The F Sport revises a handful of interior and exterior elements (All photos: Lexus Malaysia)
The Lexus ES range, which was launched alongside the flagship LS, has long been a favourite among executives since 1989. It has never stopped evolving, with the latest generation boasting greater comfort, performance and rakish looks to match.
The new F Sport model features all the qualities you know and love about the classic ES 250, but with a light facelift that revises a handful of interior and exterior elements, which lend a sportier and more striking look to the already handsome luxury sedan.
Key enhancements include the imposing spindle grille, now in a mesh pattern composed of interlocking L-shaped components in a dark metallic finish. The cut-outs at either side of the front fascia also sport the same black mesh but its openings are wider than the ES 250 Premium and Luxury. To complement the new grille, the ultra-compact LED headlamps have daytime running lights — in a new design — that adds a hint of illumination to its piercing gaze. Other exclusive exterior fittings include a rear spoiler and a set of 19-inch alloy wheels in a Dark Premium Metallic finish.
Two new shades of greys have been added to the ES colour palette — the cool Sonic Iridium and Sonic Chrome — bringing the options up to eight for the ES 250 Premium and Luxury. On the other hand, the new Heat Blue Contrast Layering and White Nova Glass Flake hues are exclusive to the F Sport, but it can also be ordered in the two new greys or in Graphite Black Glass Flake and Red Mica Crystal Shine.
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New interior colour themes are also available to spruce up the cabin, including a combination of black upholstery with Walnut Black trim or hazel upholstery with Walnut Brown trim for the ES 250 Premium and Luxury. The latter also comes in a unique mauve with Walnut Black. Befitting the F Sport’s character is the Flare Red upholstery with aluminium trim, but an all-black option is also available.
The multimedia display in the cockpit has been repositioned for improved operability, specifically 112mm closer to the occupants and five degrees towards the driver. In addition to a wireless charging tray, all the ports have been upgraded to the USB Type-C connector to be in line with the latest devices. The new models also now come with a Nanoe-X negative ion generator that purifies and improves cabin air quality — a useful feature especially for times like these.
The centrepiece of the F Sport dashboard is undoubtedly the movable meter, inspired by the digital gauge found in the LFA supercar. It shifts to the right to reveal more driving information. Overhead, an enlarged moon roof allows natural light to enter and enhance the cabin's sense of spaciousness.
Under the hood, the 2.5-litre DOHC A25A-FKS petrol engine remains unchanged. With features such as multi-hole direct injectors, a continuously variable-capacity oil pump, a variable cooling system and VVT-iE on the intake valves, the long-stroke engine is engineered to deliver effortless acceleration with impressive efficiency, taking the car up to a maximum speed of 210km/h after having sprinted from zero to 100 in 9.1 seconds. And with the silencers in the intake system, overall engine noise is reduced.
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Lexus’s dedication to safety is also prominent in this line. While the Lexus Safety System+ remains as standard, the latest models include updates on the Pre-Collision System that enhances daytime bicyclist detection as well as pedestrian identification in low-light situations. The Adaptive High-Beam is now more advanced with BladeScan technology, which intelligently broadens the range of illumination without hindering oncoming or preceding vehicles. Also available for all versions of the ES 250 are Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Parking Support Brake, both of which contribute to the mitigation of damage in collisions in places such as parking lots.
“As one of the most accomplished executive sedans on the road, the Lexus ES 250 elicits admiration for its impeccable engineering and styling that satisfies any discerning taste,” said Lexus Malaysia president Ravindran K. “Combined with the Lexus attention to detail and constant quest for excellence, the improvements to the updated model will invariably retain the Lexus ES 250 as the choice sedan to arrive in.”
The Lexes ES 250 F Sport starts at RM345,134, the ES 250 Premium at RM295,663.50 and the ES 250 Luxury at RM 329,910.50. All prices mentioned are on the road without insurance and are currently exempt of SST till the end of the year. Book a test drive here.
