Seven generations in thirty-five years: the Lexus ES has distinguished itself as an elegant luxury sedan with classic proportions. For this new edition, Japanese designers have reinterpreted its soul, working on the first ES to adopt a fully electric powertrain, which is scheduled to be introduced in Europe at the end of 2026. The concept has been defined as “Clean Tech x Elegance,” indicating a harmonious combination of functional, technology-inspired design with a style that expresses premium quality and handcrafted luxury. Yahiko Kumai, Chief Designer at Lexus International, explains that the car goes beyond being a simple evolution of the current ES. “It was developed with a new approach: the team started with a ‘super-ideal’ design and then refined it to achieve a concrete result, rather than proceeding incrementally from the design of the existing model.”
The design team applied the “golden ratio” principle to achieve an ideal relationship between the car’s dimensions (wheelbase, length, height, and width) and create an elegant and visually appealing sedan with an interior as spacious as that of an SUV. “Our main goal was to find the optimal proportions and a silhouette that expressed the style of a sedan,” says Kumai. Viewed from the front, the ES features Lexus’ signature spindle grille, which extends from the hood to the edges of the bumper. Chief designer Kumai wanted to maintain a wide, low “face” and keep the front fenders low, thus preserving the characteristic look of a premium sedan. “The difference in height adds a sporty touch while maintaining a dynamic sedan-style expression,” he explains.
“The shape that runs across the rear volume is a dynamic surface, unprecedented on a sedan. We paid close attention to its appearance and created a wide, beautiful surface. It gives the car an incredibly grounded silhouette and, while maintaining ample space in the cabin, is strongly tapered to control airflow,” he explains. This taper also emphasizes the car’s low center of gravity, creating a sporty and athletic look. The rear lighting includes L-shaped lights and a single, seamless light bar that integrates the Lexus logo and incorporates the rear position and brake lights.
The basic design principle for the interior of the new ES was “clean technology and elegance,” resulting in a simple and modern aesthetic. Chief Designer Kumai talks about “eliminating visual noise” when describing how the surfaces have been made clean and uncluttered, focusing on the priority of a spacious and comfortable space. The cabin design follows Lexus’ Tazuna principle, focusing the driver’s attention on the road by arranging controls and information sources so that they can be operated and recognized with minimal hand and eye movement. The upper section is completely open to prioritize the driver’s view, while the instrument panel is presented in a 12.3-inch asymmetrical digital matrix, allowing for lower instrumentation. Material quality has been improved with soft leatherette details and dynamic lighting effects.
