Considering that the Shanghai Auto Show closed several days ago and that Lexus made no announcements/reveals there about the ES, I think that is a good indication that the ES will be largely unchanged for the 2018 model year and that the Generation 7 ES will not appear until, at the earliest, the 2019 model year.

 

I missed my chance to look at the 2018 ES body a couple of week ago (or at least the shell). I'm working on the filler pipe assembly line for the new Camry, Avalon and ES 350. Toyota brought the bodies by but I was out and didn't get to see them. The gas tanks are also changing for all the models listed but I don't know in what way as this is the first time that this company has made them so I have nothing to compare (as told that the fuel pump could now be accessed under the Camry rear seat if that makes a difference).

On a side note, does Toyota or Lexus make any of the Hybrids in the US? I saw that the Camry Hybrid tank is going to be made in Lebanon, KY and I don't recall Toyota or Lexus making a hybrid in the US before.

 

Up to now, the Lexus ES 300h is made only in Japan.

Camry Hybrids were initially built solely at the Tsutsumi plant in Toyota, Aichi, Japan, although the hybrid has never been available for purchase in its home market. Since October 2006, models for the North American market shifted production to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in the United States.

Unfortunately, I believe that Les may be correct and that the 2018 Executive Sedan (ES) will have no major changes. I was hoping for a model change...

 

Wow, I had no idea that the hybrid Camry was made here, much less since 2006, lol. Show's how much I kept up on hybrids.

Thanks for the info.

 

so no redesigned ES until the 2019 model year? September 2018?

 

Sounds about right..We have the new Camry now... The new Avalon and ES should appear next year. Well, I'm hoping at least.

 

Booo. I wanted a new generation 7 for 2018...

 

It makes sense to me--it's what I had always thought (er, guessed). Three years with a 6th gen in 2013/14/15 and then a mid-cycle update for three more years, 2016/17/18. Then a new style, 7th gen, in 2019. The previous 5th gen went from 2009-2012, seven years. I'm just wondering what more can be put into the car and yet keep the price in the mid $40s (depending on options). I think the price point is also what people like. I like to hold my cars for 10 years or so, so I'm looking forward to the 8th gen in 2025 or so. Sweet! Ha! =)

 

I think that you may have a typo and/or counting error. The Generation 5 ES went from the 2007 model year through to the 2012 model year, and that is a total of 6 model years.

 

Here's the info on the '18 ES from Motor Trend:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/2018-...s-guide/#lexus

 

I just noticed that dealership have 2018 es350s in stock on their websites. Does anyone know if there are any differences if any from the 2017s?

 

Not really

 

I notice that the 2018 ES (and other models) is now up on the Lexus website.

http://www.lexus.com/models/ES

 

Looks like they added a new rim option with dark gloss.

 

New interior color as well.