New 2026 Lexus ES will be EV only in UK
Petrol-electric hybrid engine dropped as large saloon sizes up latest BMW i5 and Mercedes EQE
The all-new Lexus ES has been unwrapped at a media event held in Belgium with the Japanese premium brand announcing it has dropped plans to offer the entry ES 300h petrol-electric hybrid in the UK.
Originally, following its reveal last month at the Shanghai Motor Show, senior Lexus execs confirmed three versions would be offered – including a petrol-electric version powered by the firm's 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that is combined with an e-motor to produce 198bhp.
No reason has been given for why the ES 300h has been axed from the line-up, but insiders speaking to Auto Express did admit if the rumoured 300bhp all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid comes online it would be offered with the remaining two EV versions. No timeline was given, other than to say the brand is monitoring market conditions and that a PHEV could arrive with the large saloon’s mid-life facelift if there was demand from customers.
The Lexus ES range will now kick off with the ES 350e that's driven by a single 221bhp e-motor which is combined with a 77kWh battery and is expected to be capable of covering up to 530km on the WLTP test cycle on a single charge. Available with front-wheel drive only, the base Lexus ES takes 8.2 seconds to reach 62mph from rest.
At the top of the tree is the flagship dual-motor ES 500e that produces 338bhp and gets a smaller 75kW power pack - the range for the most powerful Lexus saloon has yet to be released, but thanks to the brand's DIRECT4 all-wheel drive 0-62mph takes 5.7 seconds.
New intel reveals that whichever you choose, the Japanese BMW i5 can only be charged at a maximum rate of 150kW, with a 10-80 per cent top-up taking around 30 minutes.
Developed alongside the Toyota Camry sold in other markets; the Lexus ES sits on the firm's TNGA-K architecture and gets both a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension set up and a variable ratio steering rack that enhances both high-speed stability and low-speed manoeuvrability.
Unchanged externally from the wide and low fastback saloon revealed in Shanghai, Lexus has revealed that UK and European models will get the option of a pair of reclining rear seats with ottoman-style leg support. Space is boosted further by a front passenger seat that folds forward, improving the view.
Inside, both versions come with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel that's combined with a 14-inch infotainment system that offers the firm's latest LexusConnect tech, which provides points of interest, live information for the navigation, like speed camera locations, low emission zones and nearby charging stations.
The same tech offers the driver the option to view not only the range but adjust settings for scheduled charging and operate the new preconditioning function in colder climates.
Fresh tech includes adaptive cruise control that uses the map to tailor the speed for corners, or different road conditions, a pre-collision system that can recognise electric scooters, plus a driver fatigue tech that can now sense yawning or elicit phone use on the move.
If the driver fails to react or respond to the warning the car can be brought to a halt with the hazard lights on. The same system can detect changes in a driver's posture and can then automatically unlock the doors and dial up the emergency services.
The obsession with safety extends to the blind-spot monitor that can now recognise both bicycles and motorcycles moving alongside the car, helping to prevent a collision when turning left or right.
Finally, the lane departure alert is now sophisticated enough to detect lamp posts and median barriers to prevent unintended lane departures. Both lane keep assist and front cross traffic are now standard on both models.
For the first time, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system will also be offered that's said to offer a three-dimensional musical experience.
Despite releasing more details of the inbound all-new Lexus ES, the car-maker says it's still too early to share both the final specification and pricing for its new all-electric saloon, suggesting both will be timed for a release closer to its debut here in spring 2026.
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