Hyundai Wants To Cut Their Product Design Cycle By Half

2026 Lexus launches their first ever ES four-door sedan as a BEV, to be joined later in the year by a hybrid. The Lexus ES will come in two models, the 350e Front-Wheel-Drive and the 500e All-Wheel-Drive. Both models will be available in two trims, Premium and Luxury. The Lexus ES 350e FWD will start with a base MSRP of $47,500 and an EPA-estimated range of 307 miles. Let's dig into what the eighth-generation Lexus ES will offer by model and trim: Standard Equipment: All Models Latest Lexus Interface Debuts with 14-in. Touchscreen and 12.3-in. Multi-Information Display Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 (LSS+ 4.0) Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian detection Rear Pedestrian detection Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist Intersection Turn Assist DRCC or Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Eco-mode Lane Tracing Assist Lane Changing Assist Lane Departure Alert with Steering Road Sign Assist Intelligent High Beams Proactive Driving Assist Traffic Jam Assist Front Cross-traffic Alert FCTA 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery Standard NACS charging port Lexus will include a CCS to NACS plug adapter allowing owners to access over 76,000 level 2 & 3 chargers nationwide with CCS charging cords. 11 kW AC charger controller Level 2 charger for charging to 80% in 7hrs Level 3 charger for charging to 80% in 28 minutes Dual Voltage Level 1 and 2 charging cable 2026 ES 350e and ES 500e include Plug & Charge capability with an active Remote Connect* trial or subscription which allows owners/lessees to initiate charging and payment at compatible public charging networks simply by plugging in after a one-time enrollment setup through the Lexus app. L-shaped LED running lights sit above Dual LED headlights and flank a pinched surface evocative of Lexus' spindle grille design and a prominent body shoulder line rises from behind the front wheels to meet the wraparound LED Blade taillamp with illuminated logo 2026 ES dimensions Exterior 3.1 inches longer wheelbase 2.2 inches wider width 6.5 inches longer length 4.5 inches in height Interior Front seat headroom .8 inches larger Rear seat headroom .4 inches larger Rear seat leg room 1.4 inches longer Front seat shoulder room 1.6 inches larger Front seat hip room 1.9 inches larger Front and rear seat hip ingress and egress is enhanced due to higher entry points 19-inch standard aluminum wheels Optional 21-inch wheels in various styles depending on model. OTA via 5G network Wireless device charger Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Smart Access keyless entry Active Drive Connect subscription Cloud Navigation Intelligent Assistant Remote Connect Safety Connect Service Connect Wi-Fi Connect The 2026 Lexus ES has emphasized a clean technology with elegance approach and as such they have gone with using capacitive touch buttons and bars to provide tactile feedback as they shift towards a streamline, tech driven luxury experience according to Lexus. ES 350e FWD Premium 221-hp permanent magnet synchronous electric motor powering the front wheel 10-speaker Lexus Premium Sound System Optional knee-level radiant heater for the driver and front-seat passenger ES 350e FWD Luxury 221-hp permanent magnet synchronous electric motor powering the front wheel Optional Executive package Upgrades the ES' rear outboard seats with power adjustments, heating and ventilation functions, a massage feature, and an ottoman on the passenger side Advanced Park with Remote Park Panoramic View Monitor 17-speaker 1,800-watt Mark Levinson® PurePlay Surround Sound System Auto Easy Close soft-close door latching and Digital Key 2.0 capability Knee-level radiant heater for the driver and front-seat passenger standard Dual Wireless Chargers Cold Area Package ES 500e AWD Premium 221-hp front motor, 118-hp permanent magnet synchronous electric motor to the rear axle for a combined net total output of 338 hp 0-60 mph 5.1 seconds 10-speaker Lexus Premium Sound System Optional knee-level radiant heater for the driver and front-seat passenger ES 500e AWD Luxury 221-hp front motor, 118-hp permanent magnet synchronous electric motor to the rear axle for a combined net total output of 338 hp 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds Optional Executive package Upgrades the ES' rear outboard seats with power adjustments, heating and ventilation functions, a massage feature, and an ottoman on the passenger side Advanced Park with Remote Park Panoramic View Monitor 17-speaker 1,800-watt Mark Levinson® PurePlay Surround Sound System Auto Easy Close soft-close door latching and Digital Key 2.0 capability Knee-level radiant heater for the driver and front-seat passenger standard Dual Wireless Chargers Cold Area Package ES 350h Hybrid: Details to Date Lexus' sixth-generation gas-electric hybrid system powering either the front wheels or, with available all-wheel drive (AWD), all four wheels. Hybrid battery beneath the rear seat Toyota has stated that more details closer to release later in the year but pricing was announced. Toyota has stated the following EPA-estimated total driving range per full charge: ES350e with 19-inch standard wheels 307 miles ES350e with 21-inch optional wheels 292 miles ES500e with 19-inch standard wheels 276 miles ES500e with 21-inch optional wheels 272 miles 2026 Lexus ES Pricing Model Code Model Name MSRP* 9030 ES 350e Premium $48,795 9035 ES 500e Premium AWD $51,795 9032 ES 350e Luxury $57,195 9037 ES 500e Luxury AWD $60,195 9020 ES 350h Premium $50,995 9025 ES 350h Premium AWD $52,395 9021 ES 350h Premium+ $55,795 9026 ES 350h Premium+ AWD $57,195 *Prices listed include $1,295 Delivery, Processing, and Handling fee (DPH) for ES, which is subject to change at any time. Dealer price will vary. Style is a personal issue as some will find this polarizing, others will love it. Lexus keeps a four-door sedan on the lot for those that want a car over an SUV. For a point of comparison at the top of the Lexus lineup, see our Review: 2019 Lexus LS 500 F-Sport. More Lexus ES Coverage All-New 2026 Lexus ES Gets Electrification On All Models Review: 2019 Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Avalon Hybrid View full article

We're expecting the US version to debut tomorrow along with another Kia crossover. 

Good looking SUV for those wanting a reasonable priced compact SUV in ICE.

My total thought is on the fact that so many others including idiot politicians and the administration are currently saying that once the war ends all will go back to the way it was and people are stupid enough to think it true when we know that rebuilding will take time and costs are only going up.

The oil companies know that the price of oil is a balancing act. They are the one industry that wants it high, but not too high.  Too high is what causes the boom and bust cycle not only in their industry but in the economy as a whole.  They also know that if they push people into EVs, chances are they aren't getting those customers back.  With EV prices getting closer to parity with each passing product cycle and charging locations expanding rapidly, they know this is a bad situation for them.  EVEN IF the US continues to lag behind the rest of the planet on EVs, losing India and South America to EVs could cause a cascade effect on them.  The Chinese EVs are already in those markets too.  The US might be the largest consumer of oil, but if we are the primary buyers costs will go up for us pushing more Americans to EVs.