Perfection, prestige and performance - the all new Lexus ES 350 luxury sedan

The launch of this stunning new car took place at the prestigious new Lexus showroom at Dubai Festival City.

Present at the launch was Mr. Hiroyuki Hirata, the Chief Engineer from the Lexus Development Centre in Japan, who lead the team responsible for the development of the new ES 350.

Colin Leitch, the Managing Director of Al- Futtaim Motors, said "The new ES 350 is the latest example of the new Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy - simplicity and purity, intriguing elegance, and welcoming hospitality. This beautiful luxury sedan seamlessly combines Perfection, Prestige and Performance in one irresistible package."

Embodying the Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy, the ES 350 has a long, sleek cabin, a dynamic grille and distinctive wrap-around tail-lamps, giving it a simple yet elegant silhouette. Its flowing lines and tapered front provide for improved aerodynamics, delivering reduced wind noise, a quieter and more relaxing drive and improved fuel economy.

Designed for improved handling, the 17 inch, 7-spoke alloy wheels also add to the ES 350's elegant styling. Also available are 17 inch, 10-spoke wheels for an even more attractive look.

The ES 350 provides an exhilarating drive, powered by a 3.5 litre, V6 engine that delivers an impressive 272 horsepower. With 35.1 kg-m of torque at 4,700 rpm (SAE net), the ES 350 accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in just 7.0 seconds. Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVTi) optimises both the intake and exhaust valve timing throughout the rpm range, providing lower emissions whilst improving acceleration and responsiveness. The dual exhausts add more than just style, providing more surface area with which to remove gases from the engine, to generate peak horsepower.

This powerful engine is coupled with a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift and uses its wide gear-ratio spread to deliver exceptional torque at any speed, and provide improved fuel economy.

The ES 350 has an exceptionally spacious interior to provide the driver and passengers with relaxing and comfortable motoring. The wheelbase is longer that the previous model, providing more room for rear passengers, although by shortening the front and rear overhangs, the overall length of the new car remains the same.

The new car's elegant interior is also luxuriously equipped with leather upholstery and genuine wood trim. Semi-aniline upholstery is also available, a higher grade of leather with an exceptionally supple and natural feel. The power adjustable driver and front passenger seats have 8-way adjustability, including electronically controlled lumbar support. The driver's seat also has a two position memory system, which includes the door mirror positioning.

The much quieter interior provides an excellent environment to enjoy the premium 300 watt Mark Levinson Surround Sound audio system with 14 speakers (8 speakers on some models).It is powered by a 10-channel amplifier and features a 6-disc, in-dash CD/DVD auto-changer.

The new ES 350 is available with a Lexus Voice-activated DVD Navigation system, which has a high-resolution screen and 32,000 colours to make finding destinations even easier. Recognising over 100 voice commands, this Bluetooth- equipped system provides up to three different route options, and voice-activation enables course-setting while driving. The Bluetooth technology connects wirelessly to the mobile phone provided and uses the car's speaker system.

The Navigation system also acts as a screen for the small video camera located over the rear license plate. When reverse gear is selected, a wide angle colour image appears on the screen, revealing objects that may not be visible through the rear window and enabling easy parking. Parking is also made easier by the six ultrasonic sensors that are fitted.

The effortless SmartAccess system enables the doors and trunk to be unlocked without removing the keys from a pocket or purse. It also activates a welcoming lighting entry system that illuminates the key points of entry, from the door handle through to the ignition start button.

Driving confidence and safety were key elements in the development of the ES 350. The car features a Dual-swivel Adaptive Front Lighting system, in which both headlamps can turn to illuminate curves in the road, to provide for safer driving. The High Density Discharge (HID) headlamps are not only many times brighter than their halogen equivalents, but also use less energy and last significantly longer.

A sophisticated Anti-lock Braking system (ABS) with Brake Assist helps provide the driver with improved control, even during hard braking. An added safety feature, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) uses a computer to precisely monitor the amount of fluid to pressure to the brakes and provides further driver control. To help maintain driver control and confidence when road conditions are less than ideal, the ES 350 is also equipped with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC).

The driver and passengers are offered the protection of up to 10 airbags, depending on the type and severity of a collision. The ES 350 has sophisticated dual-stage driver and front passenger advanced airbags, together with knee airbags. For additional protection, the ES 350 also offers front and rear side curtain airbags, plus front seat-side mounted airbags integrated into the front seats. Larger side airbags help to offer an increased protection area for added peace of mind. And a first for Lexus is the availability of rear seat-side airbags, reflecting the brand's global commitment to driver and passenger safety.

The exceptionally well equipped ES 350 range will have a starting price of AED 143,000.

At the launch of the ES 350, Tony Barlow, the General Manager of Sales & Marketing at Al-Futtaim Motors, commented, "We are confident that our existing ES customers will thoroughly enjoy this new car, and that many drivers of competitor brands will now want to include it in their consideration list.

"It is even more exciting for this to be the first new car to be launched at our new Lexus showroom, which we have built to reflect the increasing number of models that will join the Lexus range during this year, and the strength of the Lexus brand in the UAE. In developing this first dedicated Lexus showroom, we wanted to provide the quality of shopping environment and service experience that luxury car buyers can rightfully expect," he concluded.