The Lexus ES and Its Identity Crisis
The latest Lexus ES represents the brand’s continued push toward refinement, comfort, and global appeal, but not necessarily excitement. With the newest generation, Lexus traded the flowing, understated elegance of the previous ES for sharper creases and a more modern, upright stance. It’s cleaner and more formal, a look clearly tailored to markets like China where restraint and prestige often matter more than visual drama. For longtime fans, however, the result feels safe to a fault.
That sense of visual anonymity is exactly what has opened the door for aftermarket and factory-backed customization specialists. While the ES remains a strong seller thanks to its quiet ride, high-quality cabin, and reputation for reliability, it has struggled to inspire passion in the way sportier rivals, or even Lexus’ own IS, can.
In a segment where buyers increasingly want personalization and presence, the ES risks blending into the background. Enter Modellista, Lexus’ in-house tuning and styling arm, with a mission to inject some much-needed personality.
Lexus
Modellista Lexus ES: Subtle Drama, Japanese Style
Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the Modellista kit for the Lexus ES doesn’t attempt to turn the sedan into a full-blown sport sedan, but that’s not the point. Instead, it focuses on clean, deliberate enhancements that sharpen the car’s visuals without compromising its premium character.
Up front, a new body-colored splitter subtly extends the bumper, giving the ES a lower and wider appearance. Matte black mirror caps add contrast, breaking up the otherwise monochrome design.
Along the sides, extended skirts house the most eye-catching feature of the package: a customizable LED light strip capable of glowing in multiple colors. It’s a bold move for a car as traditionally reserved as the ES, signaling Modellista’s intent to appeal to buyers who want modern flair and nighttime presence.
The look is completed by striking 21-inch forged aluminum wheels with a spiral spoke design, arguably the single biggest upgrade over the standard factory wheels. At the rear, a reshaped diffuser section ties the kit together, adding just enough visual weight to balance the front.
Modellista
Personalization May Be the ES’s Saving Grace
While the Modellista Lexus ES shown in Tokyo remains a prototype, its existence raises important questions about the future of the nameplate. The previous-generation ES offered special editions like a Black Line and even an F Sport variant that added edge and attitude, but Lexus has yet to confirm whether a similar trim will return for the all-new model. If it doesn’t, accessory-driven upgrades like this Modellista kit may become the primary way for buyers to add character to an otherwise conservative sedan.
Pricing and global availability of the Modellista kits are still unknown, particularly outside Japan. As Lexus leans into restrained, globally palatable design language, individuality risks being lost in the process. Modellista’s ES package shows how subtle changes, lighting, wheels, and sharper aero details can dramatically shift perception without undermining the car’s core strengths.
Modellista
