The ES is Lexus’s midsize sedan. It’s not the sexiest, most luxurious, or most capable vehicle in the brand’s lineup. But the Lexus ES does offer excellent value. And it’s value that buyers appreciate. The Lexus ES typically outsells the rest of the brand’s car lineup in America combined.
The current seventh-generation ES, which entered production in 2018, is due for an overhaul. And the new eighth-generation model should arrive very soon. Lexus has confirmed the all-new model will debut on April 23, 2025, at an event in Shanghai.
Lexus has not yet confirmed many details about the new ES. But here’s what we know so far.
Key Takeaways
- Lexus is debuting an all-new ES sedan on April 23
- It sounds like it will get hybrid and all-electric powertrains
- It may be a new “flagship” model if the LS departs
The Next Lexus ES May Be Hybrid And All-Electric
Lexus noted that the new ES “refines advanced electrification technologies and pursues further evolution of its hallmark quietness and ride comfort” in its teaser. The European release worded this differently, stating it will “benefit from new and advanced electrification technologies.” Both phrases suggest that the next Lexus ES will have more electrification than the current model, which is available in gas and conventional hybrid models.
A Lexus trademark filing could provide a clue as to what the lineup will look like. The brand filed trademark applications for ES350h, ES350e, and ES500e. Following the nomenclature Lexus uses for other models, that would likely refer to an ES350h hybrid model, a rear-wheel-drive ES350 e electric model and a more powerful all-wheel-drive ES500e electric model. The new ES could be one of four EVs Lexus launches over the next few years.
The Next Lexus ES May Replace The LS Sedan Too
Both the American and European releases contained an eye-catching phrase, referring to the new ES as a global “flagship” model. Automakers typically use that phrasing for the most expensive, top-of-the-line nameplate in the lineup; brands may have a flagship car and a flagship SUV simultaneously. Calling the Lexus ES the flagship would not have been done flippantly. That suggests the full-size LS sedan won’t be around much longer.
The Lexus LS is an icon. It was Toyota’s first Lexus-branded car and has been a lineup mainstay for more than 35 years. But it’s not a huge seller anymore. Lexus sold just 420 LS sedans in America in Q1 2025. Sales have been even worse globally. Lexus dropped the LS from the UK lineup after selling just 39 of them in the 2020s. Leaning into the ES, which outsold the LS by a nearly 22 to 1 margin in America in Q1 2025, would be a reasonable option.
TopSpeed’s Take
The sales numbers don’t lie. The ES is the size and price point at which Lexus should focus its efforts. More than 81 percent of Lexus’s US sales in Q1 2025 were SUVs. So it would not surprise us if the ES starts pulling more weight in the car lineup or just becomes the only non-SUV or sports car offering.
Trump administration tariffs could also play a role with the ES. Lexus had reportedly planned to move ES production for America from Kentucky back to Japan after the 2025 model year. It’s unclear whether Lexus has shifted those plans in light of the new policies.
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