Lexus ES History
Lexus ES History
Introduction
When the Lexus ES was first introduced in 1989, it was one of two vehicles in Lexus’ United States debut lineup. Six generations later, the sedan has grown in popularity and in size, establishing Lexus as one of the top luxury brands in the car industry.
Early History
The first Lexus ES debuted in January 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit as the launch of the Lexus division. Based on the Toyota Camry, the ES first entered initial production on August 30, 1989, at Toyota’s Aichi, Japan, assembly plant as a compact luxury car. By its fourth generation, the ES was considered a mid-sized luxury sedan, focused on the comfort luxury segment with an emphasis on interior amenities, quietness, and ride quality.
Recent History
Since its introduction, the Lexus ES has changed from a compact luxury car with minimal equipment options in its first generation to a sixth-generation full-size sedan that offers a number of luxury and tech features that were almost unimaginable when the car first launched. While it’s not the most sporty of cars, it has everything you could possibly want and more.
Lexus ES Awards
- 2009 U.S. News & World Report Best Upscale Car for the Money
- 2006 Consumer Reports Highest Ranked Upscale/Large Car in Reliability
- 2007 Canadian Car of the Year Awards “Best New Luxury Car”
- 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2006 J.D. Power and Associates “Best Entry Luxury Car in Initial Quality”
- 2004, 2005, 2007 Intellichoice “Best Overall Value Award in the Near Luxury Segment”
- 1998, 2001 Kelley Blue Book “Best to Hold Value Award”
- 1992 Automobile Magazine “Top Ten All-Stars”