New Lexus announced for South Africa
All-new design, revised proportions
The eight-generation of the premium sedan has been confirmed to be on its way to South Africa, however, the Japanese marque has yet to announce when it will arrive.
Lexus has taken the wraps off the next-generation ES sedan, which has been renewed from the ground up. “Lexus South Africa will confirm specifications, model variants, and available technologies for local customers closer to the ES’s official launch timing,” the company said.
The next-gen ES boasts an all-new design and revised proportions that lend it a much more contemporary look than the ageing model that is on its way out. It draws inspiration from the futuristic-looking LF-ZC concept car, seeing finely contoured bumper lines and a sculpted body profile that aim to maximise both aerodynamic efficiency as well as aesthetics. Up front, the new ES wears an evolved “spindle body” nose which is flanked by new Twin L-Signature LED headlamps, while at the rear it sees a wraparound lightbar and a squared-off bumper.
It now measures 5 140mm from nose to tail, 1.920mm from left to right, and 1.555mm from top to bottom – reflecting an increase of 165mm, 55mm, and 110mm, respectively.
The new Lexus sedan is as luxurious inside as its exterior would suggest. Its expanded dimensions offer enhanced legroom and comfort, while a higher seating position and wider glass panels ensure excellent visibility and a feeling of spaciousness.
Experience
Improved soundproofing and insulation materials add to the luxurious experience. New trim finishers include Bamboo Layering and Micro Geometric detailing, and premium synthetic leather upholstery underscore the company’s commitment to sustainability. Buyers can further expect luxuries such as reclining rear seats with ottoman functions, an electronically dimmable panoramic roof, and advanced fragrance systems with bamboo-based scents to reflect the car’s Japanese heritage.
It also comes with finely tuned ambient lighting that creates an in-car environment that is both welcoming and refined – which Lexus reckons is “well-suited to South African climates and lifestyles”.
Another highlight is the new Sensory Concierge system that synchronises light, sound, temperature and scents to create personalised comfort. Capping things off, the next-gen ES incorporates the most advanced version of the Lexus Safety System to date. New safety features include upgraded object recognition, broader sensor coverage, and clearer driver alerts, all designed to help prevent collisions and support the driver with confidence.
Drivelines
Underpinning the new Lexus sedan is the TNGA GA-K platform, which was purpose-built to accommodate both hybrid and battery-electric drivelines. To that end, the ES will feature a diverse new powertrain lineup spanning at least four individual configurations. At the bottom is the 300h which consists of a 2.0-litre petrol engine combined with a hybrid system that is good for 145kW, allowing the sedan to eclipse 100km/h in 9.4 seconds.
One step up from this is the 350h that sees a 2.5-litre petrol unit matched with the hybrid system for a maximum output of 182kW, which brings the acceleration time down to 7.8 seconds. The 350h is available in both front- and four-wheel drive, whereas the 300h is only front-wheel driven, and both feature an electronic continuously variable transmission.
Looking at the electric entries, the base model is the 350e that sees a single e-motor on the front axle generating 165kW. The top-spec 500e adds another e-motor up front, pushing the total potential to 252kW.
The 350e gets to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds and can travel up to 685km between charges, while the 500e runs to triple digits in 5.9 seconds and does a maximum of 610km. It should be noted that these power and performance figures are for the Japanese market, and they may differ once the homologated ES reaches our roads. - Top Auto
The next-gen ES boasts an all-new design and revised proportions that lend it a much more contemporary look than the ageing model that is on its way out. It draws inspiration from the futuristic-looking LF-ZC concept car, seeing finely contoured bumper lines and a sculpted body profile that aim to maximise both aerodynamic efficiency as well as aesthetics. Up front, the new ES wears an evolved “spindle body” nose which is flanked by new Twin L-Signature LED headlamps, while at the rear it sees a wraparound lightbar and a squared-off bumper.
It now measures 5 140mm from nose to tail, 1.920mm from left to right, and 1.555mm from top to bottom – reflecting an increase of 165mm, 55mm, and 110mm, respectively.
The new Lexus sedan is as luxurious inside as its exterior would suggest. Its expanded dimensions offer enhanced legroom and comfort, while a higher seating position and wider glass panels ensure excellent visibility and a feeling of spaciousness.
Experience
Improved soundproofing and insulation materials add to the luxurious experience. New trim finishers include Bamboo Layering and Micro Geometric detailing, and premium synthetic leather upholstery underscore the company’s commitment to sustainability. Buyers can further expect luxuries such as reclining rear seats with ottoman functions, an electronically dimmable panoramic roof, and advanced fragrance systems with bamboo-based scents to reflect the car’s Japanese heritage.
It also comes with finely tuned ambient lighting that creates an in-car environment that is both welcoming and refined – which Lexus reckons is “well-suited to South African climates and lifestyles”.
Another highlight is the new Sensory Concierge system that synchronises light, sound, temperature and scents to create personalised comfort. Capping things off, the next-gen ES incorporates the most advanced version of the Lexus Safety System to date. New safety features include upgraded object recognition, broader sensor coverage, and clearer driver alerts, all designed to help prevent collisions and support the driver with confidence.
Drivelines
Underpinning the new Lexus sedan is the TNGA GA-K platform, which was purpose-built to accommodate both hybrid and battery-electric drivelines. To that end, the ES will feature a diverse new powertrain lineup spanning at least four individual configurations. At the bottom is the 300h which consists of a 2.0-litre petrol engine combined with a hybrid system that is good for 145kW, allowing the sedan to eclipse 100km/h in 9.4 seconds.
One step up from this is the 350h that sees a 2.5-litre petrol unit matched with the hybrid system for a maximum output of 182kW, which brings the acceleration time down to 7.8 seconds. The 350h is available in both front- and four-wheel drive, whereas the 300h is only front-wheel driven, and both feature an electronic continuously variable transmission.
Looking at the electric entries, the base model is the 350e that sees a single e-motor on the front axle generating 165kW. The top-spec 500e adds another e-motor up front, pushing the total potential to 252kW.
The 350e gets to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds and can travel up to 685km between charges, while the 500e runs to triple digits in 5.9 seconds and does a maximum of 610km. It should be noted that these power and performance figures are for the Japanese market, and they may differ once the homologated ES reaches our roads. - Top Auto
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