The all-new 2026 Lexus ES has been officially teased for the first time ahead of its world debut, which the Japanese premium brand has now confirmed will take place at the Shanghai motor show on April 23.
It’s clear from the single teaser image which accompanied the announcement that the eighth-generation Lexus ES, which has also been confirmed for Australian release in 2026, will adopt an ever sleeker fastback silhouette than the existing mid-size sedan.
No other information was provided, but the next ES will once again be based on the Toyota Camry, the latest generation of which was launched in 2024.
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“Details of the all-new ES, a global flagship model that refines advanced electrification technologies and pursues further evolution of its the hallmark quietness and ride comfort, will be announced at a press conference in the Lexus booth on April 23,” said Lexus.
CarExpert understands the “global flagship model” reference is an exaggeration, which has led to some reports suggesting it will replace the LS limousine (and the GS large sedan no longer sold in Australia) as the Toyota luxury brand’s top-shelf sedan.
However, rather than adopting the Japanese giant’s newer TNGA platform, it’s understood the new ES will continue to be underpinned by the same GA-K architecture as its predecessor, which was unveiled at the 2018 Beijing motor show, and the last two generations of Camry.
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2024 Lexus ES -
2026 Lexus ES
But given the significant advances in refinement and technology delivered by the latest Camry, the new ES should easily be the best in a lineage that stretches back to 1989.
As well a lower-slung side profile, which completely does away with a flat rear decklid, a series of short teaser videos show the new ES will also feature a full-width rear light bar, and boomerang-shape LED daytime running lights that are even slimmer than the Camry’s, above a secondary set of main headlights.
Within its sleek new exterior, the next Lexus ES should offer more cabin space, especially in the rear, plus upgraded safety and multimedia systems.
Given the current Lexus ES became a hybrid-only model in Australia as of late last year – when the entry-level ES 250 was axed after accounting for just 10 per cent of sales – and the latest Camry is a hybrid-only model globally, you can expect the new ES to follow suit.
For reference, the existing ES 300h is priced from $65,540 before on-road costs and available in three equipment grades (Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury), each powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric system that delivers 160kW of power and 221Nm of torque to the front wheels.
Australian Lexus ES sales are 22 per cent down in the first quarter of this year with 202 new homes found, making it less popular than the BMW 3 Series (396 sales), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (369) and BMW i4 (309) in the luxury mid-size sedan segment.
MORE: Everything Lexus ES
