Eyes on Design

To gain insight on the design aspects of the new Lexus ES, we talked to Yasuo Kajino, group manager in the Lexus Division Design Center (abbreviated as YK below), and Shinno Kato, project manager in the Lexus Division Design Center (SK).

What are the most important exterior design changes in the new ES?

YK: One significant change is the adoption of the spindle grille, which was first used on the new GS. This enhances the emotional impact of the face, which is immediately identifiable as a Lexus and helps to strengthen the brand identity.

Another big change is in the packaging. We maintained the basic vehicle size, but lengthened the wheelbase by 45mm. Lexus vehicles always have a long cabin, and the new ES follows that direction. One major benefit is that there is an extra 60mm of rear legroom. Also, the stance is more pronounced with the wider tread both improving the driving dynamics and creating a sporty, ground-hugging look. This emphasis on the car's stance definitely moves the ES in a sportier direction.

What were the design considerations in making the cabin bigger?

Currently, the global trend is to reduce size and make cars more compact. However, as we considered the personality of the ES, we felt we needed to provide more comfortable seating in the rear, to deliver on our luxury promise.

From a design point of view, we wanted to show our off uniqueness.

The previous model expressed a sporty feeling with wedge-like shapes, but in this model we convey sportiness even though the basic stance is horizontal.

To make the side view more dynamic, we developed the visual aspect of the wheels to better show off the stronger and wider crouching stance. And, from the spindle grille to the vehicle's aero stabilizing fins, the design of the ES embraces three-dimensional shapes. The same thing happens with the headlamps, in the corner areas, and the cross-dimensional shape of the door. All this is crafted so the vehicle's expression alters and intrigues as you move around it. We call this "time in design", an expression of our L-finesse philosophy.

And aerodynamics?

To make the ES more aerodynamic, the rear bumper corner has been streamlined. Design-wise, these are visually fascinating features that look different, depending on your viewing perspective. Again, this is L-finesse at work.

One of the exclusive new design features of the ES is the stitching on the instrument panel upholstery. Why stitching?

YK: With the ES we're using more ecologically sustainable materials that also express a progressive feel. So we came up with the combination of a leading-edge material plus Takumi craftsmanship. If the instrument panel upholstery were simply stamped, it would feel very mechanical. With stitching done at the Lexus Kyushu plant, the feeling changes and there's more warmth.

Let me elaborate though. Warmth is important, but it doesn't need to be applied excessively, everywhere you look. One basic strength of Lexus is in the area of advanced technology. This is seen in areas such as the meters on the instrument panel. Balance is crucial to us, however, so in contrast we include handcrafted elements that are well designed and meticulously produced. This produces a more harmonious feeling.

Tell us about the ambient lighting of the ES.

YK: Rather than focus specifically on the ambient lighting on its own, we coordinated it completely with the interior. This follows our philosophy of seamless anticipation. For example, ceiling lights directed towards the gearshift area anticipate the start of driving. But more recently, we have introduced lighting linked to driving stages.

When stopped, the ambient lighting is bright. As the door is closed, the ambient lighting is completely off. Once the engine is running, the lights come back on again. Then, as vehicle starts moving, they dim. This is our way to cue anticipation of the act of driving. The colors of ambient lights on the meter, linked to the drive mode selector, also have this communicative nature. With the hybrid, when you're running in Eco, Normal, or Sport, the colors change according to mode. In this way, the driver gets an enhanced feeling of driving.

Generally speaking, how do you decide which luxury features to include in the ES? And how did you add additional value on top of that?

SK: When it comes to the interior, there are things we can use to create a more luxurious feeling and thus add value. For example, the stitching or the ambient lighting. Often the best way to differentiate our design is to apply the principle of incisive simplicity, a principle that unites function with form in the most harmonious possible way. For instance, when you look at the door panel section, it's very minimal and we avoided adding character lines to the door. Instead, we removed items to increase the appeal of the strong body framework, coming out of the core essence of the car. This also reduces weight and, as a result, improves fuel efficiency. Additionally, if you take a look at the each corner of the ES, you can find what we call "double corners" design. From the side, the rear, and the front, the curve toward the wheel appears different. But as the wheel arch flares out, this design also contributes to the better aerodynamic performance. What's more, from the side, the ES looks compact, yet, from front or rear, it has a sportier crouching stance. These design changes highlight the Lexus value of "time in design": the more you look, the more you see and experience.

Have there been any notable external influences on this car's design?

One visual image that has inspired our design philosophy from the beginning is a picture of a person practicing kyudo, or Japanese archery. There is a feeling of stretching, of movement, even though it's a still image. And it's important that it's Japanese archery, as opposed to the Western version.

In Western archery, the bowstring is symmetrical, and it takes a lot of strength to make the arrow fly far. In kyudo, though, the arrow is in the lower part of the bow, not the middle, and using that method, the arrow can be made to fly further while using less strength.

This is a kind of minimalist intelligence. When you remove unnecessary items, you're left just with what is necessary. You can create maximum effects with minimum power. This is something that expresses a unique aspect of Japanese character. And it's a value that I think you can see and experience in the new ES.

Courtesy of Lexus Global