After years of being the best-selling sedan in the Lexus stable, the ES has gotten a refresh for 2016 which was unveiled at the Shanghai International Motor Show.

Claiming an, “exciting, sportier attitude, highlighted by elegant yet progressive exterior styling, an enhanced luxurious interior and the new safety system, Lexus Safety System+,” Lexus aims to have the ES appeal broadened to a global audience.

“Our development concept was ‘Take the ES to the next level of elegance and progressive luxury,’” said Toshio Asahi, ES Chief Engineer. “The Lexus ES is renowned for its innovative exterior and interior design.  We wanted to build on that and make it more elegant, and tailor the car with the latest technology Lexus has to offer. We’re confident that the new Lexus ES will be a leader in its class and attract a lot of attention.”

Bringing the ES more in line with the rest of the Lexus lineup, the 2016 ES features Lexus’s trademark spindle grille which sits between a pair of newly designed headlights, now equipped with LED projector technology, while iconic “L”-shaped arrowhead Daytime Running Lights (DRL) extend outside the headlight element for a distinctive look that links it with other Lexus models. In a move to widen the vehicle’s light amplification, fog lamps have been relocated to the outer lower corners of the front fascia.

Like the IS, the ES has been re-sculpted to give it the look as if it is moving even while standing still. Backend details like newly sculpted chrome-tipped rectangular exhaust ports add sporty flair to the previously very un-sporty sedan.

Adding sex to the sport, Lexus is introducing four new paint jobs for the 2016 ES- Amber, Nightfall Mica, Caviar, and Eminent White Pearl. Lexus’ paint technology is designed to allow the paint’s clear coat to heal itself even from light damage.

Also ticking the box are two 17-inch wheels with directional spoke patterns. A branching dark gray metallic, multi-plane machined 20-spoke wheel is optional for non-hybrids, while hybrids are distinguished with a 10-spoke design with machine finish over medium gray.

The interior cabin of the ES has been redesigned to exude luxury. The nameplate states the “sweeping dashboard [is] eminiscent of modern architecture,” while special attention has been paid to touch and feel with ergonomics playing a key part of the development.

The 2016 model offers new interior color combinations, including exquisite multi-color themes that exemplify elegance. The seats are now offered in four different colors: Flaxen, Parchment, Stratus Gray and Black. Customers can choose from the three trim materials: semi-aniline leather, leather and Lexus NuLuxe.

In addition, four styles of interior trim have been carefully selected to harmonize with the color choice: Illustrious Piano Black, Linear Dark Mocha Wood, Espresso Bird’s Eye Maple with Shimamoku ornamentation, and new for 2016, Bamboo now has matte finish. First appearing in the GS and LS sedans, Shimamoku is a high-end finish of luxurious wood created through a multi-step manufacturing process by highly skilled craftsmen.

The wheel of the 2016 ES has also gotten a sporty makeover and designers have added “Enter” buttons on either side of the Remote Touch Interface controller.

For the new 2016 ES, Lexus engineers applied structural reinforcements to foster stiffness in the vehicle’s unibody construction. Adapted from the Lexus IS sports sedan, this form of chassis tuning arms the ES with enhanced ride quality and handling. Moreover, this ES adds a sound-reducing layer behind the dashboard to better isolate engine noise from the cabin.

The 2016 ES offers the Lexus Safety System + which includes:

• Pre-Collision System
• Brake Assist
• Lane Departure Alert
• Automatic High Beam
• Radar Cruise Control

“With improved performance, an expanded engine lineup and a quieter and thoroughly luxurious interior wrapped in a freshened chiseled body, the new ES builds efficiently on what has made it one of the most popular luxury sedans in the world, and we are confident that this latest version of the ES will build upon its past successes,” said Asahi.

The 2016 Lexus ES is expected to go on sale later in 2015 and be close to the same price as the current model year.

images courtesy of Lexus