The new Lexus ES, fully redesigned for the first time in seven years, was unveiled in Japan under the motto ‘Experience Elegance and Electrified Sedan’. HEV and BEV powertrains are available.
The interior features ‘responsive hidden switches’, physical switches which come on with the lighting when you start the car. And there’s surface-emitting ambient lighting in the front and rear door trim that is linked to light, sound, and scent.
The instrument panel also has the ‘responsive hidden switches’, and is configured to provide excellent functionality and operability. It has a simple appearance like an electrostatic touch panel, with a clean design that does not overtly emphasize technology, and these are said to be the world’s first physical switches that offer a solid feel when pressed. The sense of transition from nothing to something when the function icons light up by waving your hand over the device provides a new level of experience through the fusion of functional display and materials.
The new ES cockpit features a low-profile meter hood housing a uniquely shaped 12.3-inch digital display, enabling smooth eye movement and creating an open, airy feel. A special coating enhances surface quality, while the combination of suede materials and ambient lighting deepens the expression of Lexus’ Tazuna cockpit philosophy.
Switch design was carefully crafted to align with human emotion. Physical switches are positioned near the ceiling and door areas to support intuitive, effortless operation. The new responsive hidden switches are integrated into the steering wheel and instrument panel, for excellent functionality and usability, while contributing to a clean, minimalist cabin environment.
The responsive hidden switches are said to be the world’s first “physical” (i.e., not in a touchscreen) switch designed to support human interaction, embodying the Japanese spirit of Omotenashi (to wholeheartedly look after guests – a hospitality idea) through a clean, understated form that keeps technology quietly in the background. A design that blends the switches into the interior helps create a clean, minimalist cabin space. The sense of transition from nothing to something to presence, when the function icons light up by waving your hand over the device, offers a new interactive experience, where functional display and surface material become one. While maintaining the clean appearance of a capacitive touch panel, the switches are designed with a distinct tactile click to help prevent accidental input.
The door trim features ‘synthetic leather embossing’, a first for Lexus, which uses printing and transparency to create surface-emitting decorations that interact with light, sound, and fragrance, as well as intricate, sharp embossed patterns and ambient lighting. Optimized speaker placement together with the ambient lighting creates a three-dimensional sound-and-light field.
The Sensory Concierge concept has been adopted to create a cabin where every occupant can relax as comfortably as in their own living room. The Illumination, music, multimedia video, climate control, and a relaxation function – using air bladders embedded in the seatback and cushion to gently apply pressure from the thighs to the back – work together with seat heaters to create a cabin environment that responds to occupant emotions. Three selectable modes help create a sense of calm or uplift.
Additionally, the music-linked illumination creates a harmonious cabin atmosphere by synchronizing lighting with music. The lighting changes color and brightness in accord with the beat and sound pressure of the music selected by the passenger, with the intent to create an environment that harmonizes with their emotional state.
A cabin fragrance featuring bamboo, a Lexus-signature material, is introduced for the first time. Five fragrances are offered, each inspired by the ‘Time in Design’ philosophy and drawn from nature. Each fragrance is complemented by original multimedia content, seamlessly integrating video, music, and ambient lighting for an immersive experience. The generator, located inside the glovebox, holds three cartridges, with scent dispersed through the speaker grille behind the instrument panel.
