https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...utm_segment=da This is from Consumer Reports today. Seems legit. The new ES will only be EV and Hybrid in US. Also, The 2026 Lexus ES will be 6.5 inches longer than the 2025 model. This is a significant increase, with the wheelbase also being 3 inches longer. I have a really nice garage but don't think I could fit a sedan in that was 6 inchels longer than my current ES.

Interesting that they mentioned the rear seat exec package in saying that there will be more “luxury goodies” which included massaging rear seats. But most buyers wouldn’t order that, so the question remains will the front seats finally get massaging seats like all of its luxury rivals? One would hope so. I don’t really see much else in the way of luxury goodies beyond that.

My 2001 LS430UL has the reclining rear and massaging rear seats and in 21 years I have used it twice. Once to try it out and other to help my back. I was told back then the reason Lexus did not put massaging in front is that it might relax someone to the point they fall asleep. Don't know what the reasoning is now.

No reason not to have it now especially if they are calling it 'the flagship' sedan.
And if it will have the full self driving capability.

Not surprised since the Camry is only available as a hybrid now. ES is based on the Camry.
I think a full EV is a giant mistake. Lexus dealer near me is drowning in RZ inventory with ridiculously low lease rates.
If I were to go EV, it would be a Tesla simply for their charging network.

On the other hand, I'm glad my ES is the V6. Sadly great gas engines are being discontinued. I thought if the ES were to come in gas only, it would use the RX's turbo 4. In that case, no way Jose.

From what I can garner (see https://carfigures.com/us-market-brand/lexus/ls) the LS may be on its way out. Acura stopped its RSX a few years ago. Sales of the LS are just not there any longer. So making the ES the "flagship" car makes sense. HOWEVER...they should make a base model and one well equipped. Also an "L" version. Get back the original length and make an ES-L that is 6" longer with reclining seats, etc. Then you can be like the Ford F-150 and have 10,000 variations and claim its the best selling car [truck] even though technically they are not the same underneath.
Make a base ES for $50K, upgraded goodies for $60K-$65K. A base ES-L for $60K and upgraded goodies up to $80K. Make it a "Lexus". As others have said, to distinguish it from a Toyota.

We shall see how well that ES is received in the US. My current ES I think has a very comfortable and large enough back seat. 6 inches more in the car length would be a non-started for me. I just tried to see the new IS 2026. It looks like now it will have a hybrid version. While I find the back seat a little small on that one, it might be more appealing to me in the long run. I also think the new ES doesn't look like a lexus, while the new IS keeps the similar lexus family looks.

All well and good but it won’t be a flagship as the LS was, for this new ES, however nice it may be, still will be out of its league against true flagships like the S-class. I still think they might try a super luxe stretched LX to try against the GLS or Maybach, but not a FWD hybrid.

They are not calling it a flagship, it was simply a poor translation from Japan.

I haven't seen the upcoming IS (i didn't know there's one?) unless you are referring to the current IS?

but I do know Japan has had RWD-hybrid platforms using the current Camry/ES hybrid engine for a few years now, so maybe they'll transfer that over. It's the same powerplant (in a nutshell) but turned longitudinally for RWD stuff. of course it's less efficient but that's the price for sportier handling etc.

I hope that they don’t do that. It would cheapen the brand overall. You can’t be a luxury car brand and have your flagship car be $60k. In my opinion.

Sedan is no longer a flagship especially one that barely sells at all. Everyone is buying SUVs and CUVs.

I'm surprised no one commented on these drawings/pictures. I think they're awesome. They show the evolution of the 7ES design, which will be remembered as a classic in an era where all sedans tend to look alike.

The gloss black body trim lines in 2026 Lexus ES model are very ugly. I hope they can be removed from the production model. Also, for interior design, I hope the production model in USA will have the conventional gear shifter and not the stubbier alternative as shown in Shanghai auto show in China.

Unfortunately, you're not going to get either one of your wishes. This is the final car, and the car designed for the Chinese is the one we get as a smaller, incidental foreign market.

Folks who've loved the ES the last 35 years are going to have to come to terms with the difficult reality that the ES has been discontinued. All that's left is this rebadged China-centric EV and its hybrid cousin, badge-engineered as an "ES" for those of us who admired the old car so much that we're willing to delude ourselves. The ES era was glorious, but it's over.