Lexus recently introduced the all-new ES in the
North American market, and did the same in Paris for Europe. Now it’s
officially brought the new luxury sedan back home to roost and with the
world’s first digital sideview cameras in a production car.
The ES is the model that, alongside the larger LS
sedan, launched Lexus into the luxury automobile segment in the first place
back in 1989 – nearly 30 years ago now. But it wasn’t until 2005 that Toyota
launched the brand in its home Japanese Domestic Market.
Now in its seventh generation, the Lexus ES is all
grown up – and decidedly more eye-catching than the six iterations that came
before.
The basic parameters are essentially the same as the
model we’ve already seen in other markets. It’s based on the latest version of
the Toyota New Global Architecture, the GA-K platform that also underpins the
new Camry, Avalon, and RAV4. But in this case, it underpins a more upscale
luxury sedan. Motivation comes exclusively in the form a
2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, and there’s even a sporty F Sport
version.
The biggest difference with the Japanese version,
though, is the Digital Side-View Monitor system which replaces the wing mirrors
with digital cameras that display images on five-inch monitors inside the
A-pillars. It’s a technology that’s been a long time coming, and was recently
gotten approval for use in Japan.
Buyers in the local market will be able to get their
hands on the new ES 300h (with or without the trick camera system) for
¥ 5,800,000 (US$ 51.5k) including taxes, the F Sport version for ¥ 6,290,000
(US$ 55k), and the top-of-the-line Version L for ¥ 6,980,000 (US$ 62k).
