True. You want early adopters to buy the ES. But if there was demand for an AWD ES, it would have been known by the end of 6G ES because 6G ES owners would complain for one. Did they complain? Nope. If there was demand and complaints on the 6G ES, it have been introduced in the 7G ES.

Again - like others have pointed out. I also second their opinions. An AWD ES is not good from a business stand point. It will cost too much to produce an AWD for the ES and it won't yield enough profits for Toyota to make it worth it. The Lexus ES AWD will cost an extra premium and will not be of interest for the main demographics of ES buyers. Plus - the people that will likely need an AWD will not be buying the Lexus ES anyways.

The situation for the Lexus IS is different though. The 3G Lexus IS launched with a IS250, which was an older engine that dated back to the 2006 2G Lexus IS250. So they had to change it to the 200T during mid-cycle.
However - the Lexus ES debuted with a change engine that is already being marketed as a 30+HP difference to the older engine. They would not change this engine probably till the 8G ES is released. It would be a waste of money to change it again because they would have to change the Camry/Avalon engine too.

 

 

My guess is that there will be a new engine mid cycle. The current GR engine is not related to the new Lexus LS V35A-FTS engine. The GR is near the end of it life-cycle and its now going to be offered in its 15th model year in some sort of variant (updated), to suggest it will make it to model year 20 or 21 is just not something I can see Lexus doing. Past history would suggest that there will be new family of engines in variable sizes coming based on the V35A-FTS design. A more powerful 3.0 V6 makes sense and so does AWD.

Toyota has made mid-cycle upgrades to the Lexus ES, GS, RX and Camry, Rav4 engines line up many many many times in the past. Land Cruiser/LX, 4Runner and Tundra/Sequoia as well. Toyota has even updated transmissions without touching the engines on numerous occasions across the whole line up of Lexus/Toyota many times. You just have not seen Toyota be as aggressive in the changes with the current engines which they have stretched out. Common sense would suggest an additional "dynamic force" engine should go along with the current Camry 2.5 liter engine currently available.

Neither you nor I really know what the profits margins of what Toyota makes on their ES or Avalon cars and we don't know what they yield. As I mentioned before, if Buick, Lincoln and Ford can push awd then Toyota certainly can as well.

I already pointed out that Lexus did not offer AWD on the LS model as it was offered a few years later. Although excuses are going to be made for whatever reasons, I view the omission as intentional.

Nobody knows for sure. Back in the late 2000s, Toyota cancelled AWD on the first generation Matrix for the last model year, then when the second generation Matrix returned, AWD was all of a sudden present again.

 

 

Seen him on my big screen Apple TV. He is terrible.

 

I did see that. His reviews are kind of interesting, although you're right he is all over the map LOL

 

Exterior is handsome, but I can't get over how ugly the interior design is. The high dash and high placement of the wood/aluminum trim pieces conjure memories of those terrible '90s GM land yachts. And all the typical Lexus plastics are visible throughout the cabin. Disappointing.

 

 

I think Lexus ES is a typical car for most of the users whom first jump into the luxury territory, Lexus ES is one of my first two Lexus cars, I care most of three things at that moment:
1. reliability.
2. price.
3. has more stand features than other luxury competitors.
I think ES has them all, if Lexus keep doing like this, ES should be a winner in this class no doubt.

 

 

Isn't every ES a success?

 

Hopefully they will not do AWD in LS-F, halo car should be RWD not awd.

 

Why? The S63 AMG, the 760Li/Alpina B7 and the S8 all come with AWD standard. These are not sports cars after all. The vast majority of the buyers of these luxo barges appreciate the extra traction and stability afforded by AWD to keep that huge power in control rather than the ability to hang the tails out. AWD is a must for the hypothetical LS-F to compete IMHO. If there's going to be an LC-F, on the other hand, then RWD probably makes a little more sense.

 

Yup. There's no doubt in my mind the 7th gen won't be a success. Due to changes in the market, it won't sell in the volume of the 5th and 6th gen but it will continue to be strong vs. its current competitive set.