AsianGirl007

iTrader: (1)

Hello Everyone,

For the first time ever Lexus is making a '04 ES330 SportDesign. Here's the information:

Production: February until June 2004

Colors: Graphite Gray Pearl, Thundercloud, and Black Onyx. For those of you not familiar with Thundercloud, it is a lot like a slightly darker silver with a faint rose hue. Very nice color and it was on the IS300 SportDesign last year. Very sporty color and everyone who saw it just loved it.

Interior Colors: Light Charcoal or Black Leather

Features: Channel spoke 16" wheels, Black Bird's Eye Maple (including steering wheel), SportDesign badge, Black Pearl emblem on rear, chrome emblem on front, and brushed metal strip on bottom of trunk lip (which is NOT confirmed).

lexusk8

Great info on the SportDesign ES. I believe some of us picked up the tip from the latest issue of the Lexus magazine, where they only made a brief mention about it. I kinda expected the BP emblem on the rear, but chrome emblem on the front? Brushed metal strip on the trunk lip reminds me of that from the late-model A6 sedan. I'm all for that new "feature" as long as it doesn't ruin the lines for the rest of the car

AsianGirl007

iTrader: (1)

Yes, the Black Pearl on the front and chrome on the back is strange, but perhaps they will rethink that. And the metal bar is not a for sure thing. I'm with you on the "please don't ruin the beautiful lines on the car". I'm sure Lexus will make the right decision in the end. I'm just glad they are coming back with the Graphite Gray. It was a popular seller and I hope they make a lot in that color with gray and not black.

lexusk8

Couldn't agree with you more on the GGP color option for the ES. That already looks exceptional on the current IS 300, and just think how much more attention this would catch for the ES. Graphite Gray Pearl with BP emblems on the ES... now that's a color combo I'd like to get for sure!

squarehat

If I recall correctly, the '02 GS 300 SportDesign had a chrome front emblem, but black pearl on the trunklid (not sure about the '03) . I remember considering this combination summer '02 when replacing my gold emblems; I went all-chrome instead.

Good color choices, I must say...

I was hoping for 17"s, to put on my '96 as an upgrade...

AsianGirl007

iTrader: (1)

Hmmm, I had always thought the SportDesign came with black emblems all around. Longo's Service manager has one from '03 and it has black pearl front and back. Strange, I can't remember for sure now about the '02's. I just assumed.......But I am looking forward to seeing a SportDesign ES330. This is a first. And oh, boy oh boy, if it they had put 17"s on that baby.......I would care less about that metal bar across the back. I'd take those wheels anyday!

XenonES3

Any suspension modifications such as stiffer shocks as in the GS300 SD?

Any pics of the SD ES yet?

AsianGirl007

iTrader: (1)

No, I haven't heard anything in the way of modifications, but they haven't started to build them yet so maybe they wil change that. Nothing is final yet. And no, there isn't a very good photo yet. The body will still look the same, but with the slight changes. I will post more information as soon as I hear anything, but this is pretty much it for now.

dreday68

Sounds interesting...... I don't like the exterior colors... i like my blue, and i'm not a big fan of the Black Bird's Eye Maple esp with black leather, As far as the chrome thing on the trunk..... i looked at my 330 and don't see how a chrome line on back would look good esp when the bagning is in black pearl....I think it will off set it. As the rims goes, i would like to see them, i like the normal chromes.
Can you get the nav/lev?

AsianGirl007

iTrader: (1)

Yes, all the usual NL packages are supposedly available, but I don't know yet the percentage of the build. Although, I'm sure it won't be that many with the upgraded package like on the IS300 and GS300 SportDesign before.

jaysonb

New info. is up at lexus.com :

http://www.lexus.com/models/es/sportdesign.html

squarehat

Thanks for the link, Jayson. Interior wood looks just as I'd imagined. Interesting choice of mesh style wheels, it's too bad Lexus didn't make them 17"

dreday68

interesting... I like it in graphite gray pearl. The wood doesn't look that nice/sporty, maybe i'm just used to the reg. wood. The rims are a little to much for me... that's my opinion.....

lexusk8

Stopped by one of the Lexus dealerships in CT, and spotted the ES330 SportDesign. There were 2 Black Onyx models in the lot (no luck in finding the Thundercloud color)

Here are just a few pics I took. Black pearl emblems always look great with Black Onyx

lexusk8

SportDesign badge