Imagine a car that’s as cozy as your favorite blanket. On April 23, 2025, Lexus unveiled the new eighth-generation ES sedan at Shanghai Auto Show, showing off the awesome 2026 Lexus ES. This luxury midsize sedan is super quiet, fancy, and full of fun tech. It’s perfect for grown-ups who love nice cars, whether they drive or ride in the back. The ES has been a favorite since 1989. Now, it’s even better with electrified powertrain options like hybrids and electric cars. If you want a smooth ride that’s kind to the planet, this car is for you!
Why the 2026 Lexus ES Is Awesome
The Lexus ES redesign makes this car look fresh and cool. It follows Lexus’s idea called Lexus design philosophy “Clean Tech x Elegance”. The car is long and sleek with a shiny front grille and bright L-shaped lights. The back has a glowing light bar that looks strong. A new color, Wavelength, sparkles in the sun, great for people who love style.
This next-generation Lexus design moves smoothly through the air. It stays quiet inside and saves energy. If you drive in busy places like China or the U.S., it feels calm. The car has spacious rear seats, perfect for relaxing. The seats are soft, made with Lexus Takumi craftsmanship, which means they’re carefully made to feel fancy.
Power Choices: Easy Hybrid and Electric Options
The Lexus ES eighth generation has new ways to drive that help the Earth. Lexus loves green cars, and over half their 2024 cars were hybrids or electric. The Lexus innovation in electrification makes the ES fun and eco-friendly.
You can pick:
- ES 300h (2WD): A small 2.0-liter engine with 197 horsepower. It speeds up in 9.4 seconds and saves gas.
- ES 350h (2WD or AWD): A bigger 2.5-liter engine with 201 or 247 horsepower. It’s fast (8.3 seconds) and sticks to the road in rain.
- ES 350e (FWD): A Lexus ES BEV (electric car) with 224 horsepower. It drives 300 miles on one charge and fills up in 30 minutes.
- ES 500e (AWD): A super-fast electric car with 343 horsepower, zooming in 5.9 seconds. It goes 250 miles per charge.
These choices make the ES a sustainable luxury car. It’s so quiet, you don’t hear the road. In places like Europe or China, where luxury car buyers in China love green cars, the ES shines.
Inside the Car: A Cozy, Fancy Space
The Lexus ES interior luxury feels like a quiet home. It’s big inside with lots of light from big windows. You can see out easily, so driving is safe and fun.
Here’s what’s cool inside:
- Executive Package (new in the U.S.): Back seats that tilt back, warm up, cool down, or give massages. Perfect for relaxing after a busy day.
- Bamboo Doors: Pretty wood designs that glow in colors like blue or warm orange.
- Sensory Concierge: A fun system that changes lights, air, and smells to match your mood. Want to feel calm? It adds a lavender scent!
The driver gets a big 12.3-inch screen for maps and music, plus a 14-inch touchscreen that’s easy to use. The Lexus infotainment system connects your phone without wires. For people in their 30s to 60s who want a quiet cabin and smooth ride, this car feels like a warm hug. It’s great for bosses who drive or ride with a driver, thanks to high-end rear-seat features.
Tech That Makes Driving Easy and Safe
The Lexus ES technology features are like having a smart friend. The big touchscreen is fast and clear. You can talk to it, and it listens right away. It works with your phone for music or calls, and two people can connect at once.
Love music? The Mark Levinson sound system makes songs sound like a concert. There are also responsive hidden switches—buttons that light up when you touch them, like magic. It’s a new trick for cars!
Safety is big with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Cameras and sensors watch for dangers, like people walking or cars too close. They help you stay safe on busy roads. The car gets updates over the internet, so it’s always getting better. This Lexus customer experience makes you feel cared for.
How It Drives: Smooth and Fun
The Lexus ES performance is exciting but calm. The car is built on a strong frame called TNGA GA-K, so it feels steady and handles turns well. Hybrids are smooth, and electric models are quick and quiet. The Lexus ES BEV feels like it’s gliding, especially the ES 500e, which speeds up fast.
New suspension makes bumps go away, and all-wheel-drive models stick to wet or snowy roads. Whether you’re in Shanghai or a snowy U.S. city, the ES keeps you comfy. It’s all about that quiet cabin and smooth ride that makes Lexus special. A Lexus leader said, “The new ES makes every drive feel new and fun.”
Lexus ES Shanghai Auto Show 2025: Why It’s a Big Deal
The Lexus unveils the new eighth-generation ES sedan at Shanghai Auto Show was a huge moment. At the Shanghai motor show 2025 highlights, Lexus showed off shiny ES models in colors like Sonic Copper. Videos of the Lexus global debut got everyone excited, with the car glowing under lights.
Why Shanghai? China loves fancy sedans, and luxury car buyers in China want cars like the ES. It’ll be sold in over 80 countries, starting in mid-2026 in the U.S. and Europe. Fans online called it “super cool” for its sporty look but missed the old V6 engine. Still, most think this electrified sedan makes sedans exciting again.
How It Competes: Lexus ES vs Other Fancy Cars
In the executive car segment, the ES stands out. Compared to the Lexus ES vs BMW 5 Series, the BMW is sporty, but the ES is quieter with more back-seat room—great for U.S. bosses who ride in back. Against the Lexus ES vs Mercedes E-Class, Mercedes feels fancy, but the Lexus ES hybrid 2026 and Lexus ES BEV save more energy. Audi A6 drives sharp, but the ES’s Lexus interior craftsmanship feels warmer.
Numbers show sedans make up 20% of luxury sales in China, and electric cars are growing fast. The ES fits as a premium Japanese automaker choice that’s kind to the planet.
What’s New in the Eighth-Generation Lexus ES 2026
Wondering what’s new in the eighth-generation Lexus ES 2026? Here’s the scoop:
- Bigger Body: The car is longer (5,140 mm) for more legroom but light for easy driving.
- Fast Charging: Electric models charge in 30 minutes on warm days, a bit longer in cold.
- Mood Magic: The Sensory Concierge picks smells and lights to make you happy.
For Lexus ES price and release date, expect hybrids around $43,000 and electric models at $50,000+, starting mid-2026. Want Lexus ES 2026 hybrid and EV specifications? Hybrids get 50 miles per gallon, and EVs go up to 300 miles. Curious if “is the new Lexus ES available as an electric car”? Yes, with two electric options!
Tips for Picking Your Lexus ES
The ES is great for busy people who want luxury. Here’s how to choose:
- Love Being Driven? Get the Executive Package for comfy back seats.
- Care About Earth? Pick the Lexus ES BEV for no gas.
- Tech Fan? Set up the Voice Assistant to find quick routes home.
If you’re an early adopter, try the hybrid first—it’s smooth and saves gas. The ES fits busy lives, like a well-designed home (see Jason Kelce’s house for cozy ideas). It also helps you stay calm, supporting high blood pressure management on busy days.
The Future: Lexus ES and Green Driving
The Lexus future mobility vision is about clean driving. The ES is Lexus’s second electric car by 2026, with more coming. In places like Europe, where 40% of cars will be electric soon, the ES leads.
Thinking “comparison between 2026 Lexus ES and BMW 5 Series”? The ES is quieter and cheaper. Wondering “how Lexus is redefining luxury sedans with the new ES”? It mixes fancy with green power. For “Lexus ES 2026 for executive and chauffeur use”, it’s perfect with its roomy back seats.
FAQs
What’s the Lexus ES 2026 first look review?
It’s sleek, comfy, and ready for electric driving.
Should I buy the new Lexus ES or wait for the EV model?
Try hybrids now; EVs come soon.
New Lexus ES Shanghai Auto Show reveal highlights?
Cool design, green power, big screens.
Lexus ES clean tech x elegance design explained?
It’s stylish and eco-friendly.
Lexus ES eighth generation design and performance?
Bigger, quieter, faster.
In Conclusion: Why Lexus Unveils New Eighth-Generation ES Sedan at Shanghai Auto Show Matters
When Lexus unveils its new eighth-generation ES sedan at Shanghai Auto Show, it shows a car that’s fancy, green, and smart. The 2026 Lexus ES gives you a quiet cabin and smooth ride, advanced driver assistance systems, and electrified powertrain options. It’s great for busy people in places like China or the U.S. who want a luxury midsize sedan that’s comfy and kind to the Earth.
In short, the ES mixes Lexus Takumi craftsmanship with Lexus1 innovation in electrification. Hybrids save gas, and electric models skip it entirely. It’s like a cozy home on wheels, perfect for driving or riding.
What do you love most about the new ES—its quiet ride or cool tech? Tell us below!
References
- Lexus Pressroom: Reimagining the Luxury Sedan ↩︎
