Lexus ES 350 και ES 300h Hybrid [w/video]

Η Lexus παρουσίασε το ανανεωμένο ES 2012 στην έκθεση της Νέας Υόρκης. Το αυτοκίνητο βασίζεται πάνω στο Toyota Camry και διαθέτει νέο μπροστά προφυλακτήρα, την νέα χαρακτηριστική γρίλια της Lexus καθώς και LED φωτιστικά σώματα. Πίσω, η ES 350 διαθέτει διπλές απολήξεις των εξατμίσεων, ενώ η ES 300h Hybrid νέο πίσω προφυλακτήρα με τις απολήξεις των εξατμίσεων να μην φαίνονται. Και τα δύο μοντέλα πατάνε πάνω σε 17″ ζάντες αλουμινίου με ελαστικά χαμηλής τριβής.

Το εσωτερικό του έχει επανασχεδιαστεί πλήρως με καλύτερης ποιότητας υλικά και διαθέτει καθίσματα NuLuxe, νέα κεντρική κονσόλα με έναν αφαιρούμενο αναλογικό ρολόι, νέο πίνακα οργάνων, το δεύτερης γενιάς Remote Touch Interface σύστημα ενημέρωσης και ψυχαγωγίας καθώς και ξύλινα και μεταλλικά διακοσμητικά. Διαθέτει σύστημα ήχου Mark Levinson, σύστημα ειδοποίησης τυφλού σημείου και σύστημα ειδοποίησης διασταυρώσεων.

Μηχανικά το ES 350 φορά τον V6 3.5-λίτρων Dual VVT-i απόδοσης 310 ίππων με 375 Nm ροπής, ο οποίος συνδυάζεται με ένα αυτόματο 6-τάχυτο κιβώτιο ECT-i (Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence).

Το ES 300h Hybrid φορά τον 2.5-λιτρο τετρακύλινδρο Atkinson κινητήρα που συνδυάζεται με έναν ηλεκτροκινητήρα, έχοντας μέση κατανάλωση 5.88 λίτρα/100 χλμ και διαθέτει τρία προγράμματα λειτουργίας Normal, Eco και Sport. Οι πωλήσεις τους θα ξεκινήσουν μέσα στο έτος.

[Πηγή: Lexus]

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Lexus Unveils All-New 2013 ES 350 and First-Ever ES 300h Hybrid at New York International Auto Show

• Newest Expression of Lexus Signature Design
• Wheelbase Increased to Enhance Interior Roominess
• Improved Steering and Suspension Deliver Crisp, Confident Driving Experience

NEW YORK, April 4, 2012 – Lexus today unveiled the all-new 2013 ES lineup, including the ES 350 and ES 300h equipped with Lexus Hybrid Drive. Featuring a progressive new design and enhanced handling, the 2013 ES sedan is set to continue as a favorite of luxury car buyers.

“The Lexus ES brought new levels of refinement, sophistication and quality to the entry luxury segment when it entered the market in 1989, and through the years it has consistently been a sales leader for us,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “Now, with both gas and hybrid versions, the 2013 ES promises to lead Lexus forward once again.”

ES 350 Now Complemented by ES 300h Hybrid
For the first time, the Lexus ES will be available with Lexus Hybrid Drive. Featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine, the ES 300h hybrid is expected to earn an EPA fuel economy rating of approximately 40 mpg combined city/highway.

This new, low friction twin cam engine utilizes a sophisticated power management system, 12.5:1 compression ratio, and Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). The beltless motor is designed to improve fuel economy and durability, and a near zero evaporative fuel system helps reduce emissions.

The ES 300h hybrid offers the driver four modes: Normal, Sport, Eco and EV. EV mode allows short distance drives, at reduced speed, using only the power from the hybrid battery pack. Normal mode provides a blend of performance and efficiency that is suited to everyday driving, while Eco mode favors fuel economy. Sport mode increases powertrain responsiveness.

The ES 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with Dual VVT-i. The six-speed automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) provides enhanced performance, fuel efficiency and smooth shifts. Low friction materials further improve efficiency.

Signature Lexus Design
The new ES features a lower, progressive profile, and clean, continuous styling lines from front to rear. All four corners are pulled tightly inward to the wheel arches, creating distinctive proportions. The wheelbase of the new ES has been lengthened by 1.8 inches, while the overall length of the vehicle has grown by just one inch, resulting in a more spacious interior.

The new ES unmistakably bears the new face of Lexus with its distinctive, spindle grille. The LED daytime running lights and combination rear lamps reflect the “L” design motif. The ES 350’s rear bumper sports dual exhaust pipes, while the ES 300h hybrid features a distinctive rear design with hidden exhaust and an integrated spoiler. New exterior colors for the 2013 ES include Fire Agate Pearl and Silver Lining Metallic.

Interior Designed for Comfort and Spaciousness
The modern interior of the 2013 ES has been designed to provide both a sense of openness and security. Sightlines and visibility are improved, controls are logically placed, and new cabin materials express a high level of craftsmanship.

A newly sculptured seat enhances driver comfort. The steering wheel angle has been reduced from 24 degrees to 22 degrees for a more natural control position. Fluid-filled engine mounts, new sound absorbing materials and a tuned engine intake minimize the intrusion of outside noise.

Greater rear seat legroom and knee room are the hallmark of the redesigned, more spacious cabin. Knee room is increased by 2.8 inches and legroom is increased by 4.1 inches. The new design also offers additional foot room below the front seats.

Available comfort and convenience features include manual door window shades, a power rear shade, and a one-touch power trunk closer. Optional ambient lighting, discretely placed under the wood trim, softly illuminates the surfaces of the instrument panel and all four doors.

The new ES will feature enhanced NuLuxe seating surfaces, developed to reduce environmental impact. Genuine leather is also available, as is semi-aniline leather for an even more refined look and feel. Interiors are available in Black, Light Gray, and Parchment. Trim colors and materials include Piano Black, Espresso Bird’s-eye Maple, and Bamboo.

Crisp, Confident Driving Dynamics
Suspension and steering changes and a stiffer body deliver more precise handling. Opposite-wound coil springs on the front suspension enhance straight-line stability. Revised rear suspension geometry and improved shock absorber damping characteristics enhance ride comfort. A reduction in the steering gear ratio delivers a more responsive and direct steering feel. Increased body rigidity is achieved through lightweight, high tensile strength steel, added bracing and additional spot welds. Despite its larger size, roomier interior and additional luxury appointments, the weight of the new ES is reduced by almost 90 pounds.

The ES will be equipped with standard 215/55R17 low rolling resistance tires on 17-inch alloy wheels, and for the first time, available 18-inch high-gloss alloy wheels.

Driver-Focused Cockpit
Designed with attention to ergonomics and driver focus, the cockpit features separate display and operation zones to help keep the driver’s eyes on the road. The instrument panel, with its long, layered look, places the main information display directly in the driver’s line of sight. Just below the center display is a self-illuminating LED analog clock. Controls are clustered beneath the information zone, on the steering wheel, and on the center console.

The second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) allows the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, optional navigation system and more. The screen menus are selected with a controller conveniently located on the center console. RTI reduces eye and hand movement, helping reduce effort and distraction.

Safety Features
An array of safety features aid the driver. The available Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) helps detect vehicles in side blind spots. The RCTA alerts the driver to rear cross traffic when backing out of a parking spot. Available Lane Departure Alert (LDA) is integrated with automatic high beam dimming technology. The available Pre-Collision System (PCS) uses sub-millimeter wave radar to detect obstructions and prepare the vehicle for a potential collision.

The ES features a segment-leading 10 airbags as standard equipment, including driver and front passenger knee and front air bags, as well as front and rear seat-mounted side and curtain airbags. Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) front seats are designed to limit excessive head movement in certain rear-end collisions helping to decrease the severity of whiplash-type injuries.

Lexus Safety Connect, including Enhanced Roadside Assistance, an Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), Stolen Vehicle Location services, and Automatic Collision Notification to a Safety Connect center is standard on the new ES. A one-year trial subscription for Safety Connect is included.

Lexus Multimedia
The new ES features the next-generation Lexus Enform® system. Lexus Enform® provides seamless connectivity with Bing™ search, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable®, Pandora®, Yelp® and Facebook Places through compatible smart phones. Apps are updated through over-the-air downloads, so new apps and content can be added as they become available. One-year trial subscriptions to Lexus Enform with Safety Connect and the Application Suite are included.

The standard Lexus Premium Sound System features eight speakers with Automatic Sound Levelizer, CD player, USB/iPod® connectivity, Bluetooth® and a SiriusXM receiver. The available Display Audio package adds a seven-inch screen, a backup camera, HD Radio™ with iTunes® tagging, Bluetooth audio, phone transfer, and a vehicle information display. The optional HDD Navigation System includes voice command and an integrated backup camera.

An available 15-speaker Mark Levinson® audio system features an eight-inch display screen, HD Radio™ with iTunes® tagging, DVD audio/video and a SiriusXM receiver. Exclusive GreenEdge technology from Mark Levinson doubles the output of the amplifier, while reducing energy consumption by fifty percent.

“The new Lexus ES 350 and ES 300h hybrid combine technology, style and performance to please current ES owners and attract new buyers,” said Templin. “With the addition of the ES 300h, Lexus truly offers something for everyone in the entry luxury segment.”

2012 NY Auto Show – 2013 Lexus ES Reveal

2012 New York International Auto Show
2013 Lexus ES/ES Hybrid Reveal
April 4, 2012
Mark Templin, Group Vice President and General Manager, Lexus Division, Toyota Motor Sales

Good morning …and thank you for joining us for the continuing saga of our 2012 Lexus product blitz.

This year …we’re introducing an unprecedented …9 new or updated vehicles …plus three F SPORT models.

And that number doesn’t even include the LF-LC coupe concept that we debuted in January at the Detroit auto show…which by the way…won the prestigious Eyes On Design award … a first for Lexus.

And … when we brought the coupe to the Chicago show…attendees voted it the best Concept vehicle.

The response we’ve gotten for this car is amazing.

People are always asking …‘when can I get my hands on that coupe?’

The simple answer is …well … you’ll have to wait and see.

After we unveiled our concept coupe …the all-new GS …arrived in dealerships in early February.

The response to this vehicle has been amazing …and it’s doing EXACTLY what we planned.

We’re already on pace for a seven-fold increase in annual sales…and it’s bringing new, younger buyers into the Lexus family.

According to early data…more than 40 percent of the GS buyers are under the age of 50…and 25 percent have chosen the F SPORT model.

True driving enthusiasts have taken notice…because it’s one fantastic performance car.

Also in February… a refreshed LX made its way to dealer showrooms… and it’s in high demand.

Then last month in Geneva …the world got its first glimpse of the new RX.

With its…sportier new look…updated interior design…and technology that our customers have been asking for…the RX will continue to be our volume leader.

In fact …the RX has been the top selling luxury SUV in America for 14 straight years.

Our owners love their RX’s…but when I talk to other luxury vehicle owners …they wish we offered an RX that was a little more …edgy.

Well …we heard them… and we responded.

Today … for the first time in North America … we’re pleased to introduce the all-new 2013 RX F-Sport.

This is NOT just an appearance package …it’s a full-fledged performance package that has…

• F-SPORT suspension tuning
• an 8-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters … making it faster from 0–to- 60 than the base RX
• AND it has better fuel economy.

The RX F-SPORT challenges preconceived notions about what a crossover SUV is all about.

The new 2013 RX models are in our display on the show floor.

So make sure to stop by and see all of our latest products…proudly wearing the bold new face of Lexus.

Now…let’s turn our attention to our newest offering… the all new ES.

The entry-luxury segment is getting more and more competitive as brands work to capture younger buyers…and those aspiring to move-up to luxury.

At Lexus … we have three distinct models for this segment …

• Our CT hybrid…that gets 42 MPG
• Our IS…that delivers engaging performance
• and our ES…that hits the sweet spot for…comfort, luxury and value.

The combined sales give Lexus a 17.2% share of the segment…making us the volume leader.

Since its introduction in 1989 … the ES has been the benchmark for…quality, reliability, ride comfort and value.

And now…it’s time to take it to a whole new level … ladies and gentlemen…the all-new ES.

This is no longer JUST an entry luxury car!

This ES is SO good…it can go toe-to-toe with cars in more expensive segments…like the Mercedes Benz E Class.

That’s how confident we are in this car!

It’s the same length and width…and has more interior space than the E Class.

They both have 3.5 liter engines…yet…the ES will cost THOUSANDS less!

And once you get a chance to drive the ES…you’ll experience its crisp, confident driving dynamics.

We’ve…

• redesigned the suspension system,
• increased body rigidity,
• and improved the steering to create more precise handling …without sacrificing ride comfort.

And like the CT and GS… the ES offers three distinct drive modes…Eco, Normal and Sport …allowing the driver to customize their experience.

Now …take a closer look at the new cabin …

• it’s roomier …and with a longer wheel base … it has 4.1 inches of additional leg room for rear-seat passengers
• it’s more premium
• it’s contemporary
• there’s a larger display screen
• and advanced LED accent lighting.

It’s truly a class-up interior that was designed to provide ease of use and a sense of openness and security.

When it comes to safety features…the ES is loaded. It has…

• a segment- leading 10 airbags
• new, whiplash injury lessening front seats
• available pre-collision system
• lane departure alert
• and an available blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert.

When it comes to technology…just like the GS…the new ES has our second-generation Remote Touch…and Lexus Enform Multimedia system that can be operated through the driver’s own smartphone!

Which means updates are done wirelessly and new apps can be added easily as they become available.

This seamless integration of engineering, design and technology results from the countless hours of a dedicated team … led by Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi.

Asahi-san…please stand so we can recognize you for this great car.

Asahi-san and his team had a big job…designing a vehicle that balances the needs of Lexus customers all over the world.

Unlike the current generation…this new ES will be available in both left and right hand drive.

The left hand version launches this summer … while the right hand drive comes later next year.

The ES is now an important global vehicle for Lexus and will contribute greatly to the expansion of our brand in both mature and developing markets around the world.

In addition to the ES350…we have a surprise for you.

We’re launching an all-new vehicle that will tap an unmet need in this segment.

But…before I show you…here’s a riddle. What has…

• the presence of our flagship LS
• more legroom than a Mercedes Benz E-Class
• a better emissions rating than a standard Chevy Volt
• and 25% better MPG than a subcompact Honda Fit?

The answer…the all-new ES hybrid!

Powered by our updated Lexus Hybrid Drive system … the ES hybrid is the most advanced ES EVER…capable of 40 MPG in the city…and a super ultra-low emission rating.

Like its gas companion…the hybrid will have a drive select mode…with an additional EV mode that allows drivers to travel a short distance…at a reduced speed…using only the power from the hybrid battery pack.

The hybrid includes…

• an exclusive rear bumper with hidden exhaust
• a standard rear spoiler to improve aerodynamics
• and distinctive bamboo trim.

The ES 300h is the latest addition to our Lexus global Hybrid family.

In fact…by early 2014…we’ll offer 8 hybrid choices to customers around the globe.

Look for the all-new ES and ES hybrid coming to showrooms this summer.

Our product blitz is under way…BUT…we’re JUST getting started.

We’re determined to provide emotional and inspirational products that our customers demand…while raising the bar even higher with our industry-leading customer service.

This is the new face of Lexus…this is our future…and it’s here NOW.

Thank you for joining us … if you could do me a favor and please allow the photographers to get a few shots of the cars first … then we’ll invite all of you to check them out up close.

Thanks again…and enjoy the show.

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