LuxuryCarMagazine En Luxury Car Review and News
Lexus continues to improve and evolve its line-up, even with products that are actually quite young. The Shanghai Auto Show sees the release of three new versions the 2016 ES Series, a car that was only just given a facelift for the 2015 model year.
The 2016 model borrows the DNA from some of the more youthful, performance-oriented models in the line-up such as the IS, RC and NX. The headlights, for example, get more prominent LED DRLs. The grille is larger overall, with an especially imposing figure thanks to the enlarged section below the bumper. That prominent grille is made even more so by the chromed foglight surrounds.
At the rear, the shape doesn’t change, but new, larger LED taillamps resembling the items found on the full-size Lexus LS are a nice touch. The hybrid version gets new 17-inch wheels with a more sporty design.
Staying with the exterior changes, the 2015 Lexus ES gets 4 new colours: Amber, Nightfall Mica, Caviar (“Caviar”? Wow) and Eminent White Pearl.
Moving inside, Lexus had followed the trend of adding more upscale materials, better leather and NuLuxe synthetic material. New trims have also been added; there’s now a piano black option, matte bamboo, birdseye maple, and a black wood called Shimamoku. A new 4.2 inch TFT screen joins the tack and speedometer in the gauge cluster.
On the technology front, new driver aides like adaptive speed control, automatic braking, adaptive headlamps and automatic braking make their debuts in the ES.
Under the hood, the two familiar engine choices remain: a 3.5-litre V6 for the ES350 and a 2.4L Atkinson-cycle inline-4 for the ES400h. Yes, there’s a third diesel version in Shanghai, but for the time being, it will only be available in Taiwan, China and Russia and with the popularity of hybrids in North America, the chances of us ever seeing the diesel ES200 over here are slim.
