Lexus is launching the All New ES, the eighth-generation full redesign of its flagship premium sedan, in South Korea. The automaker plans to target the premium electrified vehicle market with a lineup that includes the first battery electric vehicle in the ES line.
Lexus Korea said on the 13th that it had officially launched the All New ES in the domestic market.
The All New ES is the eighth-generation full redesign of a model that debuted in 1989 alongside the launch of the Lexus brand. It entered the Korean market in 2001 when Lexus began operations in the country and has served as the brand's signature model for 25 years.
Lexus introduced the first BEV in the ES line to strengthen its electrified lineup. The ES 350e carries a 74.69-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and delivers a maximum range of 478 kilometers on a single charge. The ES 500e features Direct4, an all-wheel-drive system, and produces a combined output of 347 horsepower.
Lexus also raised performance on its existing hybrid models with an upgraded system. The ES 350h is equipped with a smaller, lighter sixth-generation 2.5-liter hybrid system that improves responsiveness and enhances the quietness and smooth ride that have characterized the ES. The company also added an AWD model fitted with E-Four, an electronic all-wheel-drive system, for the first time in an ES hybrid. The system controls the driving force of the rear motor according to road conditions to support stable driving on slippery surfaces.
The All New ES is also larger than its predecessor. At 5,140 millimeters long, 1,920 millimeters wide and with a 2,950-millimeter wheelbase, it gains 165 millimeters, 55 millimeters and 80 millimeters, respectively, over the previous generation.
Lexus built the All New ES on the GA-K platform, which can accommodate both BEV and hybrid powertrains. Reinforced rigidity at the front, floor and rear of the body reduces vibration, while steering responds more naturally and precisely to driver input and acceleration and deceleration are smoother.
The BEV lineup starts at 71.6 million won ($50,000) for the ES 350e. The ES 500e Luxury, the top BEV trim, costs 84.9 million won. Among hybrids, the ES 350h Premium starts at 72.9 million won, while the ES 350h costs 80.8 million won. Lexus Korea said it priced the ES 350e Premium 1.3 million won below the comparable hybrid model to ease the cost burden for customers considering the brand's first BEV sedan.
Konyama Manabu, president of Lexus Korea, said the All New ES marks a new turning point that expands electrified options to include a BEV, building on the trust the model has accumulated over the years.
