2004 Lexus ES 330 SportDesign Limited Edition
Like its downmarket Toyota sibling, Lexus is ever-anxious to give itself a hipper tone, and so it will this spring add a SportDesign Limited Edition model to the ES 330 line of sedans that it debuted last year.
This model sits in the middle of the mid-size ES sedan's product range at 48500 DOLLARS and is supposed to offer ''an array of features designed to highlight the sedan's performance-oriented look and feel.''
It's the look that gets most of the attention here, since the only changes to the actual feel of the car are stability and traction control systems, and they're really more about increasing safety levels on bad road surfaces than upping the cornering ability. What a typically Toyota approach to improving the performance.
But this new model has some of the features that everyone adds when they want to look sportier, such as 16-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels, high-intensity discharge headlamps, and some cool-ish colours, including Graphite Grey Pearl, Black Onyx and the new Thundercloud.
There are also rain-sensing wipers, the first-ever use of a black walnut interior trim by Lexus, a wood and leather steering wheel, an upscale Mark Levinson audio system, a rear window sunshade, and special edition floor mats, all of which might strike the average Lexus buyer as sporty.
Peter Renz is certainly excited about the new ES 330 SportDesign, but then he's the brand's national manager in Canada. He says it ''offers customers an outstanding combination of features never before available in the ES lineup. SportDesign's distinctive good looks combine with the ES 330's power and performance to create a package of exceptional style and value.''
Power for this and every ES 330 comes from a 3.3-litre V6 that sends 225 hp at 5,600 rpm and 240 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm to the front wheels through a five-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission, which Renz says manages shift decisions based on engine speed and load.
Standard features on this model include a power moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control with an air filtration system, a multi-information display with trip computer, garage door opener, water-repellent front door glass, and four-door courtesy lamps that illuminate the ground and doorsill areas.
Active and passive safety are enhanced with standard equipment that includes adjustable throttle and brake pedals, a four-sensor, four-channel anti-lock braking with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, power adjustable front seats with whiplash-injury-lessening technology, and side curtain airbags that supplement the dual front airbags and front seat-mounted side airbags.
The ES 330 is blessed with a better-than-average warranty, which covers the entire vehicle for 48 months or 80,000 km. Power train components are covered an additional 24 months or 30,000 km.
