First 2019 Lexus ES Sedan Rolls Off Production Line in Kentucky

Posted by Kevin on August 3rd, 2018

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
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Comments
S
Gecko
^Is that brown plastic on the center console?
I think it matches the wood color or something... or at least with that wood it was brownish and with F-Sport it was silverish.
S
Gecko
^Is that brown plastic on the center console?
I think it matches the wood color or something... or at least with that wood it was brownish and with F-Sport it was silverish.
S
Gecko
^Is that brown plastic on the center console?
I think it matches the wood color or something... or at least with that wood it was brownish and with F-Sport it was silverish.
S
Gecko
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.
As to the torque steer, of course it will be inferior to "even GS". GS is great handling car, of course ES will be inferior. I am saying it means little to customers, just like GS handling better than 5 series meant very little to GS.

Why would it look better or worse? Camry was introduced first, and as such it got those engines first. Avalon got introduced 2 months before ES, so it "got" those few things 2 months earlier than ES.

Just like LS being introduced earlier means ES "gets" CarPlay sooner than it. Idea that Toyota should have delayed CarPlay and Camry and Avalon so LS and ES get it first is silly.
S
Gecko
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.
As to the torque steer, of course it will be inferior to "even GS". GS is great handling car, of course ES will be inferior. I am saying it means little to customers, just like GS handling better than 5 series meant very little to GS.

Why would it look better or worse? Camry was introduced first, and as such it got those engines first. Avalon got introduced 2 months before ES, so it "got" those few things 2 months earlier than ES.

Just like LS being introduced earlier means ES "gets" CarPlay sooner than it. Idea that Toyota should have delayed CarPlay and Camry and Avalon so LS and ES get it first is silly.
S
Gecko
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.
As to the torque steer, of course it will be inferior to "even GS". GS is great handling car, of course ES will be inferior. I am saying it means little to customers, just like GS handling better than 5 series meant very little to GS.

Why would it look better or worse? Camry was introduced first, and as such it got those engines first. Avalon got introduced 2 months before ES, so it "got" those few things 2 months earlier than ES.

Just like LS being introduced earlier means ES "gets" CarPlay sooner than it. Idea that Toyota should have delayed CarPlay and Camry and Avalon so LS and ES get it first is silly.
M
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.
By now it's pretty much clear that the sole reason why current GS got canceled in Europe is poor sales on a global scale. Europe just happened to have the tiniest sales numbers. New ES will get to keep the same spot in the lineup as it has now which is discount premium midsize car so it's true competition in Europe will be IS300h. That is unless they do something weird with the packaging to keep the price difference at bigger spread. But I do expect to see ES300h and IS300h at the same price level in EU.

I also have a question: Why they didn't include the touchpad from UX? It had clever scrollers on the side for volume and tracking, it was a step in right direction.
M
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.
By now it's pretty much clear that the sole reason why current GS got canceled in Europe is poor sales on a global scale. Europe just happened to have the tiniest sales numbers. New ES will get to keep the same spot in the lineup as it has now which is discount premium midsize car so it's true competition in Europe will be IS300h. That is unless they do something weird with the packaging to keep the price difference at bigger spread. But I do expect to see ES300h and IS300h at the same price level in EU.

I also have a question: Why they didn't include the touchpad from UX? It had clever scrollers on the side for volume and tracking, it was a step in right direction.
M
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.
By now it's pretty much clear that the sole reason why current GS got canceled in Europe is poor sales on a global scale. Europe just happened to have the tiniest sales numbers. New ES will get to keep the same spot in the lineup as it has now which is discount premium midsize car so it's true competition in Europe will be IS300h. That is unless they do something weird with the packaging to keep the price difference at bigger spread. But I do expect to see ES300h and IS300h at the same price level in EU.

I also have a question: Why they didn't include the touchpad from UX? It had clever scrollers on the side for volume and tracking, it was a step in right direction.
A
mediumhot
By now it's pretty much clear that the sole reason why current GS got canceled in Europe is poor sales on a global scale. Europe just happened to have the tiniest sales numbers. New ES will get to keep the same spot in the lineup as it has now which is discount premium midsize car so it's true competition in Europe will be IS300h. That is unless they do something weird with the packaging to keep the price difference at bigger spread. But I do expect to see ES300h and IS300h at the same price level in EU.

I also have a question: Why they didn't include the touchpad from UX? It had clever scrollers on the side for volume and tracking, it was a step in right direction.

Probably the same reason as the LS500 and the LF-FC concept. The UX is most likely finalized after the ES which make some of the features and techs more advanced than the ES.
A
mediumhot
By now it's pretty much clear that the sole reason why current GS got canceled in Europe is poor sales on a global scale. Europe just happened to have the tiniest sales numbers. New ES will get to keep the same spot in the lineup as it has now which is discount premium midsize car so it's true competition in Europe will be IS300h. That is unless they do something weird with the packaging to keep the price difference at bigger spread. But I do expect to see ES300h and IS300h at the same price level in EU.

I also have a question: Why they didn't include the touchpad from UX? It had clever scrollers on the side for volume and tracking, it was a step in right direction.

Probably the same reason as the LS500 and the LF-FC concept. The UX is most likely finalized after the ES which make some of the features and techs more advanced than the ES.
A
mediumhot
By now it's pretty much clear that the sole reason why current GS got canceled in Europe is poor sales on a global scale. Europe just happened to have the tiniest sales numbers. New ES will get to keep the same spot in the lineup as it has now which is discount premium midsize car so it's true competition in Europe will be IS300h. That is unless they do something weird with the packaging to keep the price difference at bigger spread. But I do expect to see ES300h and IS300h at the same price level in EU.

I also have a question: Why they didn't include the touchpad from UX? It had clever scrollers on the side for volume and tracking, it was a step in right direction.

Probably the same reason as the LS500 and the LF-FC concept. The UX is most likely finalized after the ES which make some of the features and techs more advanced than the ES.
GTG
  • GTG
    GTG
  • April 25, 2018
The green looks nice , but the red is flawless Did anyone see or know if the car comes with a red leather option ?
GTG
  • GTG
    GTG
  • April 25, 2018
The green looks nice , but the red is flawless Did anyone see or know if the car comes with a red leather option ?
GTG
  • GTG
    GTG
  • April 25, 2018
The green looks nice , but the red is flawless Did anyone see or know if the car comes with a red leather option ?
S
GTG
The green looks nice , but the red is flawless Did anyone see or know if the car comes with a red leather option ?
there is red leather in Chinese press vehicle but I am not sure if it will be in all markets.
S
GTG
The green looks nice , but the red is flawless Did anyone see or know if the car comes with a red leather option ?
there is red leather in Chinese press vehicle but I am not sure if it will be in all markets.
S
GTG
The green looks nice , but the red is flawless Did anyone see or know if the car comes with a red leather option ?
there is red leather in Chinese press vehicle but I am not sure if it will be in all markets.
M
Airplane
Probably the same reason as the LS500 and the LF-FC concept. The UX is most likely finalized after the ES which make some of the features and techs more advanced than the ES.
That is the only conclusion that's reasonable.
M
Airplane
Probably the same reason as the LS500 and the LF-FC concept. The UX is most likely finalized after the ES which make some of the features and techs more advanced than the ES.
That is the only conclusion that's reasonable.
M
Airplane
Probably the same reason as the LS500 and the LF-FC concept. The UX is most likely finalized after the ES which make some of the features and techs more advanced than the ES.
That is the only conclusion that's reasonable.
GTG
  • GTG
    GTG
  • April 25, 2018
spwolf
there is red leather in Chinese press vehicle but I am not sure if it will be in all markets.
Thanks man , it’s coming to The US one day , let’s hope .
GTG
  • GTG
    GTG
  • April 25, 2018
spwolf
there is red leather in Chinese press vehicle but I am not sure if it will be in all markets.
Thanks man , it’s coming to The US one day , let’s hope .
GTG
  • GTG
    GTG
  • April 25, 2018
spwolf
there is red leather in Chinese press vehicle but I am not sure if it will be in all markets.
Thanks man , it’s coming to The US one day , let’s hope .
Twiz
The new ES is almost spot on the rendering photo that went around awhile ago. The rendering looked like the last gen Camry I wasn't feeling it as much but the final product ES looks good and will sell well. I'm just waiting on the new GS
Twiz
The new ES is almost spot on the rendering photo that went around awhile ago. The rendering looked like the last gen Camry I wasn't feeling it as much but the final product ES looks good and will sell well. I'm just waiting on the new GS
Twiz
The new ES is almost spot on the rendering photo that went around awhile ago. The rendering looked like the last gen Camry I wasn't feeling it as much but the final product ES looks good and will sell well. I'm just waiting on the new GS
Twiz
My first Lexus was a brand new 07 Es350 even thou I have graduated to the GS its nice to see the new ES. I love the ques taken from the new LS and put in the ES with the ML speaker on the door looks just like that glass cut out on the LS interior door. But I did notice something I seen ES250 on the back, I wonder what the engine options are for the new ES....
Twiz
My first Lexus was a brand new 07 Es350 even thou I have graduated to the GS its nice to see the new ES. I love the ques taken from the new LS and put in the ES with the ML speaker on the door looks just like that glass cut out on the LS interior door. But I did notice something I seen ES250 on the back, I wonder what the engine options are for the new ES....
Twiz
My first Lexus was a brand new 07 Es350 even thou I have graduated to the GS its nice to see the new ES. I love the ques taken from the new LS and put in the ES with the ML speaker on the door looks just like that glass cut out on the LS interior door. But I did notice something I seen ES250 on the back, I wonder what the engine options are for the new ES....

T