Lexus ES pricing and specification released

Lexus has confirmed full pricing and specs for its new ES saloon. The BMW 5 Series challenger will start from £35,150 when orders begin in 1 October, which makes the ES 300h £1,605 cheaper than the entry-level - and less powerful - BMW 520i SE.

There’s three trim levels to choose from: ES, Sport and Takumi. Standard kit on the entry-level model includes 17-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch navigation system, parking sensors, and electrically-adjustable and heated front seats. Sport models cost from £38,150, add 19-inch alloy wheels, a body kit, adaptive dampers and sports seats.

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The ES Takumi costs £7,500 more than the Sport, and throws in pretty much all of the tech available. The upgraded infotainment screen measures 12.3 inches and acts as a display for the 360-degree camera, and it’s hooked up to a Mark Levinson surround sound audio system. Further Takumi extras include heated and reclining rear seats, three zone air conditioning, adaptive high beam LED headlights, and a powered bootlid that can be opened with a wave of a foot beneath the rear bumper.

Upgrade packs allow the ES and ES Sport buyers to add a selection of optional extras. The ES Premium Pack costs £3,500, and adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, LED headlights and a host of safety systems, including blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

The Sport is available with two packs: the Tech and Safety pack adds LED lights, a wireless charging points for smartphones and a heated steering wheel for £700, while the the £4,000 Takumi pack offers the Mark Levinson sound system, a head up display, a rear screen sunshade, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a powered bootlid.

Unlike the rear-wheel drive GS which it replaces, the ES sends its power to the front wheels. Just one powertrain setup is available: a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol which is paired with a hybrid system and a CVT automatic gearbox. It produces a total of 215bhp and is claimed to return 60.1mpg on the WLTP testing cycle.

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