Facelifted Lexus IS, all-new ES coming to PH this year
Lexus Philippines is looking to continue its strong momentum from 2025 onward to 2026. The Japanese luxury automaker, which sold 1,852 units last year making it the bestselling luxury brand in the local market, will be introducing new models this year.
Two, to be exact—the facelifted version of the IS compact sports sedan, and the all-new eighth generation of the ES midsize executive sedan.
Despite being over a decade old, the IS still lives on with its latest facelift revealed last year, albeit somewhat controversial with its wide iteration of the company’s signature spindle grille, along with L-E-X-U-S spelled out on the trunk lid.
Its interior receives a major revamp with a modernized and more upright dashboard design, featuring a new “Forged Bamboo” material for a distinctive look. It also gets a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, while the infotainment screen has also been enlarged to 12.3-inches.
Final specs and variants for the local version of the refreshed IS are not yet available, but we can expect it to carry-over from the current model. That would mean three variants: IS 300h Executive, IS 300h Premier, and the IS 350 F Sport; and choices of a hybrid or naturally-aspirated V6 powertrains.
The hybrid variants will likely retain its 2.5-liter 2AR-FSE naturally-aspirated engine that makes 181 horsepower and 221Nm of torque, paired to an electric motor making 143 horsepower and 300Nm. Combined system output is 223 horsepower.
Meanwhile, the F Sport’s 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 gasoline engine (2GR-FKS) is expected to soldier on with 315 horsepower and 380Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
You can read more about the facelifted Lexus IS here.
Equally as controversial is the all-new ES which debuted at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. Its arrival wouldn’t come as a surprise as it already made its regional debut at the Singapore Motor Show, earlier this month.
Completely redesigned, the midsize luxury executive sedan gains a sleeker and more distinct design with its Next-Generation Spindle Body design language. The interior also marks a dramatic shift in design with its futuristic vibe with large screens, matched with different kinds of Bamboo trim, depending on the variant.
Just like the IS, nothing is confirmed just yet for local specifications but guaranteed to come is a hybrid powertrain. That could be either a 2.0-liter four-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine with a total output of 197 horsepower, or the larger and more powerful 2.5-liter engine that makes 247 horsepower.
Other markets also get full electric versions with either single or dual electric motors, pushing out 224 horsepower and 342 horsepower, respectively, and with ranges of up to 685km on a single charge.
You can read more about the all-new Lexus ES here.
And while luxury car sales have taken a slump over the last year, Lexus Philippines is hopeful that it can defy that. Do you think they can continue their sales momentum with the refreshed IS and all-new ES?
