Facelifted 2022 Lexus ES Arriving In PH This Month, F Sport Variant Included?

Lexus Philippines has just announced the impending arrival of the refreshed 2022 Lexus ES. First making its global debut last April, the Japanese luxury automaker’s midsize sedan has received minor exterior and interior changes along with extensive changes to the car’s driving dynamics.

Since it was first unveiled in 1989, 2.65 million Lexus ES units have already been sold worldwide and remain as one of the brand’s core models.

Lexus ES Chief Engineer Tetsuya Aoki is proud of what he has created during the development of the latest ES. He shares what the current model has in store for its drivers and the philosophy behind each improvement that was done to the car. 

“We pursued development to meet and exceed the expectations of customers,“ he shares. “The exterior design has sharper headlights; a modern mesh grille; and sportier wheels. The interior features a touchscreen display for added convenience and operability.” Those improvements, however notable, are only skin deep. “Paying attention to the smallest details, we’ve made it so that you can enter the driver seat with ease,” he shares.

While the exterior changes are minor, they do help make the ES’ design age pretty well. The signature spindle grille has been slightly reshaped and it now features L-shaped patterns. Lexus has also updated the car’s LED headlights, which now have three projectors for the adaptive LED lighting. The side and rear remain unchanged, though Lexus gave the ES a new selection of wheel designs ranging from 17- to 19-inches in the case of the F Sport variant.

And speaking of the F Sport variant, the teaser photos that were sent to us by Lexus Philippines are showing a model that wears the F Sport’s Ultrasonic Blue paint. Does this mean that the F Sport variant will finally be offered in the Philippines?

The interior design largely remains unchanged. The main highlight, however, is the new Lexus Remote Touch infotainment system, wherein it now features an 8- or 12.3-inch screen that now responds to touch as opposed to being solely controlled via the touchpad. Elsewhere, interior materials and quality remain largely the same, which isn’t exactly a bad thing since the Lexus ES always had an impressively luxurious interior.

Powertrain options for the 2022 Lexus ES are carried over from the previous model. This means it still gets a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain (ES 300h) that produces 215 hp mated to an e-CVT, or a 3.5-liter V6 (ES 350) that produces 302 hp and is mated to an 8-speed automatic. The Philippine-market ES will most likely continue to be offered with just the ES 350.

Lexus has also updated the ES 350 F Sport variant with a new Dynamic Handling Package, which adds additional drive modes and an adaptive variable suspension. Lexus says this new suspension system provides 650 levels of adjustments based on factors such as speed, steering angle, linear and vertical g loads, and yaw rate.

Other improvements made to the entire ES lineup include a new rear suspension member brace for improved torsional rigidity, ride comfort, and handling, along with a new braking system with an enlarged pedal for a more linear feel.

The aim was to develop a vehicle that offers natural, stress-free driving according to driver intent. Aoki-san shares, “The response of the vehicle is faithful and true to the driver’s intentions according to the steering input. Launch from a standstill is swift. During lane changes, acceleration is stress-free and there is a natural movement to the ES. Turning the steering wheel allows for confident driving.”

And then there is the enhanced comfort level. “Even on rough roads, the body absorbs road inputs and allows passengers to experience refined ride comfort,” he adds. “You will feel how sprung weight moves on an undulating road and how quickly it will be brought back into control.”

Stay tuned to Go Flat Out PH in the coming weeks in order to learn more about the new 2022 Lexus ES.