The Lexus ES, a mid-size executive car series by Lexus, Toyota's luxury division, has been on the market since 1989. The ES series has seen multiple generations, all featuring V6 engines and a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The first five generations shared the Toyota Camry platform, transitioning to a closer relationship with both the Camry and the Avalon in later iterations. Manual transmissions were available until 1993, with an inline-four engine option introduced for Asian markets in 2010, and a hybrid version made its debut in 2012.
Initially, the ES was Lexus's sole front-wheel-drive offering until the introduction of the related RX in 1998. Positioned as the entry-level luxury car in Lexus's lineup in North America and beyond, the ES held this role until the IS was launched in 1999. The name "ES" stands for "Executive Sedan", reflecting its positioning in the market.
Key Points:
1. Lexus ES series has been in production since 1989 and is a mid-size executive car line by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota.
2. All generations of the ES feature V6 engines and a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout.
3. The first five generations were built on the Toyota Camry platform, with later models sharing aspects with the Camry and Avalon.
4. Manual transmissions were available until 1993, and hybrid and inline-four engine options were introduced in later generations.
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