Updated Lexus ES due later this year

Lexus will launch an updated version of the ES saloon before the end of 2021.

The new model is said to be quieter and more comfortable but will also provide enhanced driveability thanks to suspension and brake upgrades.

Styling changes are minimal and include a new grille and re-designed headlights. There’s also a new selection of alloy wheels.

A stiffer rear suspension setup promises “more linear” steering responses, which should lead to a more confident feel when changing direction at higher speeds.

The brake pedal has also been reshaped, in conjunction with other measures to reduce vibration, and the braking system’s control unit has been reprogrammed to give drivers more control.

In the ES F Sport model, a new actuator has been introduced in the Adaptive Variable Suspension, together with redesigned internals to expand the range of damping force, improving ride comfort, steering response and stability.

The ES will also adopt Lexus’s BladeScan Adaptive High-beam System, giving more accurate lighting control and wider forward illumination from the LED headlights.

Updates to the Lexus Safety System+ include active safety and driver assistance improvements, including Emergency Steering Assist and better lane recognition performance.

The Pre-Collision Safety system will additionally detect pedestrians during night-time driving and bicycle riders during daylight and will provide Intersection Turn Assist to help guard against collisions with oncoming traffic, or with pedestrians crossing the vehicle’s path when making a turn at a junction.

The new Lexus ES range will go on sale in the UK in late 2021. Details of specifications and prices will be announced nearer the time of introduction.