What's New for 2007: Luxury and Performance Cars

There’s simply nothing weak about the 2007 Lexus ES 350’s 3.5-liter, 272-horsepower V6 engine, or inadequate about the advanced six-speed transmission that sends the power to the front wheels. Sure, with a redline of 6,400 rpm and a horsepower peak at 6,200 rpm, the engine runs hard at high speeds to generate maximum motive force, but there’s certainly an adequate supply of power and torque, the latter of which is rated 254 lb.-ft. at 4,700 rpm. The engine’s performance is helped by a sequential fuel injection system that improves output and efficiency, delivering a ULEV-II emissions standard and a Lexus-estimated fuel economy rating of 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway. Our short time in the ES 350 netted a combined reading of 19 miles to the gallon. The ES 350’s six-speed transmission features sequential shift and computer-generated gear ratios, which change based on horsepower and torque output, resulting in smoother operation and greater powertrain performance. Lexus claims a zero-to-60 acceleration time of just 6.8 seconds.