encore888

Over 5 generations of ES sedans now from Lexus, and astonishingly, the same man has been in charge of the design from the very beginning (according to the New ES reveal)...

Interestingly, I think I see a pattern in the recent 4-5 ES models, which leads me to think that there's a cycle to the ES design philosophy (other changes of course though, advancing better with each generation)...

Exterior appearance: curves vs. angles, C-pillar

1. Sharp/Angular
ES 250...angular profile...sharp cornered.



2. Curved
ES 300...all new body type, a rounded side window and C-pillar appearance.



3. Sharp/Angular
ES 300..new body type sharpens it again.



4. Curved
ES 300/330...tres rounded!



5. Sharp/Angular
ES 350...angular again!



Forward cabin appearance: wide vs. tight center stack

1. Wide
1992 ES Center stack, 3x vents spaced across



2. Tight
2000 ES Center stack, 2x vents tight and wrapped by the console...



3. Wide
2005 ES 330 Center stack, 2x vents spaced apart and flowing out



4. Tight
2007 ES 350 Center stack, 2x vents tight and wrapped by the console...



It's interesting how the cycle has been, 2ES onward: Curved/Wide -- Sharp/Tight -- Curved/Wide -- Sharp/Tight.

There might be other cycles, as well...

Gian

Interesting observation. I like the pattern, and I'm probably more in favor of the angular iterations. Curves are sexy, although.

Pheonix

All of the interior layout is because when you take the facade of the dash off. You realize the entire layout is basically how it is simply because "that's where the "stuff" goes on a Camry".. Tho, you then get into exactly what you already said. The Camry runs in big cycles. The ES runs in big cycles. You can't get away from it! LoL!
g1 ugly - low output engine
g2 great - big output jump
g3 almost as great - not so big output jump
g4 ugly - mediocre output jump
g5 great - big output jump

Since it runs in cycles:
g6 will be almost as great - not so big output jump
g7 will be ugly - mediocre output jump

I guarantee it. So everyone buy a g6 in the next few years! LoL!

Two bit

4/5 body styles are both ugly but their interior beats out all of the older ES interiors.

papachino

yeah but they are improving on the body style with 5, and hopefully six is better, more sportier like the 2&3 gen

Two bit

Hopefully, all the new ones look like preggy footballs :-\

Trexus

Good observation enigma354. I have a second generation ES 300 with over 250K miles and it runs great. With this analysis of the ES's it's making me think about selling my ES 300 and either buying a 5th or 6th generation ES.

encore888

Thx for the comments...so indeed there are more cycles than the ones I suggested...the Next ES, if not Camry based anymore as rumored, might break the cycle.

However, the trend of the New ES seems to be to adhere even more closely to entry-level (the dash wood elements, door etc) than ever, despite the ultra luxe options which give it a touch of superiority...I'm going to have to see the New ES in person to decide whether it is truly *superior* to the past ES' in terms of character.

Osiris_x11

enigma354, thanks for putting words into images... helps alot!

I have a Gen. 2, and IMHO I feel it was alot of car for the time & market segment. It still has a presence, of-course attributed to it's proportions and overall dimensions/shape (that we perceive).

I don't see the ES' becoming a player in the sports sedan market simply due to the fact the new IS' has been tailored for 2 types of "enthusiast": bang for the buck & those seeking bragging-rights/cache` (ie. target: 3-series). Not to mention the RWD platform of the IS'. The ES' being FWD & shared platform w/ the Camry makes it rediculously profitable as-is. Though, I wouldn't eggactly kick-out a RWD sports-tuned ES' out of my garage as a Gen 6 or Gen 7...

If the ES' ever has a demise, it can be attributed to the American public. Why? American's want the plush & floaty ride, optimal highway cruising comfort, wide-seats/stance, larger front/rear overhangs to accommodate the room, conservative/routine styling, sedate and uncontroversial design, etc... and they get this from the best-selling car in America: the camry! So basically the Camry heads closer and closer to total conformity, the ES' reluctantly has to follow.

Pheonix

I still maintain that the ES will never not be Camry based, They sell 300,000 Camry's in the US a year & near 100,000 ES's. They can't afford to not make it! It's a bread & butter car that's not expencive to make.
Sure, we'd all love it if they replaced the ES with the Mark-X platform, but that aint happening. Then you've got major ES/GS competition going on.

encore888

It's just a rumor, and there are 2 ways to see it...one is the simple efficiency/expediency aspect, another is the separation of Lexus and Toyota...

Incidentally I saw a New Camry today on the freeway and was surprised how it looked better than at the auto show.

I do however feel that the ES this time around might have not benefitted, interior-wise, from the shared Camry elements.