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First Announcement of the Show Gives Us 272HP ES 350
Continuing its relationship to the Toyota Camry (introduced in January at the Detroit show), the fifth-generation ES was introduced in the Windy City in February. It arrives in dealers in April 2006 as an early 2007 entry and is spun off an all-new platform. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific correspondents were on hand to get the news. Lexus has also launched a web site for customers to get their first look at the latest ES 350.

More Power, More Luxury, More Interior Space
The ES gets updated with just about all the latest bells and whistles, excepting the innovative all-new stuff on the LS 460, as well as more interior space, specifically for the rear passengers. Adding more stuff and more room means more weight, and there is a new engine to give the ES a boost in that department as well.

With the 2007MY,the ES gets a new 3.5L DOHC 24v V6 delivering 272HP through a six-speed automatic transmission. Lexus estimates fuel economy in the 25 mpg range for mixed driving and expects a ULEV II rating, despite the higher horsepower and displacement. Though both the ES and Camry offer the 3.5L V6, Camry only gets 258HP. The ES remains the more powerful of the two.
Leave the Sport to IS, GS; ES Continues Comfortable, Luxury Style
As was also true of the previous generation (2002-2006MY), the ES is focused on luxury amenities more so than a luxury sporting driving experience, leaving the GS and IS to fill the demand for driver’s cars. As such, the ES packs as many luxury features as possible for its price point.

Along with plenty of premium wood, polished metal, and leather accents, many of the luxury features introduced over the past several years are incorporated into the latest ES. The interior benefits from the extra two inches in wheelbase and inch in length that the switch to a new platform provided, and Lexus designed the interio r for a simple and pleasurable driving experience.
While the ES does not appear to break any new ground in terms of available luxury conveniences, new ground has not traditionally been the forte of this particular model line. We may hesitate to call it boring, but Lexus has been successful ensuring the ES leans toward the comfortable end of the spectrum, and this includes keeping up with leading luxury features, but not necessarily breaking ahead of the pack with new, cutting-edge features.
On the new luxury convenience features list are SmartAccess keyless entry and push-to-start ignition, dual-zone climate control, lighted front cupholders, adaptive front headlights, HID lights, dynamic cruise control, optional panoramic as well as standard power sunroof, color-screen rear back-up camera (with navigation), and an optional Mark Levinson audio system that can play DVD and CD audio (or movies when the car is parked). Steering-wheel-mounted controls allow the driver to control audio, trip computer, and a voice control switch for Bluetooth navigation. While the ES is not the leading-edge product that the LS is, nor does it offer the same laundry list of luxury features, the new-for-2007MY iteration doesn’t leave much of anything off the available list.

Airbags and Safety
The fifth-generation ES gets ten standard airbags, including smart front airbags, knee bags for driver and front passenger, side-curtain airbags for both rows, and seat-mounted side airbags for front passengers, with only rear-seat side-curtain airbags on the options list. Standard electronic aids include vehicle stability control and traction control. The new traction control system uses both braking and throttle input to control wheelspin.
Styling: Lexus Personality.
As with prior models, when comparing the Camry and ES350 side-by-side, one can see similarities in their shapes. The Lexus gets a unique grille, headlights, and taillights. Both models are more expressive than their predecessors and share a long hood, pulled-back cabin, and short rear deck.

Styling Counterpoint
The Lexus ES has always been very derivative of the facing Toyota Camry model and this ES is no exception. While Lexus brass touts the new ES as better than the original LS flagship (and we cannot contradict that statement), they try to delude themselves that the car looks really different with its new “L-Finesse” styling. Well, we had been expecting a slightly more radical departure with the ES than the new car actually delivered. The ES350 may be on a substantially upgraded platform, but its stylng continues to slowly evolve from its predecessor. Sure, it looks more modern and a little more advanced, but, frankly, it’s getting difficult to tell one Lexus from the other.