Home Car Brands 2021 Lexus ES 250 Now In Malaysia; F SPORT Variant Added To...

2021 Lexus ES 250 Now In Malaysia; F SPORT Variant Added To Range

by Zachary Ho - Oct 18, 2021

The 2021 Lexus ES 250 is now available in Malaysia and all authorised Lexus outlets nationwide are taking bookings. This executive sedan comes with several updates and enhancements to its looks and features. The F SPORT variant has also been included in the range bringing it to 3 choices for the buyer with the other 2 being Premium and Luxury.

One of the changes involves the signature spindle grille. It now has fewer vertical bars and the L-shaped patterns emphasise a lateral flow. Meanwhile, the F SPORT variant sports a mesh pattern grille with interlocking “L” elements in a dark metallic finish. The cut-outs at each corner of the front fascia also sport the black finish mesh and have wider openings than the other two variants.

Complementing the revised spindle grille are restyled headlamps. For the Lexus ES 250 Premium, the Bi-LED Projector units have a new inner bezel design. Whereas the ES 250 Luxury and ES 250 F SPORT have ultra-compact 3-beam LED projector headlamps and a new Daytime Running Light design.

Other differentiating features on the F SPORT variant are a rear spoiler as well as 19″ alloy wheels in a Dark Premium metallic finish. The other 2 variants sit on 18″ alloys, with the ES 250 Premium sporting a new wheel design with a Dark Grey metallic finish.

For the cabin, the ES 250 Premium and Luxury give the option of an elegant Black with Walnut Black trim or a more luxurious Walnut Brown trim with Hazel upholstery. The ES 250 Luxury can also be ordered with Walnut Black trim and Mauve upholstery (a medium brown colour). As for the F SPORT, it gets an exclusive Flare Red or Black upholstery with Aluminium finish on the trim.

The ES 250 Luxury also features reclining rear seats with ventilation which can be controlled via the panel on the centre armrest. Media and the sun blind can also be accessed from this control panel as well. The Luxury variant also has a ‘boss seat’ adjustment to move the front seat forward. Additionally, USB Type C connectors are now standard on the ES 250 for ease of connectivity. The USB ports are available for the front as well as rear occupants, along with 12V sockets and a Qi wireless charger in the front armrest storage. The ES 250 is also the first Lexus model to get as standard the Nanoe-X negative ion generator which improves cabin air quality.

For the driver, the advanced cockpit design has been updated with a new multimedia display for improved usability. The screen has been repositioned 112 mm closer to the occupants and turned 5 degrees towards the driver. The full colour touchscreen is a 12.3″ unit in the Luxury and F SPORT variants, and 8″ in the Premium. Like before, the multimedia system includes Navigation services for the ES 250 Luxury and the new F SPORT.

The F-SPORT gets more differentiating features to emphasise its sportier character. For instance, the light-emitting analogue clock on the dashboard has its own unique L-shaped graphics, while the meter has an electric movable metal ring with a 3-D effect. This concept was first used in the Lexus LFA supercar and is also found in other F SPORT variants. A leather-covered 3-spoke F SPORT steering wheel, dimpled leather-trimmed shift knob and sporty aluminium pedals and footrest round off the F SPORT package.

The sportiness of the F SPORT is more biased towards its looks as all 3 variants use the 2.5L DOHC A25A-FKS 4-cylinder 16-valve petrol engine. This long-stroke engine puts out 204 hp @ 6,600 rpm and 247 Nm of torque @ 5,000 rpm. The engine features multi-hole direct injectors, a continuously variable-capacity oil pump, a variable cooling system, and VVT-iE on the intake valves, and is engineered to deliver effortless acceleration and efficiency. The ES 250 has an official 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 9.1 seconds, and a maximum speed of 210 km/h.

Power is delivered to the front wheels via a Direct Shift 8-speed automatic transmission that uses an ultra-thin torque converter and a multi-plate lock-up clutch. This gives the direct feel of a dual clutch system with the smoothness of a traditional torque converter automatic. Further, a related system called Direct Connected Downshift allows the transmission to skip gears when large throttle openings are detected, such as when overtaking on the highway. Selectable Drive Modes include Normal, Sport and Eco.

Lexus_Steering_Paddle Shifters_Meter Cluster

Lexus ES_Drive Mode Selector_Clock_F SPORT

Lexus ES 250 F SPORT_Gear Lever_Touchpad

A core element of the ES 250 is the Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform. More than just an engineering achievement, the GA-K platform includes a chassis made from several grades of high-strength steel to further solidify the already robust structure. The platform also enhances core performance criteria to deliver excellent straight-line driving stability, cornering poise, and braking ability.

The 2021 ES 250 gets improved ride comfort and handling with a more rigid rear suspension. A brace has been added to support the trailing arm double wishbone rear. Additionally, the ES 250 Luxury and F SPORT gets performance dampers. These chassis-mounted dampers absorb even the tiniest amount of frame compression or flex to keep them from generating any resonance that might cause interior cabin noise.

Another improvement to this premium sedan is the inclusion of the Lexus Safety System+ as standard for all variants. For this updated model, the Pre-Collision System (PCS) has been enhanced with daytime bicyclist detection by both a millimetre-wave radar and a monocular camera sensor. Pedestrian identification in certain low-light situations is also improved due to improvements in the camera’s sensitivity and dynamic range.

The other elements of LSS+ are Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with Stop & Go Function; Lane Keeping Assist (LKA); Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) and Lane Departure Alert (LDA); and Adaptive High-Beam System (AHS).

AHS is now more advanced due to its BladeScan technology. This system uses LED-sourced light that shines onto blade mirrors that spin at high speed and is then transferred to a lens to illuminate the road ahead. A residual image effect prevents the light from appearing to be moving, and the BladeScan system can precisely control light distribution by synchronizing the rotation of the blade mirrors and switching the LED lights on and off. This makes the AHS capable of more intelligent shielding of light compared to conventional AHS as it broadens the range of high beam illumination, enabling the driver to recognise pedestrians and road signs without dazzling drivers in the opposite lane.

Lexus Safety System_Steering_Controls_Paddle Shift

Lexus ES_LED Projector Headlight_Daytime Running Light

Coupled with AHS is the new Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) which computes vehicle speed and steering input to direct the low beams in the direction of travel. This intuitive feature is helpful in a variety of scenarios, from winding roads to urban driving, as it lights the path well in advance to improve visibility and driving confidence.

Also available for all ES 250 variants are Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Parking Support Brake (PKSB). Both these systems contribute to the mitigation of damage in collisions in places such as parking lots or in minor collisions with vehicles approaching from the rear or sides (while the car is being reversed out). PKSB also helps to prevent frontal collisions in the event of misapplication of the accelerator pedal.

Another protection offered is the anti-theft feature which includes an inclination sensor. This sensor detects when the car is tilted e.g. while being towed and triggers a siren.

“As one of the most accomplished executive sedans on the road, the Lexus ES 250 elicits admiration for its impeccable engineering and styling that satisfies any discerning taste. Combined with the Lexus attention to detail and constant quest for excellence, the improvements to the updated model will invariably retain the Lexus ES 250 as the choice sedan to arrive in,” said President of Lexus Malaysia Mr Ravindran K.

“The Lexus ES 250 truly showcases the ability of Lexus engineers in creating a well-balanced and refined automobile that appeals to a wide audience. It is a finely-developed automobile that brings luxury motoring to anyone who appreciates excellent engineering in a vehicle that can be depended on it as a chauffeured automobile or a daily driver,” added Mr Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of Lexus Malaysia.

The Lexus ES 250 comes in a range of 8 exterior colours for the Premium and Luxury variants. Besides the 2 new colours i.e. Sonic Iridium and Sonic Chrome, there are the Sonic Quartz, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Red Mica Crystal Shine, Ice Ecru Mica Metallic, and Deep Blue Mica.

Meanwhile, the ES 250 F SPORT has 2 exclusive colours i.e. Heat Blue Contrast Layering and White Nova Glass Flake, to complement the Sonic Iridium, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Sonic Chrome and Red Mica Crystal Shine options.

The retail prices for the 2021 Lexus ES 250 are: