8th-gen Lexus ES bows in China

The new Lexus ES ditches the traditional IC engine in favor of hybrid and all-electric powertrains. The version seen here is a Shanghai expo prototype, but an international release is planned for the second half of 2025.

The sedan still runs on the TNGA GA-K chassis, but is 165 mm (6.5 in) longer with a 80 mm (3.1 in) larger wheelbase. It’s also 55 mm (2.1 in) wider and roughly 110 mm (4.3 in) taller, with the EV being marginally taller than the hybrid. Absolute dimensions (L/W/H and wheelbase) now amount to 5,140 x 1,920 x 1,555 mm and 2,950 mm. This translates into 200.8 x 75 x 60.7 inches with 115.2 inches between the axles.

The entry-level ES 300h spec uses a 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated engine with 197 PS (194 hp / 145 kW) at the output end. Opting for 350h instead gives you 2.5 liters of displacement and either 201 PS (198 hp / 148 kW) or 247 PS (244 hp / 182 kW), depending on whether you want a turbo or not. All these variants are obtainable in FWD or AWD flavors.

Should you prefer a battery-electric ES, the 350e spec has 224 PS (221 hp / 165 kW) going to the front axle. It also has the best range in the lineup with 685 km (425 miles). The 500e sends 342 PS (337 hp / 252 kW) to both ends. It runs dry after 610 km (379 miles), though, due to increased power consumption.

Hybrid ranges are pending. For the acceleration, we know that the cheapest ES hybrid takes a slugging 9.4 seconds to get from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph). The dual-motor EV is the fastest of the bunch with a 5.9-second sprint time.