic recently offered on a number of Fords in North America or, worse, the widely derided Desert Sage (6U3) hue offered on the Lexus IS for the 2006-08 model years.

My favorite part of the 2019 ES release is this awesome color! I hope the RC get's this option.
Desert Sage is personally one of my all time favorites. (not my car below)

Joaquin Ruhi
[​IMG]

Is this the Sunlight Green grandiosely described as "replicating the color of ocean water brightened by the sun"? Looks more like the Ginger Ale Metallic recently offered on a number of Fords in North America or, worse, the widely derided Desert Sage (6U3) hue offered on the Lexus IS for the 2006-08 model years.

My favorite part of the 2019 ES release is this awesome color! I hope the RC get's this option.
Desert Sage is personally one of my all time favorites. (not my car below)

Joaquin Ruhi
[​IMG]

Is this the Sunlight Green grandiosely described as "replicating the color of ocean water brightened by the sun"? Looks more like the Ginger Ale Metallic recently offered on a number of Fords in North America or, worse, the widely derided Desert Sage (6U3) hue offered on the Lexus IS for the 2006-08 model years.

My favorite part of the 2019 ES release is this awesome color! I hope the RC get's this option.
Desert Sage is personally one of my all time favorites. (not my car below)

L
That green exterior colour with the brown and tan interior dripping with (I assume) bamboo! Me likey!
L
That green exterior colour with the brown and tan interior dripping with (I assume) bamboo! Me likey!
L
That green exterior colour with the brown and tan interior dripping with (I assume) bamboo! Me likey!
ES looks great, dashboard leaves room for the imagination to desire but the exterior really leads me on to believe it should be more than it is, which is an ES. If pricing doesn't really change, this car would be a great deal and sell really well.
ES looks great, dashboard leaves room for the imagination to desire but the exterior really leads me on to believe it should be more than it is, which is an ES. If pricing doesn't really change, this car would be a great deal and sell really well.
ES looks great, dashboard leaves room for the imagination to desire but the exterior really leads me on to believe it should be more than it is, which is an ES. If pricing doesn't really change, this car would be a great deal and sell really well.

Z