All Cars, All the Time

Lexus ES to Accompany Tundra at Chicago

Next up on the Lexus hit parade is a rework of the ES. I am presuming that the ES will get the 3.5 liter engine and become the ES 350 . I'm very keen to see what Lexus' new design philosophy "L-finesse" will mean for the ES. I can't say that I find the current exterior of the ES to be particularly pleasing. I remember reading an interview with Bob Lutz where he quipped something to the effect that if GM had released a car with the ES' design, it would have been immediately beaten down for its looks. I think sour grapes is at play with that remark because every time Buick introduces a car, it trips over itself to draw comparisons to Lexus. However, I think Bob does make a point. The current ES is no beauty queen. Yet when a car is so solid in every other aspect, with regards to its target customer, it can get a free pass on looking a little dorky. The ES will premier on February 8, a day before the Tundra.