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Lexus ES 350
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Comments
Afterall, it can't be overshadowed by the less expensive Avalon, Camry V6, and RAV4.
The Avalon isn't a problem, but the Camry V6 could be. An ES has to be putting out more power than a Camry so people can justify paying more for the Lexus edition
Every new Lexus has debuted using the new 6-speed. Wouldn't that also be a way to differentiate it from the Camry V-6 ?
That didn't mean that Lexus TRUCKS won't still share parts with Toyotas.
Which means a Highlander based next generation RX is very, very possible.
I'm about to buy a 2006 and would not be happy to have Lexus into a new style in 2007.
Thanks
~alpha
You could get a lease a 2006 for 3 years then at the lease end go into a 2008-2009 ES at a heavy discount and save on both cars rather than paying the premium to get a 2007 while it is the new, hot model.
Have you thought about leasing a ES330 on a 3 year lease, and then buy a 2008-2009 model at invoice? You'll be driving the latest design still for 3-4 years.
~alpha
http://img433.imageshack.us/img433/589/newescovered4pn.jpg
What's up on the Future section of Edmunds is a Camry listed as a Lexus ES.
2007 Lexus ES?
The only show they will release the ES and Camry will be Detroit show. And they are still the same car. 268Hp Avalon engine, also on Rav 4, Camry, ES, RX, and later on Sienna and highlander.
Camry I-4 Hybrid should be earlier than summer, since it should be made in Japan first and imported.
So badge kits are popular. You get the slanted L, and the ES330 badge.
They are cosmetically exact, except for the badges and the logo on the steering wheel.
So the only way to tell is to peek inside at the steering wheel, or get a glance at the license plate if they got the plates from the only Lexus dealer in Hong Kong- Crown Motor Cars. The Toyota ones will say Toyota, Crown Motors, and the Lexus ones will say Lexus, Crown Motors.
They also sell a Toyota Harrier and a Lexus RX300 (they used the old 3.0L for some reason) side by side in the same dealership, both cosmetically identical. The badge kits are also popular.
So in Japan they might keep the Windom, for all we know.
It's the ES, just not exactly as it will debut. The profile and shape is correct, the back end is not what I would expect. The wheels are probably very close to what will debut.
No matter how we look at things, Lexus is still made by Toyota.
If a person decides to wait for the price of the 2006s to drop (which I think it will), I know Toyota enough to know that selection will be very limited, particularly as it gets closer to the 2007 appearing on dealer lots. You may not be able to find the options you want if you wait for the 2006 price to drop.
But cosmetically they're IDENTICAL. From the grille to the dashboard design to the wheels.
Hence why the badge kits are highly popular. Nobody can tell the difference unless they sit behind the wheel.
Heres the Toyota Windom:
http://www.in.gr/auto/news/images/big/in_Toyota_Windom_01.jpg
I don't know why they sell them side by side.
Maybe they've discontinued it now that Lexus is becoming prominent in Hong Kong. Not sure.
But I have seen Windoms on the streets with ES300 badges and I have seen actual ES300s out there from the same generation. (the current one)
The only way I see the ES going global as a Lexus is if it becomes AWD.
Will the ES get an AWD variant?
Which is why I said "2007." And yes, the upcoming ES hybrid will come in FWD and AWD iterations.
No news there about loosing market share, it's been a steady erosion. All you need to do is look at the sales figures for the ES on a monthly basis. The same thing happened to the old Avalon, now the sales are exploding with a new design...
The current ES is "dated" by today's design standards, who'd buy it compared to the makes you mentioned?
So far we've only seen one decent digital rendering of what the car might look like. The tail lights are overly exagerated to throw you off but the shape and styling should be accurate. I would anticipate Lexus to copy the rear end styling of a BMW 5 series to some extent...
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6493/newesrear9hi.jpg
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/9282/5seriesrear9df.png
Based on what?
More likely than not the drawing is completely bogus.
We've consistently seen over time the backdoor way Toyota releases information on new models. A journalist is allowed to see the new design but can't take photos. What results are drawings that are really close but off just ever so much. We saw it with the IS and recently with the LF-SH....There were plenty of renderings floating about, none were exact but most were really close in one way or another. Look at each one and you get the overall picture.
The ES drawing came from Mag-X.
Define "bogus"? Yea it's not a photo of the actual car, it's a rendition done by someone who has seen the real deal. Close enough at this point unless you have something better.
Everything about this image clicks for me (except for the back end). We'll know for sure in a few months when they take the wraps off the ES. My gut tells me this one is very close.
Now that LF-SH is out I like to go back and compare all renderings to the real deal, almost every one of them has similar styling to the real car.
All you need to do is look at the 5 series and you'll know what they're shooting for on the ES.
5 Series
Future ES?
I expect Lexus to copy the 5 series rear. They copied the 7 series with the LF-SH....
I see it in the S-Class interior, and in the trunk lid.
If BMW made a rear-end like that, no one would call it "Bangle-ized". Apples and Oranges.
DrFill
LF-SH
7 Series
And the production LS should have chrome exhaust finishers that are visible.
Lexus has corrected another market mistake.
Nice try, though.
DrFill