Lexus brings in all-new ES 350

MANILA, Philippines - It was not too long ago when I wrote an article about my fantastic experience driving the all-new 2013 Lexus ES 350 in Newport, Oregon, USA—last June 6, to be exact. Now, it has finally arrived in the country, and we are fortunate to be one of the first countries in the world to launch it!

“The ES has always been a favorite for the country’s top executives,” pointed out Alfred Ty, Chairman of Lexus Manila, in his opening speech at the media launch of the ES in its Global City showroom last Wednesday. “This group of discriminating car lovers finds its medium size just the right fit. Not bulky and yet enough room for the executive to enjoy and be seen in,” he explained.

The breakthrough here is how the 2013 ES 350 is now on a completely different platform. The previous five generations of the ES had all been built on the Camry platform, while this current generation ES struts an all-new development concept: Neo-Luxury and Neo-Smart. Its new exterior design even has a name: El Finesse.

“Integrating the patented spindle grill, this generation is more than just a facelift; it is a new platform and with that, a whole new luxury experience,” said Ty.

The new exterior design features a lower profile and distinctive proportions. Its overall width and height remain roughly the same as its predecessors, but the vehicle is an inch longer. That extra inch goes a long way, as the car’s wheelbase has also been increased by 1.8 inches, dramatically increasing rear knee- and legroom. The 2013 ES also offers the largest space in its class.

Inside the ES 350 is another wonderful story—it is an interior that is truly lavish, with its handmade, real-wood steering wheel, flat floors in the back (that make sitting in the rear middle not the least bit annoying), and hand-stitched upholstered dashboard that were skillfully labored on by Japanese ‘takumi’ or master craftsmen, whose rigorous training has long been more than a legend. Its cool Optitron gauges also add swag, and the main information display is located directly within the driver’s line of sight.

Meanwhile, the 8-way-adjustable power seat is standard, with its downward seat range now increased. The front seat support and foam is now redesigned to further reduce driver fatigue over long drives, and the NuLuxe seating surfaces are made from materials with low environmental impact. Interiors are available in Black, Light Gray, and Ivory, while trim color for the ES is Espresso Bird’s-eye Maple.

“Most definitely, the features and the size of the ES can go toe-to-toe with other luxury makes, with spare change to enjoy,” exclaimed a very confident Ty.

The 2013 ES 350 will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with Dual VVT-i that can deliver 346 Nm of peak torque at 4,700rpm. Its class-top fuel consumption can be partly attributed to its 6-speed sequential-shift automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i). Other factors that increase its fuel efficiency are its low-friction materials and thoughtful details such as the little fins located on its side mirrors that reduce drag, the tiny fins on the car’s rear turn signal lens; and the smart undercar fairings that reduce wind drag underneath.

The car also features a Drive Mode selector, that allows you to choose between Normal (a blend of performance and efficiency), Eco (reduces throttle response to the pressure applied on the pedal) and Sport (increases powertrain and steering responsiveness). It sports a stiffer body and quicker steering gear ratio to deliver a more responsive and direct steering feel.

Another signature feature of Lexus is its noise-reduced interior cabin. In the 2013 ES, a film is inserted between the layers of the car’s acoustic windshield and side glass to reduce outside noise and provide top-notch isolated ride quality.

When it comes to safety, the 2013 ES sets the standard with 10 airbags, including driver and front passenger knee, front and seat-mounted air bags, together with rear seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags. It also has an impressive Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) feature that limits excessive head movement in rear-end collisions.

And the best news? Lexus has maintained its manufacturing costs of the new ES 350 despite its various improvements. It will be sold locally with a price tag of P3,338,000.