• Lexus is moving the ES upmarket with its new generation, which could replace the LS as its global flagship.
• The new ES will be unveiled at the Shanghai motor show next week, with a stronger focus on electrification.
• Lexus could offer it with either electric or hybrid power options.

The Lexus ES has always been a strong seller. Introduced in 1989, it’s always been the mainstream Lexus sedan, but never the one that got the most attention. That may be changing. Lexus just announced it will reveal the eighth-generation ES on April 23 at the Shanghai motor show, which it calls “a global flagship model.” That means the ES may be moving up in the world and—maybe—taking the LS’ place as the big sedan in the lineup. 

[Update 4/17/2025 at 4:04 P.M.: Lexus has clarified that the LS isn’t going anywhere, and that this was a mistake in translation. In Japan, flagship means a “core model,” which the ES has been for decades. That does not mean it is becoming Lexus’ top-end sedan.]

The announcement added that the new ES “refines advanced electrification technologies and pursues further evolution of its hallmark quietness and ride comfort.” While the emphasis on ride comfort is not surprising, the focus on electrification seems to hint that the new ES could come not only as a hybrid but also as a fully electric vehicle.

Lexus hasn’t said what platform it will use for the new ES, but looking at the dark side profile teaser shot, it still looks like a front-wheel-drive-based vehicle. There doesn’t appear to be enough room for a longitudinal engine between the front axle and A-pillar, so our best guess is that the new model will keep the nameplate’s traditional front- or all-wheel-drive configuration.

It could be underpinned by an updated version of the TNGA-K platform used in models like the Camry and Crown or the seventh-gen Lexus ES. Toyota hasn’t made any announcements about making the platform EV-friendly, but it will likely launch vehicles in this size segment to build a far stronger EV lineup by the end of the decade.

Its only electric sedan today is the bZ3, which is a China-only model manufactured locally through the Toyota-FAW joint venture. It’s built on the e-TNGA platform, making it related to other EVs like the bZ4X, Lexus RZ, Subaru Solterra and Trailseeker.

The teaser image previews what looks to be the most rakish-looking ES so far, with an even more pronounced fastback-style rear. You can just make out the shape of the trunk lid, so it’s still clearly a sedan, but calling something shaped like this a three-box design seems like a stretch. It has a very similar side profile to the new Audi A6 E-Tron.

The new ES’ front end has a bit of a slant-nose design with sharp LED swooshes sitting above the headlight clusters, which are hidden lower down on the fascia. The car will have a full-width light bar wrapping around the rear end and sharp creases defining its key design features.

Even though the U.S. is its largest market, Lexus likely really wants the ES to succeed in China. That’s likely why we’ll see it revealed in Shanghai, as China is still a major market for the brand. Lexus also confirmed it’s bringing the new ES to Europe. It hasn’t said whether it’s bringing it to the U.S., but the ES sold well last year, reaching 18,481 annual deliveries, or around 50% more than in 2023. The U.S. has always been a big market for the ES, so we’d be shocked if it didn’t make it there, hopefully with a fully electric powertrain