lesz

Did anyone else notice that the wood on the console doesn't seem like it is matched to the wood on the steering wheel? I would certainly hope that Lexus does a better job of matching wood grain and color on the production models.

I also notice that there is wood trim around the power window switches on the armrests.

Per discussion a few posts up, I don't believe that there is a change in the size of the navigation screen.

Also, what gives you the idea that there are (more) padded hip-level surfaces? They could well be there, but I can't tell that from the pictures.

Arty101

Again, the North American market may not see wood trim in the console or the arm rest. We'll have to wait and see. I agree, I don't see any upgrade to the hip level surface. It looks like the same materials without any additional padding. Very much like it currently is with the 2013-15 MY.

SW17LS

I had a 2003 ES for 7 years. I agree about the styling, but overall it's a great car. Interior beautifully styled and very high quality, great ride and very quiet. Felt like a much more expensive car than it was. My 2010 ES was better looking, but the 2003 was superior in every other way, nicer inside, etc.

As for sales, it's the most successful ES generation I believe. I don't have any numbers in front of me.

Trexus

Sales of each generation of the ES:

1ES (1990 - 1991) = 37,476
2ES (1992 - 1996) = 194,534
3ES (1997 - 2001) = 240,05
4ES (2002 - 2006) = 356,692
5ES (2007 - 2012) = 341,170
6ES (2013 - Present) = 159,134

It appears the 4ES is the most popular so far...

chromedome

In the second pic showing the shifter, I can see a stitched padded area next to the Eco/Sport **** and on the opposite side. This is similar to the NX whereas on the old ES, it's just hard plastic.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Again, 2009 recession, I'm sure you can recall that. People losing their homes, yet a ~15k difference which severely cut into sales for a good three year stretch of the 5ES...

Proportionately... is what I'm getting at.

I'm starting to see more 13+'s rolling around. Hell, I almost pulled the trigger a couple weeks ago...

SW17LS

It actually didn't. If you looked at sales of luxury cars in general, they weren't really hurt by the recession, especially in the entry level arena.

In any event, the 4ES is the most successful ES generation is my point. Huge increases from the 3ES before it, which shows you which generation the public preferred.

Off topic though.

Lex2015

The lower part of the grill expanded, just like on the new Avalon.

lesz

Okay. Now I see what you were talking about.

Initially, I thought that you saw something on the doors that indicated a padded surface.

If I were going to add a softer/padded surface to any spot on the interior of the ES, it would be on the doors between the wood trim and the armrest. But it seems like what is in vogue now is fewer padded surfaces, fewer curves, and more angular and harder design features.

Vihzel

I don't think that's the case. If you look at the latest Mercedes C-Class, there's no hard surfaces. I hope that Lexus will eliminate hard plastics in the refresh, especially in the console. A $40k+ luxury vehicle should have no visible hard plastics. The C-Class is right in the same price range and it is far more luxurious than the luxury-focused ES, which is a bit perplexing.

lesz

I don't question whether Mercedes has taken a different approach, but I also get the feeling that the designers of many vehicles, including those who designed the ES, feel that the harder surfaces and more angular design elements create a cleaner and more high-tech look.

As an aside, it can be noted that the "plastic" surfaces on the ES dash, console, and doors are not actually plastic. When the 6th generation ES was introduced, Lexus issued press releases promoting themselves as being environmentally responsible, and they offered as proof that the materials in the ES interior were made of recycled plant material and not plastic.

SW17LS

Also bear in mind that even though in pictures the panels may look the same, they may be made out of higher quality softer touch materials.

PirelliRC

the shifter looks similar to the one in the GS, great touch, interior looks virtually the same though, a little disappointed the taillights didn't get a refresh

chromedome

You're right, that shifter looks like what a luxury car shifter should be, rather than the weird skinny thing we have now. It even has a stitched leather boot instead of the ugly exposed gates. It could be a completely new mechanism where you have to press the shifter button to change gears, it doesn't look like a cosmetic revamp of the existing design.

Man, I'd get the 2016 just for the gorgeous RX steering wheel and shifter...

SW17LS

The tail lights are refreshed, the reflector patterns are all new.