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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:

2013 Lexus ES300h

The Lexus ES lineup, the brand's bread-and-butter sedan, has been completely redone for 2013. With that tip-to-tail rework comes the model's first hybrid. We think the ES350 is better in every way than its predecessor, so a spin in the ES300h is warranted to see what it's like to live with the model sure to become the best-selling Lexus hybrid sedan. In particular, we wanted to see how the gas-electric luxury cruiser handled the battery-sapping realities of winter, so we ventured out into the slush and snow to file this report.
Driving Notes:
Peel away the slush, and this car sure is sharp-looking. It strongly resembles the excellent new GS, no bad thing. With the move to the longer Toyota Avalon underpinnings, the ES300h is long and elegant. Lexus has really upped its styling game lately.

12 best hybrid SUVs for 2022

If you're searching for the best hybrid SUV, the truth is there actually aren't that many choices. While there's an endless sea of those powered solely by gasoline, those that add batteries and superior fuel economy to the mix are few and far between. The very good news, however, is that the choices you have are actually excellent. The top-selling and top-rated Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are not only available as hybrids, for instance, but are actually at their most appealing as hybrids.  Luxury hybrid SUVs are a different story. While Lexus offers each of its crossover SUVs as a conventional hybrid, those of other brands are by and large plug-in hybrids that provide a relatively brief amount of all-electric propulsion, superior fuel economy and higher prices that are somewhat countered by EV tax rebates. We include both conventional hybrids and plug-in hybrids in the below list of best hybrid SUVs. All are listed alphabetically within each category. Best small hybrid SUVs   |   Best midsize hybrid SUVs Best luxury hybrid SUVs   |   Best luxury plug-in hybrid SUVs Best small hybrid SUVs Honda CR-V Hybrid Why it stands out: Best-in-class back seat space; hybrid's distinctive EV-like power delivery; middle lower LATCH anchorCould be better: Antiquated and glitchy tech interface; a bit dull Hybrid fuel economy: 38 mpg combined (AWD only) Read our 2022 Honda CR-V Review Consider the CR-V the baseline for any compact SUV search. Objectively speaking, it's tough to beat due to its massive cargo capacity, voluminous back seat, well-balanced driving dynamics, competitive pricing and features, strong safety ratings and well-regarded reliability. In terms of its hybridness, we like that Honda's distinctive hybrid system sees most of its propulsion handled by the electric motor (the engine rarely powers the wheels directly), resulting in a more EV-like, torque-rich power delivery and a less obtrusive gas engine. For the vast majority of compact SUV buyers, and especially families, the CR-V Hybrid checks every box.    Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Why it stands out: Beautiful interior; excellent infotainment and safety technology; traditional automatic transmissionCould be better: No spare tire; styling a tad outrageous Hybrid fuel economy: 37-38 mpg combined (AWD only) Plug-in hybrid electric range: 33 miles Plug-in hybrid fuel economy: 80 MPGe Read our 2022 Hyundai Tucson Review The Tucson is the new kid in town and it's made quite an entrance.