Brian Joss –
Lexus unveiled its new ES at the Shanghai International Motor Show. The Lexus ES features a sportier attitude, highlighted by progressive exterior styling, an enhanced interior and the new Lexus Safety System+. The new-look Lexus ES with selected additional features will make its South African debut during the latter half of 2015.
For 2016, Lexus designers have included a commanding front fascia that features the car’s trademark spindle grille, with a pair of newly designed headlights, now equipped with LED projector technology, while iconic “L”-shaped arrowhead Daytime Running Lights (DRL) extend outside the headlight element. Also, redesigned fog lamps areas have been relocated to the outer lower corners of the front fascia and amplify the vehicle’s wide stance.
New exterior colours join the ES palette: Amber, Nightfall Mica, Caviar, and Eminent White Pearl. Like the six existing choices, each features Lexus’s cutting-edge paint technology designed to allow the paint’s clear coat to heal itself even from light damage. A new, sporty steering wheel provides better driving engagement. A larger 4.2-inchThin Film Transistor (TFT) color multi-information display conveniently places vital vehicle and route information as well as multimedia information front and centre. To further enhance Remote Touch Interface (RTI) control, the 2016 ES adds “Enter” buttons on either side of the interface controller.
New for 2016 in specific markets is a 2 litre direct-injection four-cylinder engine. Engineered to meet China’s fuel economy regulations, the D4 engine will be offered in China, Russia and Taiwan. In South Africa, the luxury sedan will continue with its 2.5-litre L4 engine as well as a petrol-electric hybrid power plant badged as the 300h.
The Lexus Safety System +, which combines key safety technologies into a single, networked package includes the Pre-Collision System (PCS), which can detect vehicles and pedestrians, the Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Radar Cruise Control , to name some.
The South African spec will be disclosed closer to the launch.
