Lexus ES300H News

Lexus Australia will release its new ES300h mid-size sedan this month, available exclusively with hybrid powertrains and offered in just two grades, Luxury and Sports Luxury.

Lexus is claiming a production-car world first with the imminent introduction of rear-view cameras in place of conventional wing mirrors on its new ES large sedan that will go on sale in Japan next month.The cameras on door-mounted arms – in a similar fashion to regular mirrors – transmit images to two 5.0-inch screens inside the cabin at the bottom of each A-pillar.Audi has also signaled its intention to introduce the digital mirror system on its Audi e-tron SUV, but Lexus will beat the German company to the punch by putting it into production first.Lexus has no plans to introduce the re-imagined mirror set-up outside Japan, but the move might put pressure on road safety legislators to change rules that deem this technology unroadworthy.In Australia, the regulations would have to change before mirrors of this kind are to become commonly available, with Australian Design Rules (ADR) requiring mirrors with specific design parameters.In theory, Lexus could apply for an exemption to the rule, although the Japanese carmaker has given no indication it will try.Audi also might have to revert to conventional mirrors for e-tron when it arrives in Australia in the second half of next year. Alternative mirrors have been a common feature on concept cars in the past decade, but road safety administrators have deemed latency issues and low-light performance make them less effective than regular wing mirrors.Lexus says its camera shape resists raindrops and snow, giving a clearer rear view while also reducing wind noise and providing a less obstructed view through the side windows."The system automatically enhances the corresponding area – left, right or behind – when the turn signals are activated, or when the transmission is put into reverse," it says. "The view of areas around the car can be manually enhanced by the driver to obtain complete peripheral awareness of the area around the vehicle."

Lexus has revealed its new seventh-generation ES luxury mid-size sedan ahead of its public debut at next week's Beijing motor show.

The mid-size ES sedan has been given a touch of Lexus Finesse.

Lexus has reintroduced the ES nameplate to Australia, with an all-new four-model lineup that undercuts the previous ES by up to $12,500.Sitting between between the existing Lexus IS and GS lineups, the new ES range defies Lexus convention by pricing the new ES 300h hybrid variants beneath the petrol-only ES 350 by $2000 across Luxury and Luxury Sports trim levels.“The decision to lead ES pricing with the hybrid is a result of higher consumer demand and the commercialisation of hybrid technology,” Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley says.“More than 30 per cent of Lexus customers locally choose hybrid as their preferred drivetrain and we believe ES will grow that proportion as we edge ever closer to our goal of 50 per cent hybrid.”The ES 300h Luxury kicks off the range at $63,000, with the Sports Luxury grade commanding a $9000 premium for either driveline – topping off with the ES 350 Sports Luxury at $74,000.The previous fourth-generation ES exited the Australian market in 2006 with its single-spec priced at $76,500, and the new model follows its predecessors with a mid-sized body and front-wheel drivetrain.Australia missed out on the fifth-generation ES range due to a lack of right-hand drive availability, and Lexus Australia lobbied hard to plug the resulting gap in their lineup with the new model."Over the past seven years, luxury vehicle customers have been looking for a vehicle like ES and we are happy to welcome them to the Lexus family," Hanley added.The price-leading ES 300h Luxury comes with partial leather trim, satnav, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, glass sunroof, 10 airbags, eight-speaker audio, proximity keys, air-purifying dual zone climate control, digital radio, Lexus Remote Touch driver interface, multiple drive mode selection and 17 inch alloys. A $3000 Enhancement Pack is available for the entry ES 300h Luxury, which adds a Pre-Collision safety system and active cruise control.These features are standard on the rest of the ES lineup, with Sport Luxury versions of both models also gaining semi-aniline leather trim, three-zone climate control, HID headlamps, unique 17 inch alloys, 15-speaker Mark Levinson Audio, heated front and rear seats with ventilation on the fronts, powered boot lid, manual side sun shades, rear centre armrest-mounted ventilation, audio and sunroof controls.Both models come with a full-size alloy spare wheel, with the ES 350’s 490L boot dropping to 420L for the ES 300h, and losing the petrol models' ski port boot access. ES 300h hybrid models are powered by a 151kW transversely-mounted version of the 2.5-Litre four cylinder petrol-electric drivetrain fitted to the smaller IS 300h with a six-step CVT auto. Petrol-only ES 350 models come with a 204kW 3.5-Litre V6 -- as seen in the RX 350 SUV – tied to a six-speed torque converter automatic.Lexus is yet to confirm official fuel figures for the new ES lineup, but both ES 300h models qualify for the Luxury Car Tax exemption for fuel-efficient vehicles. Full details will be available after the official launch in early November.PRICINGLexus ES 300h Luxury – $63,000Lexus ES 300h Sports Luxury - $72,000Lexus ES 350 Luxury – $65,000Lexus ES 350 Sports Luxury - $74,000 This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn