KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — The Lexus brand has always been the epitome of Toyota Motor Corporation’s build capabilities for premium vehicles. Founded by Eji Toyota in 1983, Lexus is famous for its luxurious and high quality finish products. Though officially they are clearly defined as two distinctive brands, there always seems to be something Toyota about it.
The new sixth generation Lexus ES returns to the Right-Hand-Drive Market as the ES Line celebrates its 21st anniversary and its 25th year as a nameplate of the luxury marque. The new Lexus ES model comes in two variants; the ES 250 and ES300h. The new ES also marks a new milestone for Lexus as it debuts an all-new hybrid variant – the ES 300h. The new ES is having an all-new platform as well which is the widest, longest and stiffest chassis ever to any other ES to date. Being nicknamed sometimes as the ‘mini-LS’, the ES and ES hybrid sits between two other Lexus models which is the LS and IS. Being the only model that is front-wheel drive, the ES was designed to meet the demands of owners wanting to have the luxury of driving comfort or just being chauffeured around in an entry level luxury premium vehicle. Whichever it may be, the new Lexus ES embodies both these elements flawlessly.
The new fascia in the front of the car adapts the new Lexus signature spindle grille, featuring a three dimensional design with a chrome plated frame. This new sporty design exudes a bolder, aggressive and wider stance. The car looks good from the front and from the rear some may say that it looks highly similar to the LS 400. The standard halogen headlamps with LED daytime running lamps are contoured with a sharp angle around the headlamp, which is my personal favourite.
The new Lexus ES is lighter, wider, and more rigid than its predecessors. The chassis improvements stem from increased bracing and spot welding around the frame areas. Also ultra-high-tensile steel is used in certain areas to reduce flex and its overall weight. There is a 200kg difference between the ES 250 and ES 300h, which is attributed to the heavier batteries for the hybrid.
Driving the new Lexus ES 250 was a pleasure on the highways. Cruising along, the (NVH) Noise Vibration, Harshness is indeed very impressive. Cabin noise was really low and you are able to have a decent conversation without having to raise your voice. This is a key improvement by the Lexus ES engineers, through the increased usage of noise dampening materials in the firewall.
The Lexus cabin is equipped with electric front seats with memory functions along with a smart entry key and Dual-Zone or Tri-Zone climate control. The Tri-Zone climate control allows passengers at the back to control the air-conditioning levels in the rear as well. For the ES 300h hybrid variant, a Mark Levinson 835-watt Premium Surround Sound System with Unity, Wide Dispersion technology along with 15 speakers come as standard equipment. The sound is truly amazing when you crank up the music and clarity is razor sharp. In the centre console, an iPod socket is located beneath the arm rest. Some of the additional enhancements that are made to further reduce NVH is the adoption of an acoustic windscreen.
The new Lexus ES 250 is powered by an all-alloy 2.5-litre dual VVT-I engine that produces 135kw of power at 6000rpm, and runs on 91 RON fuel.The new Lexus ES 250 is powered by an all-alloy 2.5-litre dual VVT-I engine that produces 135kw of power at 6000rpm, and runs on 91 RON fuel. It delivers 235Nm of torque at 4100rpm. The ES 300h(hybrid) runs 2.5-litre twin cam Atkinson cycle petrol engine and a 105kW electric drive motor with an electronic continuously variable transmission ( E-CVT) with a six-speed sequential shift feature. The hybrid produces 118kW of power at 5700rpm and 213Nm of torque at 4500rpm on 91 RON fuel. The electric motor delivers a maximum of 105kW of power and 270Nm of torque. The combined power for the hybrid is 151kW with a 0-100k/h acceleration time of 8.5 seconds. Driving both variants up the hills along the Karak highway, I find the ES 300h has more torque with the hybrid motor kicking in. The car accelerates slightly quicker, and you have the option of going completely electric as well.
The handling of both the ES 250 & ES 300h are fairly identical though I felt that the ES 250 seems a little bit more planted. On the cruising sections of the highway, both models are pretty much equal. The ride comfort is indeed exceptional, and is due to the new suspension technology Lexus has adopted for the ES models. Front suspension is by MacPherson strut with counter-wound barrel shaped coil springs with a rose-jointed stabilizer bar. Rear suspension is dual-link struts with conical-type coil springs and a ball jointed stabilizer bar. The front and rear dampers have enhanced attenuation responsiveness, linearity and a stabilized posture. One of the improvements the engineers have done in the new ES models is capitalizing on its new chassis that has a wider stance on the road. The counter wound springs optimize straight line stability and enhances steering feel, by providing symmetry between both sides of the vehicle. Some of the added unseen enhancements to the Lexus suspension design and geometry include the adoption of pillow-ball bushings to the suspension arms to improve handling and stability.
The interior view of the new Lexus ES.One of the key areas in the building of the new Lexus ES is its craftsmanship. The level of craftsmanship extends to the entire ES production process which is overseen by 19 ‘Takumi’, or master craftsmen, who train, recruit and evaluate the results of the entire 7,700 ES production facility staff. What is outstanding in this process is the way the ‘Takumis’ are tested and selected to handle this task. One such test involves the folding of an origami cat from a flat piece of paper with one hand under 90 seconds, and the hand used must be the non-dominant one. Takumis also work with technicians to adapt and improve existing equipment to achieve better results in the production process. One method of ensuring quality and finish is the blending of human and machine in the body construction phase. The production line workers who inspect the alignment of parts constantly train their senses by running their fingers along a sample section of perfectly aligned parts to memorize the correct ‘feeling’ of those parts every two hours.
The new Lexus ES is equipped with ten sensor-controlled SRS airbags together with tyre pressure warning system, vehicle stability control, traction control, electronic braking force distribution and brake assist system. The ES 300h has an added feature of Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC) and electronically controlled brake system (ECB). Both the ES variants have a Drive Mode Select (DMS) which allows the driver to fine-tune the vehicle behaviour either for dynamic performance or optimal efficiency. For most of the drive, I left it in Sport mode, which enhances acceleration feel and EPS is sharpened for greater response. In Normal Mode, it balances performance and efficiency. In ECO Mode, the climate control system temperature, airflow volume and seat heater activation is managed to achieve optimum efficiency.
The new Lexus ES is available in five different colours of Fire Agate Mica Metallic, Starlight Black Glass Flake, Mercury Gray Mica, Platinum Silver Metallic and White Pearl Crystal Shine with three different interior colour options of Ivory, Black and Light Grey. Price starts from RM259,800 for the ES 250, RM279,800 for the ES 250 Luxury and RM353,000 for the ES 300h. For more information on the all new Lexus ES, click this link.
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