Autoblog

2013 Lexus ES350

Michael Harley — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Lexus, New Car Reviews, Luxury

Finally Saying Goodbye To Its Camry Roots

In its equivalent world of breakfast foods, the Lexus ES350 is unquestionably the pancake. While its siblings may offer more interesting textures, flavors and consistencies - a generally more exciting culinary experience - the four-door ES is designed with 'indistinct' as its middle name. Its objective is to please just about every entry-level luxury buyer once it ends up on their plate.

Even after a complete redesign for the 2013 model year, the sixth-generation Lexus ES350 emerges every bit as family-friendly and non-polarizing as its predecessors. It is the everyman's luxury sedan, offering attractive pricing and a satisfying fill of amenities and features with the sweetness of a long warranty and polished customer service to back things up.

As a result of its overall wholesomeness and demeanor, the ES350 sells like hotcakes, too. Last year, 56,158 customers took delivery, thus allowing the five-passenger sedan to continue its reign as the highest sales volume Lexus passenger car (it outsells the bigger LS nearly seven-to-one).

To learn more about the all-new ES, and take our own taste of its goodness, we recently spent a week with the midsize luxury sedan in Southern California.

Continue reading 2013 Lexus ES350

2013 Lexus ES350 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus considering building new ES in North America

Scott Burgess — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Lexus, Luxury

Lexus dealers are pressuring parent company Toyota to build the new 2013 ES in North America.

According to Ward's Auto, Tim Morrison, vice president of sales and dealer development, admits dealers are clamoring for the ES to be built in North America to help hedge against a strong Japanese yen. The ES, Lexus' top selling sedan in America, is currently built in Kyushu, Japan. But the strong yen has cut into the car's profitability.

Morrison says that the company's North American factory capacity is already limited, but as the brand looks to expand, it will consider finding places to build the ES overseas.

Last year, Lexus sold 41,000 ES sedans, even with the constraints from production problems following the March tsunami. The redesigned 2013 model will include a hybrid version, which Lexus expects to draw new customers.

The ES remains a strong conquest vehicle for Lexus, with 63 percent of ES customers new to the brand, Lexus tells Autoblog. However, only 28 percent stay with the ES once it's time to get a new car.

Last year, Lexus lost its title as America's No. 1 U.S. luxury brand, but officials have said they intend on recapturing it. In 2011, Lexus sold 198,000 vehicles in the U.S., and this year, it hopes to reach 250,000 vehicles.

Lexus considering building new ES in North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus debuts 2013 ES including new 300h hybrid

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Lexus, Luxury

When the Toyota Camry gets overhauled, like it did this year, you know it's not long before its corporate sister, the Lexus ES, gets revisited as well. And Lexus has done exactly that this afternoon at the New York Auto Show, with the new model doing what the ES does best: Surprise no one.

As expected, the biggest news is the announcement of a hybrid ES, a move that should be the final nail in the coffin of the slow-selling HS 250h. This new hybrid is essentially the Camry hybrid in a nicer package, powered by the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder fitted with the ubiquitous Toyota hybrid system. As it does in the hybrid GS, Lexus will offer a sport drive mode, as well as an EV mode. Lexus estimates that the ES hybrid will have 40-mile-per-gallon combined fuel economy, matching that of the Camry Hybrid XLE (a number that presumably will give it best-in-class bragging rights).

The ES gets the new Lexus spindle grille treatment and a 1.8-inch longer wheelbase, but changes to the sheetmetal aren't as dramatic as the upgraded cabin. The instrument panel now resembles the one in the GS, with a horizontal treatment and a big LCD screen, along with the love/hate Lexus Remote Touch Interface controller snuggling next to the gearshift in the center console. New seats boast a leather-alternative NuLuxe covering, although real hide is also available, along with premium semi-aniline leather. Somehow, Lexus has even managed to find an extra four inches of legroom up front.

The ES 350 will still mate Toyota's proven 3.5-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic, driving the front wheels. But Lexus says it's modified the suspension and steering in this generation of ES to improve handling - and it's even cut the curb weight of the 2013 ES by 90 pounds.

Click past the jump to read the full press release.

Continue reading Lexus debuts 2013 ES including new 300h hybrid

Lexus debuts 2013 ES including new 300h hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Lexus ES shows up undisguised in China

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Lexus, Luxury

The car in the image above may bear a striking resemblance to the 2013 Lexus GS, but take a second look - that's actually the next-generation ES, despite its shockingly similar appearance. It's no secret that Lexus' new hourglass grille is quickly spreading across its entire model range (check out the recently unveiled 2013 LX 570 for reference), and while the ES looks fashionably familiar, there are a few new touches to note.

Underneath the headlamps we can clearly see a row of LED running lights, similar to what's found on the GS... and IS... and CT. Around back, there's a similar resemblance to the larger GS, though the lines are a bit more sedate - a good thing, as the ES shopper tends to be a little more conservative than folks opting for the rear-wheel-drive GS. Chinese site Autohome got its hands on some interior photos, too, and - surprise, surprise - there's a whole lot of GS in the reworked cabin as well, with a two-tiered dash featuring large navigation/infotainment screen up top.

The car Autohome caught is the ES 250 model, which suggests that Lexus' 2.5-liter V6 is underhood - the same engine available in the GS 250 in other markets. Here in the United States, the ES will still likely be available with the automaker's 3.5-liter V6, though earlier reports have suggested that a new hybrid model could also be in the cards.

2013 Lexus ES shows up undisguised in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Lexus ES 350 is soft-riding royalty that's lost its crown

Chris Shunk — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Lexus, New Car Reviews, Luxury

2010 Lexus ES 350 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The entry-level luxury sedan segment doesn't command the enthusiast attention of, say, the ultra-premium luxury sports sedan. But if you ask automakers to choose between the two, we'd wager that most would rather have a best-in-class $35,000 sedan than a world-beating $70,000 sports tourer.

The reason? Very few fortunes are made selling a few thousand highfalutin' rocket launchers, but bottom lines can easily be bolstered or crippled based on the success or failure of a plush, high-volume cruiser. Luxury marques from Acura to Volvo have experienced varied levels of success at the low end of the luxury market, but few have enjoyed the consistent sales dominance of the Lexus ES. In the past decade, Toyota has cranked out over 600,000 copies in the U.S. alone, with another 650,000 units shipped around the world. And those sales have traditionally been overwhelmingly of the retail variety with little or no incentives. Not bad for what many consider a glorified Toyota Camry.

Enthusiasts take note: Lexus didn't reach such lofty sales levels with a rear-wheel-drive architecture or pavement-punishing quantities of horsepower. The road map to success for the ES has been simple: a soft, compliant ride; a pampering interior; and unmatched quality. The fifth-generation ES350 has built nicely on those attributes with smoother power, a quieter cabin and more technology. But the competition is still striving to overtake the ES in sales, so Lexus has gone and given its top-selling sedan a mid-cycle refresh for 2010. We spent a week in a Starfire Pearl ES350 to see if it still had the goods to remain a top option in the entry-level luxury segment.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Lexus ES 350

Continue reading Review: 2010 Lexus ES 350 is soft-riding royalty that's lost its crown

Review: 2010 Lexus ES 350 is soft-riding royalty that's lost its crown originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota offering to fix oil lines on nearly 1M six-cylinder models

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:47:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Safety, Crossover, Toyota

"This is not a safety recall."

Toyota is making it perfectly clear that this latest limited service campaign involving V6-powered vehicles sold over the past few years is not, in fact, a safety recall, as it does not have the potential to harm drivers. What's happening, however, is the rubber portion of the oil supply hose for the VVT-i actuator has the potential to degrade, which can cause oil to leak, in turn causing the engine to produce odd noises and the oil pressure light in the dash to illuminate.

The most recent phase of this service campaign involves 2007-2009 model year V6-equipped RAV4 and Avalon models. Last year, however, Toyota announced the first two phases of this campaign, which included 2005-2006 Avalons, 2007-early 2010 Camrys, 2006 RAV4s, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350s, and 2007-2009 Lexus RX350s. For all of these models, Toyota dealers will replace the oil hose at no extra charge, and the service campaign will be available to owners until March 31, 2013. Click through the jump to read the full details in Toyota's press release.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota offering to fix oil lines on nearly 1M six-cylinder models

Toyota offering to fix oil lines on nearly 1M six-cylinder models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Toyota said to install brake override systems in all cars by end of 2010

Dan Roth — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:28:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Lexus, Toyota

From the "things that should probably already be there" file comes the announcement that Toyota will be installing brake override systems in response to recent incidents of runaway cars. Toyota North America president Yoshi Inaba told Automotive News that the system will force the engine into idle if it senses the driver is trying to apply the brakes unsuccessfully.

The Toyota Camry and Lexus ES350 will be the first models to get the new system, with installation beginning this month. Toyota's effort follows on the heels of a massive 3.8 million vehicle recall to reshape and replace accelerator pedals. The automaker is attributing reports of runaway cars on floor mat interference with the pedals, though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reportedly remains suspicious of other contributing factors.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

BREAKING: Toyota said to install brake override systems in all cars by end of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Facelifted 2010 Lexus ES350 caught in Japan

Chris Shunk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Lexus, Luxury

After years of sales dominance in the near luxury segment, the Lexus ES350 is beginning to see increased competition from the likes of - who woulda thunk it? - Lincoln and Buick. It doesn't help much that the styling of the ES is getting long in the tooth as, but new spy shots show that the ES could be getting a makeover in 2010.

Even though the ES350 isn't sold in Japan, these spy photos were apparently taken at a dealership in the land of the Rising Sun. The changes appear to be minor based on the photos, with most of the differences happening up front. The grille appears to be more prominent, with more chrome than the outgoing model.

In addition, the undisguised spy photo shows an updated lower fascia with a single slot opening and new fog lights. The front bumper also appears to have sharper lines than the 2009 model. Out back, we only see slightly updated tail lamps, while the side mirrors retain the same shape but add LED lighting.

Based on these spy shots, the ES350 doesn't look too terribly different than the 2009 model. Given the conservative nature of Lexus redesigns, we're not at all surprised. To look at all three spy photos of the 2010 ES350, head over to World Car Fans.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Spy Shots: Facelifted 2010 Lexus ES350 caught in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Feds step-up investigation on self-accelerating Lexus ES350 sedans

Siddharth Raja — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

An all-weather floor mat available in the Lexus ES350 sedan that can jam the throttle and cause the car to accelerate on its own is being investigated by the NHTSA following 40 separate incidents of the frightening event occurring. Of the 40 drivers that experienced unintended acceleration, eight ended up crashing the vehicle with 12 injuries recorded overall.

Toyota told officials that it had mailed out a letter earlier in the year warning owners that the problem was caused by the mats not being secured properly, but the NHTSA is continuing its investigation to determine if Toyota's response was adequate. One outcome from the NHTSA's latest investigation could see Toyota conducting a recall, though this seems unlikely.

If this sounds familiar, you'd be right. Just yesterday we posted a story about runaway Toyota Prius hybrid cars. Officials cited the same faulty floor-mats as the reason for the problems, but most owners believe a defect in the car itself is the main reason.

Lexus is also facing a potential lawsuit over the airbag system in the ES350.

[Source: Denver Post]

Feds step-up investigation on self-accelerating Lexus ES350 sedans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus facing lawsuit over ES350 airbags

Siddharth Raja — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Lexus

Lexus cars are regarded as some of the safest on the road, however a new lawsuit against the company could tarnish this reputation. A class action brought about by a Florida law firm alleges that the Lexus ES350 is fitted with a faulty front passenger airbag sensor that could prevent the airbag from triggering in the event of a collision.

The suit goes on to explain that the defective vehicles are fitted with a weight sensor that gauges the weight of the person in the front passenger seat, but that these sensors have been found to be faulty.

One representative claims that he tested multiple ES350 vehicles and found them to be defective, as did other customers from across the country. Worse, it claims Toyota was warned about these issues and failed to correct them. The owners want Toyota to recall and repurchase all ES350s, refunds for those that leased the cars, each car to be refitted with a working airbag system, and compensation for any loss of value and costs owners incurred during this process. We'll be watching this one closely.

[Source: Business Wire via The Truth About Cars]

Lexus facing lawsuit over ES350 airbags originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus ES350 priced to move at $33k

John Neff — Fri, 05 May 2006 08:08:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Lexus

Toyota's luxury division Lexus has announced that the all-new 2007 ES350 will arrive in showrooms with a base price of $33,170. A few Lexus shoppers probably already know this as the car went on sale April 21st. Having been excused from any sporting pretentions by the brand's IS sedans, the ES350 arrives softer and quieter than ever. Its 272-hp 3.5L V6 can move the sedan to 60 in 6.8 seconds, but the ES350's targeted demographic has already reached 60 if you know what we mean.

[Source: Toyota]

Lexus ES350 priced to move at $33k originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 May 2006 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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