ESPORT FOR SPORTY PALATES

In a bid to woo younger buyers to the ES, Lexus has added an F Sport version to its new fighter for the executive saloon market. However, it isn’t being considered for the Thai market at the moment. Key elements that distinguish

the F Sport from the regular model,

as tested in the main story, include a mesh-style front grille, racy interior appointments and an additional Sport+ driving mode to stiffen the

suspension.

The most potent front-wheeldrive ES so far comes with a renewed drivetrain. Badged ES350,

the current range- topper has a more powerful 300hp 3.5-litre V6

thanks to new direct injection and an eight-speed torque-converter

automatic replacing the older sixspeed unit.

Lexus engineers say the new GA-K architecture underpinning the ES can accommodate all-wheel

drive to potentially make way for an even more powerful flagship. Lexus refuses to go on record

about the seventh- gen ES also forming as the replacement for the

aging brand global GS. has model However, said that that will, Toyota’s the for ES the will upscale first be a

time, Japan, be as available well. in Europe and

An engineer pointed out that some 80% of customers don’t know

the driven wheels in their cars,

which is why Lexus is allegedly phasing out the rear-wheel drive GS from its global lineup. Although the GS is a genuine

competitor to the BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF and Mercedes-Benz

E-Class, Lexus is confident that the renewed ES should adequately

provide a satisfying driving

experience.

Other rivals, like the Audi A6 and Volvo S90, are front-drivers, although both have all-wheel drive

in higher-performing variances. The S90, in particular, uses all four driven wheels to handle a 400hpplus plug- in hybrid.