2026 Lexus ES Gets Its Feet Wet in the Pixel Manipulation Game

Toyota's premium car brand has trademarked the ES350h, ES350e, and ES500e names, which tells us that the upcoming Lexus ES is in the making. Anyone familiar with the company's naming scheme knows that 'h' stands for hybrid, "h+' for plug-in hybrid, and 'e' for electric.

So, what does this tell us? The ES350h will feature a self-charging hybrid powertrain. It might be the same assembly used in the RX350h, which has 246 horsepower (250 ps/184 kW) combined. On the other hand, the ES350e and the ES500e will likely pack battery-electric firepower. It's impossible to speak about the magic numbers yet, though it is clear that the latter will be the range-topping EV model.

This is not the first time we've heard about a zero-emission Lexus ES, as the automaker teased a premium compact four-door two and a half years ago. Mind you, they haven't said anything about it since then and haven't released details about it, though it was clearly a reference to the ES given the identical profile (with a different front fascia).

Kolesa used that model as a starting point, with its clean-looking front and rear ends. The missing spindle grille might upset some Lexus fans, but we think it is an appealing proposal. The headlamps feature boomerang-shaped integrated LED DRLs, and the bumper has teardrop-shaped vertical side vents and a rather short and narrow lower air intake.

The profile is more of an evolution, and at the rear, it has full-width lights that span from one fender to the other. The trunk lid looks quite elegant, especially with the ducktail spoiler piece, and the bumper and diffuser are both sporty and elegant at the same time. The rendering artist gave it a white paint finish, chrome window surrounds, and large shiny alloys.

Rumors speak of a possible 2025 launch, and the upcoming Lexus ES might be a more comprehensive mid-cycle refresh rather than an entirely new generation. It will likely launch with self-charging hybrid and fully-electric firepower, as mentioned above, and we also expect some chassis revisions and likely a comprehensive makeover (for a facelift) inside.

We'd bet on a launch for the 2026 model year in the United States, but we could be wrong, as the upcoming ES might debut sooner or later. It's anyone's guess, so speculation is open, especially since Lexus remains tight-lipped about it. The automaker states it will offer an EV version of each model by the end of the decade and vows to go fully electric by the mid-2030s. So, do you dig the look of this imagined ES?