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New for 2014, the ES 350 gains LED fog lamps and adds the availability
of bamboo interior trim, which was already offered in the ES 300h. In
addition, customers who do not prefer leather can now get heated/ventilated seats in perforated NuLuxe trim. Genuine leather-trim is available,
as is semi-aniline leather for a more refined look and feel.
Long a leader in user technology that’s easy to use, Lexus has integrated
Sirii Eyes Free Mode, with technology licensed from Apple, in the 2014
ES 350. Compatible with the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 models forward,
Siri lets you call contacts, select and play music from iTunes, get turn-byturn navigation through Siri and Apple maps, and much more. To help
you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, Siri can read
notifications, read calendar information and allow you to add reminders,
calendar appointments and notes.
The Car That Reshaped Its Category
The original ES sedan upended the entry luxury category nearly 25 years
ago by making a V6 standard in a segment populated by four-cylinder
models, and by offering more interior room and more standard luxury
amenities. Lexus continues to set the trend in the entry-luxury segment
by virtue of a unique two-model sedan strategy: The front-wheel drive
ES models emphasise roominess and comfort, and the sport-minded IS
models, which are built on a different platform, offer a choice between
rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. In contrast, other brands try to
mold one model series to fit both roles.
The ES 350 offers an unmistakable look in the class, thanks in large part
to the brand’s distinctive spindle grille design flanked by L-themed LED
daytime running lights. The roof sweeps back for a coupe-like stance,
and the taillights repeat the L motif. The shape cheats the wind with a
low 0.27 coefficient of drag (Cd), which helps fuel efficiency while minimising wind noise.
This generation ES 350 design also fools the eye, offering more interior
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space in a sleeker package. The 1.8-inch stretch in wheelbase over the
previous generation yielded a 4.1-inch gain in rear seat legroom, which
now stretches to 40 inches (on par with larger sedans) and a 2.8-inch
increase in knee room.
Even with the sleeker roofline, this generation ES 350 offers nearly an
inch more rear seat headroom than the previous generation. Rear passengers also get more foot spacebelow the front seats.
Lexus filled the larger space with comfort, features and design details
that belie the “entry luxury” label. The ES 350 comes standard with 10way adjustable power front seats, automatic climate control, NuLuxe
interior available in parchment, light gray or black and elegant piano
black trim for instrument panel, doors and upper console. Lexus offers
espresso bird’s eye maple for the trim or, new for 2014, bamboo. Also
available, 12-way heated/ventilated power front seats allow the seat
cushions to extend by 1.4 inches for added leg support.
Several options take luxury to an even higher level, including the optional Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) that
helps detect vehicles in side blind spots and alerts the driver to rear
cross traffic when backing out of a parking spot. Also available are Premium and Luxury packages, and bringing flagship-style luxury to the ES
350, the Ultra Luxury Package.
Lexus designed the ES 350’s controls to help reduce both driver body
movement and eye movement. The ES 350’s available second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) is designed to provide access to many
vehicle functions while helping to reduce driver movement. Using the
system controller on the centre console, the driver can intuitively operate the climate control, audio system, phone, optional navigation system and more, which helps the driver with paying attention to the road.
Menus display in the 3.5-inch instrument panel screen or larger centredashboard screens that come with audio and navigation options.
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