Presently, I run a stable of five Lexiis: 3ES300, 2IS250, 3.5GS350, 4GS350 and 3.5IS200t.
My current 4GS may have lateral dampers referred to in the video above?
I recently had a chance to loan the NX450h+, NX250 and ES250 F Sport.

Initially, I thought the NX450h+ had superb insulation and a soft ride.
It certainly did have a lot of power and smoothness.
The NX250 had a very clattery engine when cold, and when warm it only improved a little.
After many hours of familiarity, the NX turns out as a firmly sprung and firmly damped vehicle on baggy tires, but more than that, the much higher ride height on the short wheelbase resulted in an unsettled ride.
Sure, the handling and control is better than if the suspension was softer, but it is a tiring ride.

The NX450h+ may have more firewall insulation than the NX250; the NX250 had little insulation, and a very clattery 4-cylinder.
Furthermore, the NX250's engine must work hard, so I wouldn't expect this engine to be as durable long term.
I'm not sure if NX250 and NX450h+ had lateral dampers, but that's what I thought about the ride and handling.

When I first got into ES250 F Sport, I thought it was very softly suspended, smooth and quiet too.
However, after many hours, I then realized that ES250 F Sport was actually quite firmly suspended and firmly damped, on 19" wheels with low profile 40 series tires via Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 sports tires.
After many hours, the ES250 F Sport was a very firm riding and tiring vehicle.
Not as tiring as the NX's with a tall ride height on short wheelbase, but the lower ride height and much longer wheelbase of the ES250 F Sport helped, but overall ES250 F Sport is still a firm riding vehicle.
However, the ES250 F Sport certainly had a lower ride height with less wind noise, as well as much more firewall, and underfloor sound insulation than both NX's - such that the same 2.5L four cylinder felt much smoother, but when the windows were open, I could hear the 2.5 four cylinder engine clatter again.

The interior of the ES250 is a good generation behind the interior of the new NX's.
The new NX's had electrically opening doors, a new type of gear shift selector, and a proper dedicated larger LCD touch screen display.


When I jumped back into my stable of five older Lexiis, my five older Lexiis had a ride that was so much smoother than all three NX250, NX450h+, and ES250 F Sport!
The 4GS may be more firmly sprung, and is certainly wearing 45% low profile tires on 18" rims, but the ride is so much smoother - probably mainly because of the lower ride height and the longer wheelbase.
The 3.5GS is has a slightly lower seating position on the same wheelbase as 4GS, but the 3.5GS has very soft springing and damping, hence the best ride of the crop.
Even the missus' IS200t had softer springing than the all new NX's and ES250 F Sport.
The lower ride height and longer wheelbase of my stable of five Lexiis totally outrode the NX250, NX450h+ and ES250 F Sport.

However, I must note that my aging 3ES is modified with Camry suspension, because the Camry used softer springing, floatier shock absorbers and softer roll bars.
My original 3ES when I purchased brand new had firmer sports springing, sports damping, and sports roll bars - all on baggy 65 series tires.
These days, the 3ES on Camry suspension rides quite nicely, mainly because of the 65 series baggy tires.

The ES250 F Sport certainly has slightly firmer shock absorbers with less float than my stable of GS's, IS's an 3ES - hence one of the reasons why overall, the ES250 F Sport had a tiring ride.
The Pirelli Cinturato P7's touring nee sporting-luxury tires on my 4GS, 3.5GS and IS200t are quieter than the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 19" 40 seires outright sports tires used on the ES250 F Sport.

Four of the five in my stable of Lexiis are RWD, hence the steering has a tighter turning circle doing more U-turns and fewer 3-point turns unlike NX and ES.
The RWD has lighter steering with sharper and more instantaneous turn-in!
RWD steering has less steering trailing axis and less kingpin angle for less "self-centering" of the steering wheel.
RWD has no torque steer under throttle.
When pushed with the throttle, the RWD's deliver throttle oversteer, so that the throttle steers the vehicle into the corner, rather than busily dialling more turns with the steering wheel to fight FWD-based understeer of NX and ES.

The sound insulation on my missus' IS200t is about on par with NX, although the lower IS200t has little wind noise compared to the taller new NX's.
I thought the ES had superior quality of stitching than the new NX, but none of the interiors have the same quality of plastics, leather and stitching as my GS's.
Even the 2IS and 3.5IS has better plastics, leather and stitching compared to NX250, NX450h+ and ES250 F Sport.

I suspect only my 4GS has lateral dampers as talked about in the posts above, but that is my perception of ride and handling in NX250, NX450h+ and ES250 F Sport loaners.

 

I don’t believe that anybody can feel the difference between the car with the dampers and the car without them.

 

I can definitely feel the chassis resonate and quiver when going over the round mini bumps in a parking lot in my 7ES Premium, the little round domes about an inch and a half high. Chassis dampers would settle this down a bit.

 

I would like to see where these dampers are mounted on 7ES.

Some Lexus models have them under the bumper, some have them under the suspension…

 

 

It’s possible that some may not be able to perceive a difference. Some people believe they can. But, what do you feel you accomplish with comments like this? Narrow-minded opinions do nothing to further constructive conversation. Instead, they often incite contrary opinions to refute blanket statements. Thinking that one’s opinion supersedes everyone’s perception is quite arrogant especially without any foundation in facts….in my opinion.

I like to think I'm relatively objective and can respect most POVs, however, someone's credibility diminishes for me when they convey this type of mindset even if there might be validity in their point.
YMMV.

 

I can feel the difference with dampers. i also run tires a little low to add comfort to the ride. Don't drive enough to care about tire mileage. Also I do recall reading about thick glass windshield for quieter sound on the UL. I do seem to notice my 2022 es300hUL to be quieter than my 4 older Lexus cars. Maybe A25A engine, maybe I fell for the hype
Under the hood is a plate that goes from shock tower to shock tower. It is missing on other builds

 

I found these but this is photoshoped. I would like to see them installed under the car.

I checked the prices and they are above 1200 dollars.

 

Very few luxury models and Zero UL. Lexus should be embarrassed by their quality supply chain. Accords come out and in months there are hundreds. I did drive a Toyota crown platinum. Just an awesome car with more STD FEATURES
than Lexus.

 

Crown-Absolutely horrific looks and I predict very mediocre sales, at least here in USA.
I’m hoping to buy the 2025 model Lexus ES 350. Hope it does not resemble the Crown as 7ES resembled the Avalon. If so, count me and many others out. I’ll just drive my 2021 ES 350 “into the sunset.”

 

Yeah, I think its going to be a dud. Couldn't believe the lack of tech features that one would expect for a "flagship" model such as HUD.

 

Very much looking forward to seeing and hopefully replacing my wonderful 2021 with a beautiful new modern looking 2025 350 ES luxury sedan. I’d just like to see the same layout as our current 350 ES model with some major styling updates.. Lexus, Please let the 350 ES continue to be the 350 ES. There aren’t many traditional sedan competitors left and the 350 ES niche market members would be thrilled and loyal.

 

Your wish is granted below.
It is a sedan; not a high rider like Crown SUV.
It has six-sided windows similar to 5LS.
Long wheelbase and FWD-based as usual.
Like RX, V6 will be replaced by 2.4L Turbo.
8ES is really an evolution of current 7ES.
Photo below courtesy of Carmaker1 and his internal TMC connections.

 

That probably doesn't include labor, does it? How much do you think Lexus adds to the sticker for it? Maybe $200 or $250?

 

Yes, I’ve seen that rendering.It’s a bit difficult to get excited about an image of that nature but it’s basic characteristics (as you point out) gives me hope. Yes—-evolution rather than revolution, as they say.
Incidentally, what’s so compelling to manufacturers to eliminate our traditional 6 cyl engines with 2.4 turbo engines. I assume the latter are to be turbo charged and no longer satisfied with regular gas. So what’s the point of doing this? I just don’t get it.