Auto Shanghai 2025: New 2026 Lexus ES Saloon Bows With HEV & EV Power

New all-electric Lexus ES350e FWD and ES500e AWD variants pictured.

Following a brief teaser released last week, Toyota’s luxury arm Lexus took centre stage in its booth for Press Day at Auto Shanghai 2025 earlier today to debut the new eighth-generation Lexus ES saloon line-up.

According to Lexus, the new eigth-gen ES has been endowed with advances in "ride quality, comfort and quietness" over its predecessor. The marque adds that the ES has also been designed to offer "first-class comfort for everyone on board".

The sharp new exterior design masks the fact that the Lexus ES has significantly grown in size - it's now 165 MM longer with an 80 MM wheelbase stretch, 55 MM wider, and between 110 MM and 115 MM taller.

Visually, the styling of the new ES is based on the brand’s new ‘Clean Tech x Elegance’ design concept. Much of the saloon's new look is also heavily inspired by the LF-ZC concept EV, and features a newly reworked spindle grille design, L-shaped headlights, and single taillight bar.

The design changes masks the fact that the new Lexus ES has grown in size significantly. It now sits 5,140 MM long with a 2,950 MM wheelbase, 1,920 MM wide, and between 1,555 MM and 1,560 MM tall. Overall, this saloon is now 165 MM longer with an 80 MM stretched wheelbase, 55 MM wider, and between 110 MM and 115 MM taller than before.

On board, the new ES' cabin sports redesigned seats that promises enhanced comfort levels. Displays are handled by both a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel whereas higher-end guises now sport a massive new 14-inch Lexus connect infotainment unit.

Moving into the cabin and it appears that Lexus has elected to fashion the ES’ innards with a clean, minimalist approach designed seamlessly to limit driver’s attention and movement.

Tasked with display duties are both a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel plus a new 14-inch LexusConnect infotainment unit, the latter paired with a top-shelf Mark Levinson surround audio system. Notable here too are the redesigned seats delivering enhanced comforts. As for safety, the Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) ADAS suite will be a standard feature across the board.

Visually, the HEV and EV variants are easily set apart by the presence or absence of a slit grille in the front fascia. Aptly, EV variants like the ES350e FWD (right) make do without said opening up front.

Critically, the 2026 Lexus ES is set to be offered with both hybrid (HEV) and fully-electric (EV) powertrain choices under the hood. Visually, both variants are set apart by the presence or absence of a slit grille in its front fascia – aptly, the EV variant makes do without it.

Hybrid variants, namely the ES300h and ES350h, will come powered by a 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol powerplants respectively paired with an ECVT automatic transmission, the former offering up to 200 HP and 245 HP respectively. Additionally, both will also see front- (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) setups available too.

Battery capacity wasn't disclosed, but Lexus did instead tout that EV variants of the new ES can draw in up to 150 kW of DC charging inputs to yield CLTC-rated ranges of up to 685 KM and 610 KM.

EV variants consists of the ES350e FWD guise with a reported 222 HP output and a higher-end ES500e AWD sporting a peppier 338 HP. Both underpin the new Lexus global architecture-K platform that features new eAxles – Toyota’s new e-motor with a unique design that integrates both the power control unit and transaxle.

Lexus didn’t disclose exact battery capacities for either, but both are set to share the same battery pack given Lexus’ claims of their shared ability to draw up to 150 kW DC charging inputs to enable 10-80% re-charges as quickly as 30 minutes.

The new eighth-gen Lexus ES line-up is set to see phased roll-outs across various regions and markets starting middle of this year.

Critically, Lexus did also disclose claimed range figures of up to 685 KM (ES250e FWD) and 610 KM (ES500e AWD). However, these are CLTC-rated figures, so expect these to be lower on the arguably more realistic NEDC and WLTP cycles.

Following its debut at Auto Shanghai 2025, the new 2026 Lexus ES range will see phased rollouts across various regions starting from the middle of this year.  No doubt, the new eighth-generation Lexus ES will serves as an important shift for Lexus towards an electrified future.