Lexus, Toyota's premium brand, has officially launched the All New ES in South Korea, the eighth-generation full redesign of its large premium sedan. The lineup includes a battery electric model for the first time, priced below the hybrid version in a push into the premium electric sedan segment.
Lexus Korea announced the launch of the eighth-generation All New ES at a media conference held on the 13th at the Theatre of Light at Walkerhill Hotel & Resort in Seoul's Gwangjin District.
The All New ES is the eighth-generation redesign of a model that debuted alongside the launch of the Lexus brand in 1989 and has sold more than 3 million units since. In South Korea, the ES entered the market in 2001 when Lexus began operations in the country, and has served as the brand's flagship model for 25 years.
Lexus introduced the first battery electric ES to strengthen its electrified lineup. The ES 350e carries a 74.69 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and delivers a maximum driving range of 478 kilometers on a single charge. The ES 500e features the Direct4 all-wheel-drive system and produces a combined output of 347 horsepower.
"The ES 300h offered a new option to the Korean premium sedan market with its hybrid system," Lexus Korea President Konyama Manabu said. "The electric vehicle introduced in the eighth-generation Lexus ES is the next step that carries forward the electrification technology and experience we have accumulated."
Lexus also adopted an aggressive pricing strategy to make the electric model competitive. The ES 350e, the entry-level electric version, starts at 71.6 million won, or 1.3 million won less than the ES 350h entry-level hybrid. The move is seen as a response to intensifying price competition in the electric vehicle market in South Korea and worldwide.
The hybrid models also gained performance from an upgraded system. The ES 350h carries a smaller, lighter sixth-generation 2.5-liter hybrid system that improves responsiveness while reinforcing the quietness and smooth ride long associated with the ES. Lexus also added an all-wheel-drive version equipped with the E-Four electronic all-wheel-drive system, a first for the ES hybrid.
The All New ES is larger as well. It measures 5,140 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and has a 2,950 mm wheelbase, increases of 165 mm, 55 mm and 80 mm over the previous generation.
Lexus built the All New ES on the GA-K platform, which accommodates both battery electric and hybrid powertrains. Stiffening the front, floor and rear sections of the body reduced vibration, while the car delivers steering that responds more naturally and precisely to driver input along with smoother acceleration and braking.
Among hybrid models, the ES 350h Premium starts at 72.9 million won, while the ES 350h is priced at 80.8 million won.