Lexus Best-Selling Sedan 8th Generation ES to Sell in US 'Looking At The Attractiveness...'

*This content was translated by AI.

The eighth-generation Lexus ES went on sale in the United States first. The new ES added the ES 350e and ES 500e, the brand's first battery electric vehicle (BEV) models, to its lineup, which went on the market ahead of the hybrid ES 350h, which is scheduled to be released next year. All 2026 ES models have used the brand's first "multi-pathway" platform that can accommodate both internal combustion engines and pure electric powertrains. This platform has evolved the existing TNGA-K platform to fit the structure of the electric vehicle, and the battery pack is placed on the bottom of the vehicle body to maximize space utilization.The exterior design is inspired by the Lexus LF-ZC concept and has a very sleek and futuristic silhouette.

L-shaped LED driving lights and dual LED headlights are applied at the front, and the body line that modernly reinterprets the Lexus-specific spindle grill stands out. The rear side is equipped with LED blade taillamps across the entire vehicle and a new Lexus logo with lighting to emphasize the visual width. Compared to the 7th generation, the body size increased by 6.5 inches in length, 2.2 inches in width, and 4.5 inches in height, and the wheel base also expanded by 3.1 inches, improving indoor habitability dramatically. Specifically, the front headroom increases by 0.8 inches and the rear legroom increases by 1.4 inches, providing a comfortable space.For the powertrain, the ES350e is a front-wheel drive with a 221 horsepower permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, which takes 7.4 seconds from rest to 100 km/h.

The upper model, the ES 500e, produces a total output of 338 horsepower through a dual motor system with motors placed on the front and rear wheels respectively, reaching 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds through a Direct 4 four-wheel drive system. The Direct4 system precisely controls the front and rear wheel driving force from 100:0 to 0:100 depending on the driving situation to ensure optimal driving stability. Both models feature 74.7 kWh lithium-ion batteries, with a 19-inch wheel-based range of 307 miles for the ES 350e and 276 miles for the ES 500e.The charging system has adopted NACS port, the North American charging standard, and can be charged from 10% to 80% in 28 minutes when using a 150 kW class fast charger. In addition, the battery conditioning function is designed to maintain an optimal charging speed regardless of temperature.

The interior is equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a large 14.0-inch touchscreen, while the latest Lexus interface supports wireless updates (OTA) over a 5G network, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.As a safety specification, the more advanced "Lux Safety System+4.0 ($LSS+4.0$)" was applied to all models by default. The system includes Forward Collision Prevention Assistance (PCS), which detects pedestrians and cyclists, Intersection Rotation Assistance, which detects intersection countervailing and pedestrians, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with added eco-run mode.

In particular, above the luxury trim, additional traffic jam assist supporting hands-free driving and lane change assist with automatic lane change are provided.The top-of-the-line ES350e Luxury Trim allows you to choose from this product cute package. The package includes four-way power adjustment and ottoman functionality on the right seat of the rear seat, reclining, full seat massage function, and control buttons on the central armrest. The 2026 Lexus ES is priced at $48,795 (W72.95 million) for the ES 350e premium, including $1,295 (W1.94 million) for shipping, $60,195 (W89.99 million) for the ES 500e Luxury AWD, and the hybrid ES 350h starts at $50,995 (W76.24 million).

Meanwhile, the 8th generation Lexus ES is a likely model to be released in Korea around the second half of this year. The price is expected to rise considerably compared to the 7th generation model on the market. Industry watchers say that traditional competitive models such as BMW 5 Series and Mercedes Benz E-Class will not be too difficult to settle in the market as they have previously introduced generational change models.

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*This content was translated by AI.