Two wholly battery-wed editions of Lexus sedan will site with ongoing hybrid version. It’s here next year.

ALLEGIANCE shift to sports utility wagons is such that the longest-lived members of the Lexus family - a pair of sedans - are now easily the lowest volume choices for Kiwis.

Even so, the LS that kicked off Toyota’s premium league push back in 1989 is still around and the New Zealand distributor is maintaining faith in the smaller ES, announcing the latest will be on sale here in 2026.

As per its seven previous iterations, the new ES unveiled at the Shanghai motor show is based on a journeyman Toyota sedan, the Camry.

But in its newest format the ES presents not only with the hybrid powertrain the Toyota cousin utilises but will also present as a full electric product.

Lexus New Zealand has yet to indicate if the completely battery edition has a place here; it said today that technical data, specifications and prices won’t be released until much closer to launch.

There’s also no word if the Camry could also adopt a battery-fed drivetrain, whose fitment has been made possible by a significant re-engineering of the GA-K platform.

Information shared at the show says the hybrid will be badged ES300h and will use a familiar 'self-charging' petrol-electric arrangement that produces either 149kW or 182kW and can drive either the front or both axles.

The new electric formats, meanwhile, is set to arrive in front-driven ES 350e form with 165kW or dual-motor, four-wheel-drive ES 550e form with 285kW.

Lexus hasn't yet detailed battery capacities or ranges, but it’s expected it will target a maximum 560 kilometres per charge to keep pace with German rivals.

The incoming ES is larger than the current product, noticeably being 165mm longer, to measure 5.14 metres overall, and obviously the styling is all new.

Chassis improvements include increased rigidity, optimised suspension-arm bush characteristics, and rear-wheel steering for the first time in an ES.

Electric models feature a closed-off front bumper while the hybrid version takes a slim version of the signature spindle grille.

Other new design elements include flush exterior door handles, "L-Signature" headlights and tail-lights, and rear light strip with an illuminated Lexus logo, along with a "low centre-of-gravity" stance.

Why the Shanghai show? Because China is ground zero for electric cars and also because Toyota has two battery sedans in the market, the purely-for-China bZ3 and bZ7.