Toyota-owned Lexus will reveal the eighth-generation ES sedan on April 23, 2025, at the Shanghai Motor Show. Lexus has released a series of teasers hinting at the new design of the upcoming model, though interior features and powertrain specs will be announced next week.
- Upcoming car gets connected tail-lights, redesigned alloy wheels
- ES is Lexus’ flagship sedan offering in India
- Current-gen ES sedan was launched in 2018
New Lexus ES teasers explained
Boomerang DRLs, rakish roofline
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Lexus dubs the upcoming ES an all-new model, and based on the teasers, it’s clear the sedan has undergone a noticeable transformation. Its headlights sport a fresh look while retaining the signature boomerang-shaped DRLs. The alloy wheels have also been restyled, and for the first time, the tail-lights are connected by a sleek LED bar. While the overall silhouette appears familiar, the new ES has got a more rakish rear roofline.
New Lexus ES powertrain
New electric powertrain likely
The car in the teasers had a fender-mounted charging port lid, suggesting an all-electric powertrain could be introduced with the new model. Autocar UK, our sister publication, confirmed Lexus even trademarked the ES 350e and ES 500e names, hinting at the potential for EV options – as with the Lexus RZ (sold in international markets). For reference, the RZ 350e features a 224hp front-wheel-drive motor paired with a 77kWh battery pack, offering a range of up to 574km. In comparison, the RZ 500e comes equipped with a more powerful 381hp all-wheel-drive setup using the same 77kWh battery, but delivering a range of over 500km.
It has also trademarked the ES 350h name, which means that it will continue to be offered with a strong hybrid powertrain as well. It may borrow the NX 350h SUV’s hybrid setup – a 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors, producing a combined 243hp.
New Lexus ES launch
Initially, Lexus is expected to introduce the luxury sedan in China, followed by other markets. The ES sedan alone contributes to over 50 percent of the car brand’s total sales in India, as per Hikaru Ikeuchi, Lexus India president, in an interview with Autocar India earlier this year. The current-gen ES has been on sale here since 2018, receiving a facelift and an update along the way. Given its strong sales performance and the model’s age, it’s likely that Lexus will bring the new-generation ES to India as well.
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