The mid-sized executive sedan debuts Lexus’s new design direction—Clean Tech x Elegance. The sheet metal is inspired by the LF-ZC concept with its spindle shape that extends from the hood to the bumper corners. The ES gets the new Twin L-Signature Lamps which act as inward-facing DRLs and outward-facing turn signal lamps at the same time. The difference between the hybrid and BEV version is down to the grille with the former receiving a slim upper grille for cooling. The main headlights, meanwhile, are now integrated into the blacked out bumper corners. Over to the side, the overall profile has been sharpened with a fastback-like profile, while the rear-end now has slim full-width taillights and L-Signature lamps in the bumper corners.

Inside, Lexus has designed its all-new ES with the Chinese market in mind. In that regard, they’ve piled up on the tech with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a widescreen display that house both the 14-inch infotainment and an additional screen on the passenger side. A less screen heavy version is available which ditches the passenger side screen.

Below the center display is a row of controls for the climate control and certain vehicle functions which remain hidden until lit. They may look like capacitive switches, but offer a “click” when pressed for easier operation on the go. Also on offer are an electrochromic panoramic glass roof, a Mark Levinson surround sound system and a reclining rear seat option, the latter featuring a passenger-side ottoman and a one-touch folding front passenger seat to increase rear legroom.

The all-new Lexus ES draws plenty of inspiration from bamboo, including the new light green upholstery option and the 3D-printed layered trim with see-through thematic ambient illumination.

Per Lexus, the all-new ES’s spaciousness has been improved by extending the length by some 165 mm, with the wheelbase also growing by 80 mm.

Built on a redesigned TNGA-K platform (GA-K), the ES is available with two hybrid powerplants. The ES 300h pairs a 2.0 liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a total system output of 197 horsepower, with all-wheel-drive versions instead gaining a 2.5-liter for a total of 201 horsepower. Meanwhile, the ES 350h gets an uprated 2.5-liter powertrain with a total output of 247 horsepower.

New to the ES family is a pair of fully electric powertrains. The front-wheel drive ES350e produces 224 horsepower and has a range of around 685 kilometers, while the ES 500e delivers dual-motor all-wheel drive and 343 horsepower, with a slightly shorter range of 610 kilometers.

Handling has been improved thanks to a new rear suspension and further refinements to its body and structure to sharpen its steering and responses.

The Lexus ES is also the first model to gain Lexus Safety System+ 4.0. Among the new features include eco function for the adaptive cruise control, navigation-based curve speed reduction, smoother lane change assist, increased junction support for the autonomous emergency braking, a camera-based driver attention monitor, an emergency stop assist, and high-definition adaptive high beam.