The Third Model Embodiment of Lexus' Transformation, Following the LC and LS

Nashville, the second-largest city in Tennessee, is known as a hub for music, including country music. Numerous recording studios, both large and small, dot the landscape. Stroll down the city's main thoroughfares, and you'll hear live music—not just country, but jazz, rock, blues, and gospel—spilling from the doorways of its many music venues. This American "Mecca of Music" is also said to be undergoing one of the most significant transformations in the United States in recent years.

Many companies have set up shop, high-rise buildings are being constructed one after another, and content beyond music, such as art museums focused on visual arts and restaurants by talented chefs, are also drawing attention. It was in this "transforming" city that a test drive event for the Lexus mid-size sedan, the ES, was held.


The ES debuted in 1989, the same year Lexus was born as a luxury brand from Japan, alongside the flagship model LS. While it had never been introduced to Japan until now, it is a core Lexus model with cumulative sales of 2.18 million units. This latest model is slated for sale in 90 countries worldwide. As some may know, the ES was previously released in the Japanese market under the name "Windom." This new model marks its first introduction to Japan under the ES name and will also debut in Europe.

The most significant feature of the new ES is that it is the third model embodying Lexus' transformation, following the LC and LS. According to Chief Engineer Yasuyuki Okabayashi, who oversaw development, two key points were prioritized in the development of the new ES: transforming the design and driving dynamics to be more emotional, inheriting the spirit of the new-generation LC and LS; and further evolving the premium comfort, which is the ES's origin, by focusing on the people who use it.

Only Hybrid Models Introduced to Japan

The new ES models lined up in front of the hotel where the test drive was held certainly made an impression with their styling, which can be aptly described as emotional. The body, measuring 4,975mm in length, 1,865mm in width, and 1,445mm in height, is based on a wide and low sporty proportion. Combined with sharp-edged spindle grille, a low hood, voluptuous rear fenders reminiscent of a rear-wheel-drive sports car, and a roofline that arcs towards the rear, it achieves a sleek form like a four-door coupe while retaining the elegance of a sedan. The key to realizing this wide and low proportion is said to be the new-generation "GA-K" platform.



Project Chief Designer Taisei Kajino stated about the ES's exterior design, "We aimed for the essence of the new-generation ES by pursuing sportiness while further evolving its elegance." Seeing the actual car, I felt that Kajino's vision had been realized.

According to Lexus representatives, the ES is a global car sold in 90 countries, and depending on the market, it needs to meet the demands primarily as a chauffeur-driven car. However, the exterior design is filled with an extremely personal atmosphere. With a body that significantly exceeds 5 meters in length, it can be said to have a clear differentiation from the LS, which gives a stronger impression as a chauffeur-driven car.

Only the hybrid model, the "ES300h," which combines a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor, will be introduced to Japan. Two grades will be available: "Ultra Luxury" and the first-ever "F Sport" for the ES. I first test-drove the former.

Exceptional Roominess Comparable to the LS

Upon starting to drive, the overwhelming quietness was immediately impressive, confirming that the "premium comfort" that Lexus touts as the ES's core value has been inherited by the new model. According to Chief Engineer Okabayashi, not only were the body shape verified through wind tunnel experiments and the optimal placement of sound insulation and absorption materials, but the frequency bands of sounds generated during driving were analyzed to create a space that feels pleasant and harmonious with the engine and audio sounds. The "airborne wheels," adopted for the first time in the new ES, are also said to suppress tire resonance, known as "horn."



The ride comfort is also superb. Even when the road surface and speed range changed from Nashville's city streets to the highway, the ride remained consistently smooth, offering a sense of premium quality, like gliding on a carpet, to use a cliché. "We focused on developing a car with ample capability to provide comfortable driving on any road surface," stated Chief Engineer Okabayashi, and I felt that this goal had indeed been achieved.

The excellent ride comfort is attributed to the adoption of the world's first swing valve dampers. These dampers provide effective damping even at low input speeds, such as during town driving or highway cruising, thereby achieving both a smooth and premium ride quality in city and highway driving, and stable roll control during spirited driving on winding roads.



The sense of quality felt by the driver and passengers is, of course, not solely derived from the driving experience. From the texture of the leather on parts directly touched, such as the seats and steering wheel, to the exquisite stitching applied in various places and the three-dimensional design of the instrument panel that flows seamlessly into the door trims, it is filled with Lexus's signature craftsmanship, reminiscent of the LS.

What is striking is that despite its sleek, four-door coupe-like body, the interior space is remarkably spacious and open. The legroom in particular, especially in the rear seats, is ample even for a 180cm tall person like myself, likely due to the benefits of the FF layout. Overall, it is no exaggeration to say that it achieves a level of roominess comparable to the LS.

The "F Sport" is Like a Fish in Water on Winding Roads

Next, I test-drove the "F Sport," which Chief Engineer Okabayashi described as "the symbol of the ES's transformation." This model comes standard with 19-inch wheels and features a suspension with a sportier tuning, combined with linear solenoid-type AVS that electronically controls damping force.

Compared to the "Ultra Luxury," the steering feels more direct, and the response to steering inputs is excellent. The test course included a winding road with medium-speed corners twisting through the forest of a national park, and the driving experience there was truly like a fish in water.



In such situations, the hybrid system, which combines a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor, consistently coordinates the engine and motor in the optimal manner, providing linear power delivery in response to accelerator pedal inputs. The MT mode also allows for active gear shifting, offering ideal driving pleasure as a sports sedan.

While the "Ultra Luxury" clearly has the edge in terms of quietness and premium ride quality, the appeal of the "F Sport" as a driver's car is also undeniable.



"Just as you might feel a thrill when putting on a comfortable shirt or wearing your favorite watch, we want you to feel that excitement in your daily interactions with the ES. This is the vision we aimed for with this ES,"

Chief Engineer Okabayashi said during the pre-drive presentation. After test-driving the car, I felt that his vision had been fully realized through the consistent sense of "quality" felt from its design to its driving dynamics. The same can be said for its aim to be the third model embodying Lexus' transformation, following the LC and LS. After the test drive, the sight of the ES parked in front of the hotel, beautifully complementing the dynamic cityscape of the transforming Nashville, left a lasting impression.