2016 Lexus ES 300h facelift goes on sale in Thailand

Revealed earlier on in April this year, the facelifted Lexus ES has now made its ASEAN sales debut in Thailand. Available only as a hybrid, the rejuvenated Lexus ES 300h is priced in the Land of Smiles from 3,490,000 baht (RM380,013) in Luxury trim – opting for the Premium variants will cost 3,970,000 baht (RM432,297). With the ES on sale in Thailand, could the same happen in Malaysia soon?

While we can’t confirm that just yet, we can provide you with a refresher course on what’s new when it comes to the reworked Toyota Avalon-based full-size sedan. In terms of exterior changes, the new Lexus ES gets a new front fascia incorporating the marque’s trademark ‘Spindle Grille’ design while the headlights themselves have been reshaped to feature a more stylised arrangement for the LED daytime running lights.

Elsewhere, changes are less noticeable with the rear end receiving new tail lamps with L-shaped internal graphics and a X-shaped chrome detail that links the rear lamp assemblies to the registration plate recess. On the hybrid model, the wheels feature a 10-spoke spiral-esque design while others get multi-spoke units.

On the inside, the facelifted Lexus ES features a new three-spoke steering wheel, a new gear selector design with leather boot and a 4.2-inch TFT LCD colour multi-info display, embossed seat upholstery and a new “Enter” button to complement the mouse-like Remote Touch Interface (RTI).

Under the skin, the facelifted Lexus ES range soldiers on with the same engine/gearbox combination. As such, expect the same 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine to feature alongside the 3.5 litre V6 and 2.5 hybrid powertrains. With that said, China, Russia and Taiwan will receive the refreshed Lexus ES with an all-new 2.0 litre direct-injection 6AR-FSE mill currently employed in the facelifted Toyota Camry 2.0.

In the case of the Thai-spec Lexus ES 300h, it is equipped with the 2.5 litre 2AR-FXE four-cylinder engine pumping out 158 hp and 213 Nm of torque. Said mill gets paired to a 105 kW electric motor that’s juiced up by a 650V nickel-metal hydride battery. As a result, total power output is rated at 202 hp.

Safety wise, the facelifted Lexus ES 300h is equipped with an arsenal of feature which includes Rear Cross Traffic Alert, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist and Lane Change Assist with blind spot assistance. Also, the new ES arrives with the Lexus Safety System+ platform which features vehicle- and pedestrian-detecting Pre-Collision System (PCS) emergency braking, Lane Departure Alert, auto high beam and radar cruise control.

GALLERY: 2016 Lexus ES facelift

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