2019 Lexus ES revealed
Family face for fancier mid-size sedan
Lexus has unveiled its new mid-size ES sedan in a single image, ahead of a full reveal at the 2018 Beijing motor show next week.
Described as "more than just a pretty face" in press materials, the ES runs with the Lexus Spindle Grille up front, flanked by headlights similar to those of the bigger LS sedan.
The grille itself is a bit more restrained than on some other Lexus offerings, although there's no mistaking it for anything else.
A short teaser video provides a brief glimpse of the rear which, surprise surprise, also borrows plenty from the brand's flagship sedan. We'll get a full look when the car is revealed next week.
Under the skin, we're expecting the ES to share its Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) underpinnings with the Toyota Avalon offered in North America. Of course, the Avalon shares plenty with the Camry we get in Australia.
Power in the Avalon comes from a 3.5-litre V6 engine hooked up to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, or a hybrid drivetrain blending a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. Given it has blue highlights around the badge, we'd suggest the car pictured above is a hybrid.
Although just 260 ES sedans found a home in Australia last year, it's a massive car for Lexus worldwide. A whopping 51,398 were sold in the USA last year, accounting for some 17 per cent of the brand's sales there.
There's also talk of the rear-drive GS being binned completely, leaving the car you see here to fly the large car flag for Lexus. We'll know more when the car is fully unveiled on April 25.
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