Al-Futtaim Motors unveils all-new 2013 Lexus ES

Al-Futtaim Motors, exclusive distributor for Lexus in the UAE, today unveiled the all-new 2013 ES. Featuring a progressive new design and enhanced handling, the 2013 ES sedan is set to continue as a favourite of luxury car buyers.

Saud Abbasi, General Manager of Al-Futtaim Motors - Lexus, said: "Over the years, the Lexus ES has consistently fulfilled the aspirations of our core customers in the UAE. Now, with the launch of the all-new ES we are confident that this core customer base will grow even further. The all-new ES is an exceptionally advanced luxury sedan with the capacity to compete with other luxury cars in terms of a crisp and confident driving experience."

Abbasi further added, "The departure from the previous generation ES in terms of styling and design is keeping in line with the new Lexus design philosophy that is being adopted across all Lexus models. The new spindle grille, the aerodynamic bodylines and the technologically superior interior have all been seamlessly put together to create a sense of luxury that will attract more people to brand Lexus."

ES 350
The ES 350 is powered by a 2GR-FE V6 Dual VVT-i engine, featuring advanced technologies and providing excellent acceleration feeling and sporty driving. The six-speed automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) provides enhanced performance, fuel efficiency and smooth shifts. Low friction materials further improve efficiency. In addition to ES350, Lexus newly introduces ES 250 which is powered by a 2AR-FE I4 Dual 4-Valve Dual VVT-i engine and has adopted various features such as roller rocker arm system which help achieve advanced engine performance and low fuel consumption.

Signature Lexus Design
The new ES features a lower, progressive profile, and clean, continuous styling lines from front to rear. All four corners are pulled tightly inward to the wheel arches, creating distinctive proportions. The wheelbase of the new ES has been lengthened by 45mm, while the overall length of the vehicle has grown by just 25mm, resulting in a more spacious interior.

The new ES unmistakably bears the new face of Lexus with its distinctive, spindle grille. Oversized grille molding with a chrome plated finish and a grille with a dark gray metallic finish have been adopted, creating a sense of luxury. High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps have been adopted, effectively ensuring nighttime visibility. LED daytime running lights which enhance product appeal while effectively ensuring visibility, and combination rear lamps which enhance appearance and fuel economy, reflect the "L" design motif.

Interior Designed for Comfort and Spaciousness

The modern interior of the 2013 ES has been designed to provide both a sense of openness and security. Sightlines and visibility are improved, controls are logically placed, and new cabin materials express a high level of craftsmanship.

A newly sculptured seat enhances driver comfort. A power tilt & telescopic steering column has been adopted. The steering wheel position can be adjusted in the up/down and forward/rearward directions, ensuring an optimum driving posture. Fluid-filled engine mounts, new sound absorbing materials and a tuned engine intake minimise the intrusion of outside noise.

Greater rear seat legroom and knee room are the hallmark of the redesigned, more spacious cabin. The seat backboards have been made thinner to expand knee space for rear seat occupants. Knee room is increased by 70mm and legroom is increased by 104mm. The new design also offers additional foot room below the front seats.

Available comfort and convenience features include manual door window shades, a power rear shade, and a one-touch power trunk closer. Optional ambient lighting, discretely placed under the wood trim, softly illuminates the surfaces of the instrument panel and all four doors.

The new ES will feature enhanced Leather seating surfaces, developed to reduce environmental impact. Premium leather is also available, as is semi-aniline leather for an even more refined look and feel. In addition to the Black, Light Gray and Ivory color schemes from the current generation semi-aniline interior colours, Criollo*1 has been newly added to the lineup for a total of four available colour schemes.

Crisp, Confident Driving Dynamics
Suspension and steering changes and a stiffer body deliver more precise handling. Opposite-wound coil springs on the front suspension enhance straight-line stability. Revised rear suspension geometry and improved shock absorber damping characteristics enhance ride comfort. A reduction in the steering gear ratio delivers a more responsive and direct steering feel. Increased body rigidity is achieved through lightweight, high tensile strength steel, added bracing and additional spot welds. The ES comes equipped with standard 215/55R17 low rolling resistance tires on 17-inch alloy wheels.

*1: Criollo (suggesting the finest variety of cacao) Criollo is based on a brown color reminiscent of that seen at Luxury hotels.

Driver-Focused Cockpit
Designed with attention to ergonomics and driver focus, the cockpit features separate display and operation zones to help keep the driver's eyes on the road. The instrument panel, with its long, layered look, places the main information display directly in the driver's line of sight. Just below the center display is a dial-illuminating LED analog clock. Controls are clustered beneath the information zone, on the steering wheel, and on the center console.

The second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) allows the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, optional navigation system and more. The screen menus are selected with a controller conveniently located on the center console. RTI reduces eye and hand movement, helping reduce effort and distraction.

Safety Features
An array of safety features aid the driver. The available Blind Spot Monitor helps detect vehicles in side blind spots. Available Lane Departure Alert (LDA) is integrated with automatic high beam dimming technology. The available Pre-Crash System (PCS) uses sub-millimeter wave radar to detect obstructions and prepare the vehicle for a potential collision.

The brake control system features that have been adopted include: Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, Traction Control (TRC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Emergency Stop Signal. A brake mechanism developed with the concept of braking performance that provides the driver with a sense of security has been adopted, realizing excellent brake feeling and anti-fade performance. Ventilated front 17-inch (V6) or 16-inch(L4) disc brakes are available and solid rear 16-inch disc brakes have been adopted.

The ES features a segment-leading 10 airbags as standard equipment, including dual-stage SRS airbags for the front seats as well as driver and front passenger SRS knee airbags, front and rear SRS side airbags, and full-length SRS curtain shield airbags. Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) front seats are designed to limit excessive head movement in certain rear-end collisions helping to decrease the severity of whiplash-type injuries.

The Lexus ES starts at AED 155,000 and is now on sale at all Al-Futtaim Lexus showrooms.