REVEALED! 8th Generation Lexus ES Megathread (ES 350h, ES 350e, ES 500e)

[sl0519]

And what is this wasted space for? To make the front overhang even looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonger?

 

[spwolf]

Damn, even their panoramic sunroof is just like their brand, only goes to about 60-70% and is missing a whole chunk that the competition have no problem at offering.

no, this is a 2nd option. There is also a full pano roof.

this looks like their old pano roofs that opened up, check out the glass divider at top.
(below is 2007 ES)

 

[ericjtsang]

The worst thing about this announcement was the mention of the upcoming "comprehensive re-imagining of the Lexus brand". If this is the first step of that, the RX is gonna be so bad it might bring Acura back from the dead.

The RX is already steps behind what it used to be and in comparison to what is out there now

 

[ericjtsang]

I don't think it's horrible, but look at the bright side, it looks better on the outside compared to the A6 etron and i5.

Interior: id say the i5 still wins. I actually prefer this new ES over what Audi has been doing (yuck)

Theyre all struggling to bring costs down and the cost cutting is getting wild across the board not just Lexus

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

I've been saying this for a long time, it's not an accident Lexus products have always come up 10% from where they should be to be class leaders.

I always thought a lot of people in this forum just had an axe to grind with Toyoda-san but this is getting flat-out ridiculous. I'm with everyone on here.

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

Before and after (special thanks to GPT for fixing this bulbous disaster )

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Assuming that has a face of a Lexus vehicle and is not the Mirai, that would be a genuinely great-looking vehicle.

Slap the GS name on that and we're good to go. Granted, the TNGA-L platform would make it a horrendous experience for anyone wanting to sit in the rear seats, and if Lexus had any balls, they would redesign the TNGA-L platform from the get-go and build a separate EV platform, or just do a better job at building a platform that can serve both ICE and EV variants like BMW did.

 

[ericjtsang]

I always thought a lot of people in this forum just had an axe to grind with Toyoda-san but this is getting flat-out ridiculous. I'm with everyone on here.

I agree, the GX, TX, RX and now ES have all been relatively disappointing but selling well, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

I agree, the GX, TX, RX and now ES have all been relatively disappointing but selling well, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I don't think the GX was that disappointing to be honest. It's their newest product that they actually put a lot of care into. It's objectively a better value than the LX is.

The TX is absolute dogsh*t though. There is no excuse for a car to be that horrendously styled on the outside and be less nicer than the Grand Highlander for the interior. The RX interior is nice, but the powertrains are a genuine letdown. As for the ES, I don't think it's worthy of the Lexus badge.

 

[Gecko]

Before and after (special thanks to GPT for fixing this bulbous disaster )

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Insane how much better this is.

 

[CIF]

The coof happened 😕

If Toyota Motor Company is using this as an excuse at all internally, and if any Toyota fans seriously believe this as the reason that explains all of Toyota's problems, then Toyota Motor Company is finished. That means Lexus and Century and Crown are finished too. The many problems and crises facing Toyota Motor Company currently, go back 15-25 years ago where they started originating. Over the last 15+ years of the Akio Toyoda era, things have seemingly gotten worse.

I always thought a lot of people in this forum just had an axe to grind with Toyoda-san but this is getting flat-out ridiculous. I'm with everyone on here.

I understand many here are upset and worried about Lexus (myself included) but the problems are bigger than that and currently threaten Toyota Motor Company itself. I ask all Toyota and Lexus fans, please wake up. I ask all Toyota and Lexus employees reading these forums, wake up. This is no exaggeration.

 

[NomadDan]

This makes me less excited for future Lexus products. I hope they don't ruin the LC+RC replacement as well.

A rebadged Crown Sedan would've been much nicer.

 

[spwolf]

I understand people bitching about ES should be new LS but with price of ES and thats really disappointing.
But overall, this is not a chinese car - it is not a rebadge.

And it is better than old ES.

In fact, skimming through Chinese YT personalities, they think this will sell like crazy.

Also - last year was a record Lexus sales year.

 

[internalaudit]

I understand people bitching about ES should be new LS but with price of ES and thats really disappointing.
But overall, this is not a chinese car - it is not a rebadge.

And it is better than old ES.

In fact, skimming through Chinese YT personalities, they think this will sell like crazy.

Also - last year was a record Lexus sales year.

The least of the enthusiasts, like me, probably are the more forgiving. Even the ZC prototype doesn't look that great to me anyway.

Why complain when I would never buy this 2026 ES? It's still not as bad looking as Mercedes or the BMW Neue Klasse exterior designs for sure. I just with Lexus vehicles had more pizazz when it comes to handling/dynamics.

 

[ssun30]

With two non-garbage BEV offerings this year will likely also be a record year. Whatever they lose to US tariffs will be made up with increased BEV sales in EU/China. At the end of the day it comes down to pricing. They will certainly claw back some market share in the ¥300k+ range, but ¥400k+ is out of reach for them.

 

[internalaudit]

With two non-garbage BEV offerings this year will likely also be a record year. Whatever they lose to US tariffs will be made up with increased BEV sales in EU/China. At the end of the day it comes down to pricing. They will certainly claw back some market share in the ¥300k+ range, but ¥400k+ is out of reach for them.

Does Lexus still have a cachet in China and how's the real estate market there? I read it experienced a steep decline so maybe less propensity to splurge on these luxury vehicles.

 

[ssun30]

Does Lexus still have a cachet in China and how's the real estate market there? I read it experienced a steep decline so maybe less propensity to splurge on these luxury vehicles.

The real estate collapse in this case is a good thing, at least in the short term. People no longer spend all their income on house payments which means more budget on cars. It's the lipstick effect.

And because the wealth inequality is so high and still increasing, luxury market is booming. It's a very polarized market with extremely cheap commuter cars and extremely expensive luxury cars. That's why you see Chinese manufacturers rushing to establish their premium and luxury brands to capture that profit in order to subsidize their price war at the lower end.

It's basically bubble era JDM 2.0.

 

[JustADude]

Who's going to buy this thing it's so big? Basically buying an LS with a 250hp 4 banger. Is it 100% confirmed this is for the NA market as well?

 

[mediumhot]

Lexus dot com, dot eu are very shy to promote this thing. You would think it would be the focus of the landing page. Only Lexus JP is sharing more information. Btw tea green interior is a dead giveaway this is primarily product for Chinese buyers.

 

[Falcon]

Is the Century sedan being introduced in China? It’s on display there alongside the SUV in the shanghai motor show.

 

[mikeavelli]

Does Lexus still have a cachet in China and how's the real estate market there? I read it experienced a steep decline so maybe less propensity to splurge on these luxury vehicles.

Everything i’ve read said any Japanese company will have a natural limit in China due to a very challenging past relationship between the two nations which still is in the minds of the country. Some of the things I read I was ignorant to was pretty shocking. I’m glad both have mostly moved on.

I also have to say I am ignorant to Chinese cars in Japan. Is that a thing? I’m not sure how long China would play along with countries not allowing exports.