Lexus will continue its long battle against luxury saloon heavyweights the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 when the eighth-generation version of the ES arrives in showrooms early in 2026.

First unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in April and shown for the first time in European specification during a Toyota Group multi-model reveal event in Brussels, the new ES will replace the current model which in 2018 was the first to be sold in Europe, though the ES has been popular in the USA for many years.

It is the first model built on a new platform accommodating both electric and hybrid drivetrains as part of the Lexus ‘multi-path’ strategy and the second of three new electric vehicles from Lexus, following the significantly updated new RZ SUV revealed in March, and another model set to be revealed early in 2026 – details of this are still under wraps.

The new platform houses the battery entirely under the vehicle floor for a low centre of gravity and handling improvements as a result, while the motor, inverter and power control unit are combined within in a single component, reducing weight and enabling a better design of cabin space.

The new ES boasts a more distinctive visual treatment and for the first time a pair of full-electric variants alongside the hybrids offered with its predecessor. “We wanted to deliver more than an update, a genuine step up in refinement, comfort, performance and user experience,” Lexus product team member Ayse Ert told Motor Trade News.

Buyers will have two full-electric ES versions to choose from: the ES 350e with front-wheel drive and a 224hp output, and the all-wheel-drive 500e with 343hp. The 350e employs a 77kWh battery expected to produce an 8.2-second 0-62mph time while the 500e uses a 75kWh unit and accelerates to 62mph in 5.7 seconds. Both are said to be targeting a range of 300 miles and can make use of 250kW DC charging for a 10 to 80% replenishment in 30 minutes.

The 300h, meanwhile, will be available with a hybrid powertrain of 201hp, combining a petrol engine of 2.5 litres and both front and all-wheel drive options, though it is yet to be confirmed if either or both of these will come to the UK. There will be a fourth 350h hybrid of 247hp but this won’t be sold in Western European markets.

Updates to the new ES include a new ‘Clean x Tech’ exterior and interior design theme, intended to be simple and flowing. Typical of this philosophy is the driver’s environment. “It is smooth and uncluttered,” Ert said; “all of the necessary switches are still there but this is the first Lexus to use a ‘Hidden Switches’ feature which conceals the controls beneath the dashboard upholstery. The moment you switch the car on they reveal themselves.”

The multimedia system is also new to the Lexus line-up, its 14-inch display the largest screen yet offered, promising faster response times and improved functions. The brand also claims to have further improved the overall quality and refinement of the car to “first class standards”, extending to such additions as an Ottoman leg rest ahead of the rear seats and a bespoke Mark Levinson audio system Wirth 17 speakers offering full surround sound.

“the new ES maximises the benefits that are integral to electrified vehicles,”Ert said, adding; “it perfectly represents our multi-path approach with its choice of powertrains full BEV and hybrid.”

Lexus will announce the UK specification and pricing for the new ES ahead of its showroom launch.