The 2026 Lexus ES Has Leaked And It Confirms Much Of What I Suspected

The Lexus ES legacy spans seven generations and continues to be one of the company's best-selling models on a global scale. The Lexus front-wheel-drive luxury sedan doesn't have any direct competition. The eight-generation Lexus ES is in the works. So far, I have gathered a few bits and pieces, but the latest leaks from China confirm much of what I already deduced. Moreover, we know the names of some of the model designations the 2026 Lexus ES will have, when it arrives. 

For the first time, Lexus ES will be available as a fully-electric sedan 

The eight-generation Lexus ES will feature fully electric variants. So far, we know Lexus has trademarked ES350e and ES500e, which means you will be able to get the ES as an EV in at least two different variants. Lexus has also trademarked the ES350h name, which is expected to be a plug-in hybrid. While not yet confirmed, the Lexus ES300h is also expected to make a return, likely as an FHEV model, as it has always been. 

The rest of the ES lineup will, likely, comprise of hybrids 

No more pure gas power for the 2026 Lexus ES. The luxury sedan will be available as a full EV or as a hybrid. This is part of Toyota's plan to offer mostly BEV models while keeping the internal combustion engine around with one of Toyota's focuses being the development of synthetic fuels. Toyota's new engines will power most of the company's models. Like the Lexus IS, which loses the V-6 option, the Lexus ES will be powered by the new, 2.0-liter turbo-four.  

The same engine, which in non-hybrid form, will power the upcoming Toyota Celica GR Sport and Toyota MR-2 GRMN. For the more mainstream applications, this engine will be a part of a hybrid system and offer a variety of power levels. We know one of the engine's variants will develop 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet instead of 400 horsepower and 405 pound-feet in the upcoming Toyota sports cars. Will this be a new Lexus ES F-Sport? I don't know yet.  

Comprehensive facelift or a completely new model? 

As it turns out, both. Toyota Camry got a refresh in 2023, and while it has a new internal designation –XV80 – it is little more than a comprehensive refresh of the XV70. According to the leaked information, the same will be partially true for the Lexus ES, at least for the sedan's variants that feature an internal combustion engine. As you can see from the leaked images, the exterior changes will be quite minor. From what we see so far, the headlights will feature different dual-LED graphics for the DRLs. The overall shape of the headlights is the same.  

The taillights will also feature different LED graphics, but aside from that, it is business as usual. I expect the Lexus logo would be replaced with "Lexus” lettering. I will not comment on the minor differences of the rear apron as the styling will, likely, depend on which Lexus ES trim you choose. 

The leaks highlight certain areas of the ES refresh, like the hood, front doors, and boot lid, by the looks of it. Perhaps, the restyling will include minor changes to these parts. 

The EV variants of the Lexus ES, however, will get a very different design. The 2021 Lexus Electrified Sedan Concept, pretty much, shows what we can expect. Russian publication, Kolesa.ru came up with its own renderings of what the fully-electric Lexus ES will look like, and it seems very plausible that this is what you will be getting if you go for the EV version of the Lexus ES. 

About the author 

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image sources: Lexus Electrified Sedan, Lexus ES EV render, 2025 Lexus ES, Lexus ES refresh