The 2019 Lexus ES F Sport model gives the newest version of Lexus’ best-selling sedan a sporty look inside and out.
We have good news and bad news for all of you Lexus ES fans. We’ll start with the good news: Club Lexus went to Nashville last week to drive the all-new, seventh-generation 2019 Lexus. Over the course of several hours of driving, we learned all about its new frame, bold styling, special shocks, fresh interior, powertrain upgrades, and upgraded safety and infotainment technology. We got behind the wheel of the ES 350, whose 3.5-liter V6 now produces 302 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, thanks to D4-S fuel injection. We experienced the more powerful, 215-horsepower ES 300h hybrid and also spent some time in the first-ever ES F Sport, which features visual and performance upgrades to make the ES more visually distinctive and athletic.
So, what’s the bad news? The bad news is that we can’t share our driving impressions from any of those cars until June 7. However, we can share the video above. It follows Lexus’s rules and gives you a closer look at the ES F Sport. Like the LS F Sport, it wears a spindle grille filled with L-shaped elements. Its LC-inspired 19-inch wheels set it apart from less aggressive ES sedans. A rear spoiler also gets the message across. An Adaptive Variable Suspension is available. And no F Sport model would be complete without a set of badges that tell the world that it’s not a regular Lexus.
Inside, the ES F Sport is even more distinctive. Our test vehicle featured bright red seats with black accents. If that doesn’t say “sporty,” we don’t know what does. Then there’s the trim. It doesn’t just look cool; there’s a history behind it. According to Lexus, “Inspired by the making of a traditional Japanese sword, Hadori aluminum trim features fluctuating wave patterns that give it a three-dimensional appearance that varies depending on the viewing angle.”
You see the drive mode select knob above and to the right of the steering wheel? That allows you to access another thing that separates the ES F Sport from its more sedate siblings: Sport S+ mode. We’d tell you all about what it’s like to use, but it’s not June 7 yet. Once it is, check back here on Club Lexus for our full review of the 2019 Lexus ES.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
