2025 Lexus ES Debuts in Shanghai as Hybrid and BEV Models

The Lexus ES has long been the smooth operator of the luxury sedan world — polished, whisper-quiet, and as unfussed as a barista at 5:01pm. But at Auto China 2024 in Shanghai, Lexus unveiled the all-new 2025 ES, and this time it’s not just a facelift. It’s a proper glow-up.

Now in its eighth generation, the ES arrives on an evolved GA-K platform, developed at Lexus’ dedicated Shimoyama proving ground. Engineers have been fine-tuning the Lexus Driving Signature, aiming for that sweet spot between comfort and connection — the automotive equivalent of a weighted blanket on sport mode.

Electrification takes centre stage, with both hybrid and fully electric versions on offer. The ES 300h remains front-drive, while the ES 350h adds AWD. EV variants include the ES 350e and the range-topping ES 500e, the latter getting Lexus’ punchy DIRECT4 dual-motor setup. Lexus claims up to 685km of range (CLTC) for the 350e — perfect for a Byron run with minimal charging drama.

Outside, the ES sheds its old “spindle grille” in favour of a more refined “Spindle Body” design. The look is cleaner, the headlamps sharper, and the vibe far more grown-up. It’s the sort of car that’d pull up to a boutique hotel and have the valet assume you’re a discreet billionaire art dealer.

Inside, it’s all about serenity and surprise. Lexus describes it as a “personalised sensory space,” and for once, the brochure doesn’t oversell it. Minimalist lines meet high-touch details like backlit buttons, layered materials, and a new “Sensory Concierge” that adjusts scent, lighting, temperature, and sound depending on your mood. Nico was thrilled to find multiple fragrance settings — “Finally, a car that gets me,” he murmured while sampling “Forest Breeze”.

The back seat could easily outshine most luxury lounges. With power-reclining ottoman seats, massage functions, and rear-seat entertainment, it’s a plush hideaway on wheels. Casper curled up in back, slipped on the provided slippers (okay, his own), and declared it “more relaxing than the Qantas First lounge, and they’ve got champagne.”

Max was quick to inspect the undercarriage for tow ratings and off-road chops. “No tow bar?” he asked, squinting at the spec sheet. “What am I supposed to do, look fabulous at a vineyard opening?” (Well… yes, Max.)

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ABOVE: All New Lexus ES

Travis, ever the practical tradie with a weakness for matte finishes and rum, was more interested in the colour chart. “Reckon it comes in matte black?” he asked, already imagining one slammed on aftermarket wheels. “If it’s too shiny, I’ll look like I borrowed me boss’s ride.”

Then came Laya de Campe, in a cloud of glitter and sass, sliding into the driver’s seat like she was slipping into a silk slip. “Darling, this interior is giving tranquil opulence,” she declared, adjusting the ambient lighting to ‘Twilight’ and selecting a scent called ‘Velvet Woods’. “If this car had cheekbones, I’d date it. And if Lexus doesn’t let me launch it in a floor-length cape, I swear I’ll throw a stiletto.”

Underneath, Lexus has revised the suspension geometry, added frequency-sensitive dampers, and even included rear-wheel steering on some models. So while it’s no Nürburgring assassin, it’s far more agile than you’d expect from a car that prides itself on whispering through traffic.

The 2025 ES will make its way to Australia sometime next year. Pricing and local specs are still to come, but what’s clear is this: the new ES doesn’t shout — it doesn’t need to. It glides in, turns heads, and leaves behind a scent of confidence… and maybe just a hint of “Cashmere Mist”.

ES main specifications⁵

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