New Lexus ES: Radical design and forced innovation make me feel like my head is going to explode

To be honest, every time I see a new model released, I get excited. Especially a car like the Lexus ES, which is a "national car" in nature, has stable sales and a good reputation. It doesn't hurt to drive it to meet customers, and it doesn't break the rules when you go home to buy groceries. But when the eighth-generation ES was unveiled this time, my circle of friends immediately exploded - some people said it was the "car of the future", and some people left messages saying, "Have Lexus designers resigned en masse?"

Let's talk about this car. The brand foundation is there, the three-electric technology is not to mention, the safety configuration is full, and the power system is adequate, but the problem lies in the design. It's not just a minor repair, but the entire face has changed. In the past, the ES would shake its head when walking, and it was one of those "first to use chopsticks" models. But now it is better. Many people said "dissuade" after watching it for the first time. I'm not really nitpicking, let's take a look, what's wrong with this generation of ES?

Let’s talk about the appearance first. The front face is really big. The spindle-shaped grille not only did not tighten, but opened wider, like a mouth that could never have enough to eat. The restrained Japanese luxury of the old model is gone, replaced by the forced presence of "I must make you notice me." Headlight set? Netizens joked that it is a "shrimp waistline + squinting eyes". It is slender and has a low-lying body. From a distance, it looks like someone's failed modification sticker has not yet been removed.

Call it radical, I can accept it, after all, aesthetics are diverse. But the problem is that the Ideal L9 and NIO ET7 next door have long understood the sense of simplicity and high-end, but here you have adopted a "stacked design", with so many lines that it seems that it is not complex enough. In theory, the drag coefficient should be optimized, right? As a result, looking at the data, there is no improvement compared to the seventh generation, or even slightly higher. This is a bit of a slap in the face - you say you want sportiness, but the wind resistance has not dropped; you say you want luxury, but it looks too noisy visually.

Looking at the side, the waistline running through the front and back is officially called "flowing light and shadow", and netizens directly call it "shrimp line". I understand that the designer wanted to express a sense of strength, but this line stretches from the front of the car to the taillights, and makes a small bend in the middle, making the body of the car look like someone has pinched it. Originally, the ES was positioned as a comfort-oriented executive-class sedan, but now it looks like a muscular man who hasn't finished training, and is a bit stiff.

The rear of the car is stable, with through-type taillights + duck tail, the whole thing is quite coordinated. But if you look carefully, the internal structure of the taillight is complicated. It is probably very bright when lit at night, but it looks a bit superfluous during the day. The only place that can be said to be "success without success" is actually at the rear of the car. Do you think this design is a bit unbalanced?

Sitting in the car, my first reaction was: Lexus, don't you really see how Ideal and Wenjie copy their homework?

The interior of the seventh generation, although the central control screen is a bit smaller, is superior in texture. The leather, wood grain, and metal splicing all have a Japanese Zen feel. But as soon as the eighth generation came on, the entire cockpit seemed to have been filled with cement again - the center console became thicker, and the screen was forced to stand in the middle, which looked like a replica of the early "large screen stacking" of some domestic cars. The most outrageous thing is the green trim strip that runs through the entire instrument panel. At first glance, I thought someone’s new energy vehicle had run out of battery and it gave an alarm.

Don't tell me, this color is really exciting. I can understand the use of contrasting colors in luxury cars, but the green color is like moss in front of my eyes. Is this aesthetic time-traveled back to 2008? You know, the interiors of mainstream luxury brands are now adopting a minimalist style. Tesla, NIO, Xpeng, and even BMW have begun to reduce buttons and create white space. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of buttons, and the decoration has been increased, making it look like an old Gulu stick has been refurbished.

The space has not shrunk, the back row can still be used as a "bed car", the legs are roomy, and the floor is flat, so it is no problem for home use. The seat comfort configuration is also online, and a full set of heating, ventilation and massage are available. But the problem is, when you are dissuaded by the interior at first sight when you sit in, who is willing to try the rear row?

In terms of power, ES still has the familiar combination: 2.0L+CVT, 2.5L+8AT, and a hybrid version. The fuel economy is good. The hybrid version can consume just over 5L per 100 kilometers in urban areas, which is really good for a medium to large sedan. The smoothness of the power system is as stable as ever, and the driving is quiet and smooth, especially suitable for commuting in traffic jams.

But here’s the thing – who cares about how smoothly you drive now? Everyone is more concerned about whether L2 level assisted driving can be standard on all series. And guess what? The smart driving system of the eighth-generation ES is still an "optional package", and even adaptive cruise must be available in high-end configurations. BYD Han and Geely Xingrui have long regarded L2 as standard equipment.

If you say that your brand has a high premium, you have to justify it. Safety is adequate, there are many airbags, and the body rigidity is strong, but the intelligence aspect is simply out of control. Nowadays, when young people buy cars, who still keeps an eye on the engine parameters every day? What others want is automatic parking, lane keeping, and voice wake-up. You're better off. The central control screen is still unresponsive, and the UI design looks like a feature phone from ten years ago.

Let’s compare two rivals to get a better idea.

One is the Cadillac CT5, an American luxury car with handling being its strong point. The chassis is tuned to be sporty, the steering is precise, and it can accelerate from 100 kilometers to 6 seconds. It is a real "driving toy". But the shortcomings are also obvious - high fuel consumption, no hybrid version, and it is a "gas tiger" when driving in the city. The interior quality is good, but the engine system is also average, about the same as the ES. But it wins in terms of price. After the terminal discount, "the sky fell" immediately, and the price/performance ratio immediately improved.

The other is BYD Han EV, a pure electric + plug-in hybrid that walks on two legs. The exterior design is grand, and the interior is full of technology. DiPilot assisted driving is standard in all series, and you can use it if you want to use it at L2 level. The faster version accelerates to 100 kilometers in 3.9 seconds, which is a direct kill of a gas-powered vehicle. The key is that the price is honest and the configuration is not expensive. The shortcomings are that the brand heritage is not as good as Lexus, and the value retention rate is slightly lower, but who would drive a car for ten years without changing the car?

After such a comparison, the embarrassment of ES comes out: you say it is luxurious, and the design is eye-catching; you say it is technological, but its intelligence is almost meaningless; you say it is fuel-efficient, and other electric cars are cheaper. It is like an "old-school gentleman" who still adheres to tradition, but the times no longer buy it.

To be honest, I feel sorry for Lexus. The former "highway lightning" won the market by being steady and steady. However, when the eighth-generation ES came out, it was so unreliable and the design was so subverted that it made your head split. You can innovate, but you can’t cut off the emotional connection between users. What ES fans want is not shocking, but a sense of calm, decent, and quiet high-end.

It's better now. The front looks like an alien spaceship, and the interior looks like the Wizard of Oz. When you drive it out, let alone shake your head while walking, my friends will ask: "Is your car modified?"

So I want to ask you: Do you still love this Lexus ES? If it were you, what would you choose? Should we continue to support this old friend, or turn around and fall into the arms of new forces? Let’s chat in the comment area and let’s see how many people are like me. The moment they saw the actual car, they silently said: “The sky is falling.”