The version with a wheel arrangement 4×4 – ES 250 AWD – is equipped with a 206-horsepower four-cylinder atmospheric engine with a volume of 2.5 liters.
The Japanese brand has been producing the Lexus ES mid-size sedan since 1989, that is, its history goes back more than 30 years. During this time, the model has changed seven generations, the company presented the current “four-door” in the spring of 2018 at the Beijing Motor Show. The car is based on the GA-K platform, and Toyota Avalon, RAV4 and Highlander are also based on it.
Throughout the existence of the model, the Lexus ES has always had only front-wheel drive, and now the Japanese manufacturer has decided to bring to the market a modification with a 4×4 wheel arrangement. The all-wheel drive transmission is borrowed from the Toyota Avalon sedan (introduced in the US in the fall of 2019): it has a rear wheel coupling that can transmit up to 50% of the torque to the axle.
The version with all-wheel drive is available only in the Lexus ES 250 AWD version, such a “four-door” is equipped with a 2.5-liter A25A-FXS four-cylinder atmospheric engine with a 206 hp output. (maximum torque – 249 Nm). This engine is paired with an Aisin eight-speed automatic transmission.
Now in the US, Lexus ES can be bought with a hybrid power plant, which is based on an “aspirated” 2.5 and 120-horsepower electric motor (the total system output exceeds 215 hp). Also in the American line there are versions with a 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine (torque – 362 Nm): this engine is also equipped with the F Sport version.
The price tag of the most affordable Lexus ES 350 in the States starts at $ 39,900, and the most affordable hybrid will cost at least $ 41,810. Lexus will announce prices for the new all-wheel drive version of the sedan later, closer to the start of sales. Lexus GS Black Line Special Edition: farewell flavor for the Japanese sedan
By the way, all-wheel drive won’t be the only new Lexus ES for the 2021 model year. Thus, the model range will be supplemented by the ES 350 Black Line Special Edition (it is based on the F Sport performance). It can be distinguished by its black rims, the same spoiler on the boot lid and the side mirror housings. The palette has several new color options for the body (blue, black and white), and in the cabin there is a contrasting black and white trim with gray stitching. A total of 1.5 thousand of these machines will be produced.
In addition, all versions of the ES 2021 model year have a complex of second generation Lexus Safety System, as well as support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now “in the base”. And options such as blind spot monitoring and rear perpendicular vehicle warning are standard on Luxury, F Sport and Ultra Luxury trim levels. Lexus shows his vision of what lunar vehicles would look like
The list of new items for the 2021 model year is likely to “cheer up” the model’s sales in the US. Note that the brand’s dealers sold 51,336 copies of the Lexus ES for the entire last year, which is almost 6% more than a year earlier. At the beginning of this year, demand decreased: in January-July, the sedan was sold in a circulation of 20,877 units. (almost 28% less than in the first seven months of 2019), however, this decline can be explained by the coronavirus pandemic, which also affected the American car market.