Confirmed: the swoopy eighth-gen Lexus ES is coming to the UK in 2026

Brits like German saloons, and German saloons like Brits. Probably. But if you fancy upsetting the order of balance, Lexus has confirmed its shiny new eighth-gen ES is heading to the UK next year. And thanks to those new lights, it'll do so with a highly suspicious side-eye.

Indeed the new ES is headlined by those twin L-signature daytime running lights, which Lexus says will be a staple in its future EVs. There are many Angles dotted about its sharp new suit, and that sloping roofline ain’t no joke either, giving this four-door saloon an almost coupe-like stance.

Our entry-level car will be the ‘300h’ self-charging hybrid, whose 2.5-litre inline-four produces 199bhp to hit 62mph in either 8s (AWD) or 8.2s (FWD). There’s an uprated 244bhp ‘350h’ version with a 2.5-litre, but we won't get that. Boo.

If you want to go full electric, there’s the ‘350e’ with a front-driven 221bhp e-motor and a 77kWh battery, good for 426 miles of range between charges. Or you can opt for the full-fat ‘500e’, which gets a smaller 75kWh battery that manages 379 miles of range - 47 miles fewer - but gains torque vectoring, all-wheel drive and an extra 117bhp for a new total of 338bhp. As such, it’ll hit go from 0-62mph in just 5.7s.

Both models will ride on top of Lexus’s new ‘architecture-K’, which is a modified version of its global ‘TNGA GA-K’ platform. Here, it’s being used for the first time to support both hybrid and EV power, and allows the batteries to be wedged beneath the floor to lower the centre of gravity.

Inside, it’s all familiarly Lexus: lots of nice textiles and materials used to coat the surfaces and a generally clutter-free environment. Speaking of which, there's a new ‘Hidden Switches’ feature, which dims a row of switchgear buttons beneath the 14in multimedia screen when not in use. You’ll also get a panoramic roof above if you so wish, and a 12.3in driver’s display in front of you.

So… reckon the big Lex has a chance against Germany’s finest?