New Lexus ES OFFICIALLY revealed – and it IS coming to the UK

The 2019 Lexus ES has been revealed at the Beijing Motor Show, and it is heading for the UK as a replacement for the Lexus GS and will be on sale in early 2019.

We’ve been saying the new Lexus ES – revealed today at the Beijing Motor Show – is heading for the UK to replace the Lexus GS for some time. And it is, with the new ES heading for the UK and Europe for the first time and will be available from January 2019.

The ES has been a successful model for Lexus in the US – this is the seventh generation car – but Lexus has chosen, until now, to sell the more expensive GS in Europe rather than the more staid front-wheel drive ES. But it looks like the new ES is going to be a sportier offering than previous generations and, with its new styling, new technology and new powertrain, Lexus are hoping to dramatically increase sales.

Built on the new Global Architecture K Platform, the ES is still a front-wheel drive car but it is stiffer, bigger, lower and more dynamic looking than previous ES models, with high-tensile steel keeping weight in check, multi-link rear suspension, a V-Brace for stiffness and even adaptive damping on the Sport models.

Power comes from a new hybrid drive with a new 2.5 litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the ES 300 (which looks to be the only model coming to the UK, at least at launch) delivering 213bhp and 60mpg economy, with a new hybrid system control which is better at mimicking the feel and power delivery of a non-hybrid powertrain.

Safety stuff looks a strong point too, with the new ES offering the latest Lexus Safety System+ with Pre-Collision including Cycle Detection and two-stage adaptive high beam.

The exterior design takes many of its cues from the latest LS, and the ES F Sport from the LC too, and the interior – always a Lexus strong point – has moved on and, we expect, will provide an interior space better than its price point with optional 12.3″ multimedia display and a new Remote Touch control pad (Lexus aren’t giving up on that) and voice recognition, new colour options and a new metallic cabin trim in the F Sport models.

Lexus say the nw ES will arrive in the UK in January 2019, and although the ES is a chunk cheaper than the GS in the US, it’s likely the new ES will be a similar price point to the current GS.

What we hope is that the UK will get more than just the ES 300h and ES 300h F Sport in time (other markets also get a choice of ES 200, ES 250 and ES 350 petrol too) and, in time, Lexus manage to electrify the rear axle and deliver a more potent four-wheel drive option.