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Lexus ES sedan (probably) teased ahead of Beijing debut

Lexus has shared a teaser image of a yet-unnamed future production car, which we believe to be the upcoming ES. The now-familiar spindle grille fills almost the entire image, which Lexus has served us with the tagline "Expect the Unexpected". So, what to expect? Word on the street is that the rear-drive GS saloon is on its way out for good, and the ES would fill its shoes. The 2011-introduced GS has been a slow seller recently, and Lexus might lift the ES to the position of its sole midsize sedan – especially as it moves onto the new TNGA platform already used by the Camry and Avalon, known ES relatives on the Toyota side of things. Let's not forget the ES nameplate debuted way back in the late '80s on a posher Camry with frameless windows, and the models have walked hand-in-hand ever since. The "Unexpected" tagline could be justified by offering all-wheel drive, which would be a first in the ES; the blue tinge of the teaser's Lexus logo refers to a hybrid system, which is also mentioned in the company's teaser tweet. The car will be a global model, which the ES hasn't yet been. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. At 7,773 units, the ageing GS's 2017 sales have nearly halved from 2016's 14,878, which also saw a significant drop from over 23,000 cars sold in 2015, when it was last refreshed. By comparison, Lexus sold over 51,000 ES models last year, also topping 2017's Toyota Avalon sales by almost 20,000 cars. Perhaps the more aristocratic GS isn't seen as a viable as the more bread-and-butter ES, which could be imported to Europe for the first time ever. Earlier this month, we reported that GS orders and production are being called off. Lexus will unveil the new car in Beijing later this month. More teasers are likely to be on their way, and with them, we can report more about the car's appearance and likely spec. In a flurry of crossovers, a traditional saloon sounds like a fresh thing to introduce. Related Video:

Ford barely edges surging Chrysler for Canadian sales crown in best year ever

The auto industry in the US showed strong results through much of 2014 with sales regularly growing year-over-year for many brands. That same trend carried over in the Great White North, as well. Canada posted its best numbers ever with 1.85 million units sold, up about 100,000 vehicles over 2013. The country nearly had a new market leader, too. The big winner among our neighbors to the north in 2014 was Ford with 291,951 vehicles sold, up 3 percent from 2013, according to Reuters. That success also handed the company the sales crown for the fifth consecutive year. In large part, the strong result came from the company's popular trucks, which represented about 80 percent of overall sales. "Ford moved into the number one position in September and didn't look back," said a note to clients by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants quoted by Reuters. However, the Blue Oval didn't exactly take an overwhelming lead for the year. The company nearly had to hand over the sales trophy to FCA after the company rallied in the latter part of the year. The Italian-American conglomerate had its best results ever to nip at the Ford's heels and move 290,004 units for 2014, a 12-percent improvement from last year. Jeep especially helped the bottom line with over 50-percent growth, according to Reuters. Only two other brands were able to break the 200,000-vehicle barrier in Canada for 2014. General Motors came in third place overall with 249,800 sales, up 6.3 percent. The combined Toyota and Lexus also barely jumped the hurdle with 200,851 units moved, a 2.8 percent improvement.

2018 Lexus LC 500h is a wonderful mechanical mishmash

Lexus is following up on the Detroit debut of the LC 500 with a Geneva debut for a new hybrid model that, yes, has a four-speed automatic. We're still getting used to the idea, too. But as we've explained before, even with the old-school gearbox there's some real cutting edge stuff going on here. While the LC hybrid will have a four-speed auto, it will work in conjunction with an eCVT, a Lexus hybrid system, and possibly black magic. It's all very complicated – you can get particulars here – but it's best to think of the LC 500h's transmissions not as a CVT and a four-speed auto, but as a sort of ten-speed hybrid of the two, since both systems are always engaged. The hybrid system is much more familiar. There's a 3.5-liter V6, a battery pack, and two electric motors. Total system output is 354 ponies and Lexus claims the sprint to 60 mph will be done in under five seconds. For the record, the gas-only LC is projected to do the deed in around 4.5 seconds, so the hybrid shouldn't be a dramatic compromise in terms of performance. Of course, stats only tell so much. The ultimate question for the LC 500h is how its wild mix of transmissions, batteries, motors, and an engine will behave on the road. We don't have an answer for that yet, but we do have live images of the new hybridized Lexus at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Check them out. Related Video: Lexus at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show - World Premiere of the LC 500h luxury coupe with next-generation Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System - European Premiere of the LF-FC concept Lexus will unveil the hybrid version of its all-new LC luxury coupe at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The LC 500h is equipped with Lexus' next generation hybrid powertrain, the Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, providing enhanced driving pleasure, more performance, and greater efficiency. The LC was first revealed at the 2016 North America International Auto Show. Its styling, performance and craftsmanship position the vehicle as Lexus' flagship coupe. The LC also utilizes Lexus' new architecture that promises enhanced dynamic capability. Inspired by the acclaimed LF-LC concept that debuted in 2012, the LC represents a shift in Lexus' engineering processes and design ideologies, and marks the beginning of a new phase for the Lexus brand.