Lexus ES 300h F Sport confirmed for Oz

A sportier version of the Lexus ES 300h sedan is on the way to Australia.

Due in Aussie showroom this October, the Lexus ES 300h F Sport is likely to be positioned between the entry-level ES 300h Luxury (currently $59,888 plus on-road costs) and the flagship ES 300h Sports Luxury ($74,888 plus ORCs).

Like all versions of the all-hybrid mid-size sedan model sold here, the newest Lexus F Sport model will be powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine combined with an electric motor to produce a total power output of 160kW.

Standard equipment will include 19-inch alloy wheels, triple-beam LED headlights, an F Sport body kit and badging, and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS), which Lexus Australia chief executive Scott Thompson says “subtly increases the skew towards sharper dynamics while retaining focus on the model’s renowned refinement”.

Buyers will have the choice of F Sport Flare Red or black interior trim, while 10 exterior colours will be available including Cobalt Mica, which is exclusive to F Sport variants.

Other additions to the F Sport model include a unique 8.0-inch driver display, contoured and embossed front seats and a perforated leather steering wheel.

Also standard is wireless smartphone charging, sat-nav, voice control, digital radio and a 10-speaker audio system.

Standard Lexus ES 300h equipment includes a Smart Key Card, head-up display, moonroof, automatic headlights and wipers, and heated and cooled front seats with 10-way power adjustment.

Lexus says the F Sport will also come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity – now a standard feature across every ES 300h variant.

Lexus’ safety suite is also fitted, comprising autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-keeping assist.