There was talk that the new grille resembles the Predator villain in the Danny Glover / Predator movies. Looks just like the creature when he opens up his mouth, to which Danny comments something to the effect of it being a *#@!%^& ugly.

 

it's on avalon platform, so bigger than GS but bit cheaper looking. can't wait to see it. it should have a lot in common with the current GS.

 

You are certain it is using the Avalon chassis? The Avalon is just a stretched Camry platform... so the ES really is still based on the Camry. I guess we'll find out when the specs are released.

I'm really not in favor of the ES getting any bigger. It's perfect the size it is now.

 

Agreed, the ES' size is just right.

 

I agree that the current ES350 is the right size and hope they don't make it bigger.

A year or so ago Car & Driver did a comparo and they kept mentioning that the ES was the smallest of the group which included Genesis, LaCrosse and Taurus. Even with the smallest V6, it performed very well in acceleration, braking, gas mileage etc. due to it's reasonable size and weight.

 

I sat in a new Taurus when they came out. The ES350 was far more roomy at the drivers seat.

 

I drove a Taurus for a whole week during a business trip and I can tell you the ride is laughable compared to the ES. Shifting is somewhat coarse and not as smooth as the ES. Fit and finish below the ES. On the plus side it is roomier and has more trunk space than the ES.

 

View at your own risk. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uAEzQZe6g0

 

For years Toyota/ Lexus has been very good at hiding new models. How is it now we seem to be getting spy photos?

Are we getting better or????

 

My opinion:

Side & rear views look pretty good--evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Interior isn't much of an improvement--maybe none at all. I Really don't like the analog clock.

The line where the hood meets the front bumper is odd, strange & quite ugly. The GS is MUCH nicer.

 

I attended the auto show in Boston a few weeks ago and met a district manager. I was really liking the new GS and we started engaging in conversation. I told him I think this (the GS) was going to be my next car. I have a 2006 ES and I am ready for a new car this year. He told me to wait until I see the new ES this summer because he knows that I will fall in love with it based on my attraction to the new GS and what I told him I like.

 

Pics of the new ES have been out here you go if youre too lazy to youtube them. I love the new es and I own a ls460 and a sc430 too bad I cant use another 4 door lol

 

I really like the exterior design, but I'm not loving what they did to the interior; it doesn't look luxurious anymore and has just a mismatch of odd shapes and the analog clock sucks!

 

I thought so to... but I'd guess that the official photos (whenever they are out), will make it "look" better. It won't really do anything to the shapes and the analog clock of course, but better lighting and professional photography can turn the appearances of a pig into a beauty queen

(no, I didn't call the ES a pig!!!!)

 

It is what it is. I had an Infiniti a few years ago and they all come with analog clocks. They are terrible. You had to stare at the thing to tell what time it is. Hopefully, they'll still have a digital clock up on the information/nav screen.