pbm317

I was just curious as to how many ES buyers would want AWD. Or do AWD ES buyers just end up with an RX?

Just see more and more AWD sedans being offered now, Ford Fusion and Taurus, Audi of course, Acura TL and RL/RLX, Jaguar jumping into AWD.

I know the IS and GS and LS get AWD, but the ES doesn't.

uicandrew

What's exciting is the new 4wd or awd that's in the pipeline for Toyota hybrids.

The concept is 4wd only in speeds less than 40mph or so. I think that has a nice balance of fuel efficiency and safety.

pbm317

I hadn't heard of that... do you have a link?

2GSKaizen

iTrader: (1)

Personally, I think it would be great if they adopted the same AWD setup that they use in the RX hybrids. Gas engine driving the front wheels, and the electric motor driving the rear wheels. This seems to provide JUST enough of an AWD effect to make the car more effective in the slick stuff.

UTAS

Since there is limited space for another electric motor in the rear (the ESh trunk is already cramped b/c of the battery bank under the rear seat), if Lexus is thinking of AWD models here, then perhaps a light weight drive shaft to the rear wheels with an electronic clutch synchronized to the VSC (detecting slight slippage of the front drive wheels) might be a better design. It's more money, though, and the weight would not be too much more.

As for me, AWD on the ES300h is not required. I should mention we also have an RX450h with AWD for those crazy snow days - the RX design has plenty of room for the second electric drive motor, but that also places a slight limitation on cargo space.

uicandrew

pbm317, it's the last question on the page:

http://www.motortrend.com/future/fut...e/viewall.html

called "e-4wd"

LexRuger

Don't need AWD in Los Angeles. If I did. I think I'd rather have a SUV for the extra ground clearance for the deep stuff.

uicandrew

The difference between the rx and ES in ground clearance is about 1"

The big difference is being seated higher in the rx. That gives the feeling that the vehicle is higher off the ground.

MY100thcar

I know it is not one of your options....But I would want ( and buy ) a REAR wheel drive ES350 or ES300h
I like the looks (mainly the Front & Side Views) of the ES much better than the GS, that's why I did not buy a GS.

LexRuger

Never mentioned a RX. I believe the RX is a cross-over and not a SUV anyway.

SW17LS

Never gonna happen, the ES will always be based off of the Camry/Avalon platform.

My guess is an AWD ES is pretty unlikely too, since theres no AWD Camry/Avalon.

uicandrew

The problem with that line of reasoning is that the rav4 and Rx are also based off the Camry platform.

SW17LS

Yeah but far more loosely than than the ES/Avalon, and those AWD systems are different than an AWD system that you would typically find in a sedan where the goal is also to improve handling, a'la Audi, or Lexus system in the sedans, Acura's SH-AWD.

The goal for an ES wouldn't really only be traction, it would be to also improve the driving experience, which taking the system from the RX or Rav4 wouldn't do.

I prefer RWD, but quite frankly in every day driving you're hard pressed to be able to tell the ES is FWD vs something like a GS being RWD, I'm also not a huge AWD fan, I would have gotten a RWD GS if they sold them in my region.

pbm317

RAV4 is not Camry based.

SW17LS

He's thinking of the Highlander