Performance and electrification spent years looking like reluctant roommates. Enthusiasts rolled their eyes, automakers talked about efficiency, and every new hybrid sports car seemed to come with a warning that excitement wasn’t the priority. Fast forward to now, and electrification has infiltrated nearly everything, from economy cars to six-figure exotics with varying degrees of success.

Increasingly, performance brands aren’t asking if electricity belongs in the conversation, but how much of it should be involved. According to the engineer behind the all-new Lexus ES, electrification may end up shaping the future of F-Sport too.

Chief Engineer Makes The Case For Batteries

While speaking with ES chief engineer Kohei Chiashi during the new ES first-drive launch event, we asked which powertrain made more sense if Lexus ever wanted to build a more performance-focused F-Sport variant: hybrid or battery-electric. His answer was revealing.

Also: Lexus ES Chief Engineer Is ‘Not Happy’ About SUVs Taking Over

“Personally, I think the BEV is well-suited because electrification has raw power and we can manipulate the powertrain more granularly to produce different types of performance within that envelope,” Chiashi told us.

That line may sound like standard EV talking points at first, but Chiashi followed it with something more interesting. According to him, the ES500e’s system can send 100 percent of available torque to the rear wheels in certain situations. Drivers don’t control that behavior directly, though, so before anyone starts imagining a drift button hidden in a submenu, Lexus isn’t going there.

Why An F-Sport ES Isn’t Here Yet

The answer also helps explain why Lexus isn’t rushing to add an F-Sport model to the ES lineup immediately. According to Chiashi, the ES500e already checks many of the boxes that F-Sport traditionally represented, and introducing another trim at launch would have complicated things.

Read: The First Electric Lexus ES Actually Costs Less Than The Hybrid

That doesn’t mean Lexus has abandoned the idea. Chiashi made clear the company is still considering future possibilities. If nothing else, the comments offer an interesting glimpse into where Lexus performance thinking may be headed. F once stood for naturally aspirated V8s and high-revving theatrics. The next chapter might involve software, instant torque, and a whole lot more electricity.

SUVs are absolutely everywhere these days. No matter where you look, they’re not just present, they’re getting bigger, taller, and selling in greater numbers than ever. Most automakers have pushed that reality harder than they’ll admit. SUVs are great for profit margins, and they also benefit from looser emissions rules tied to vehicle footprint. Despite all of that, the Lexus ES is bucking the trend with an all-new generation.

More: The First Electric Lexus ES Actually Costs Less Than The Hybrid

During our time at the brand’s first-drive launch event, we asked ES chief engineer Kohei Chiashi a simple question. Why do luxury sedans still matter in an SUV world? His answer wasn’t the sort of carefully polished corporate response we’ve come to expect from so many others.

“For me personally, I love sedans,” Chiashi told us. “This situation with SUVs everywhere is something I’m not personally happy with. I was very passionate about not giving up on the ES. For us, we poured everything we could into the ES because we care about it so much.”

The Sedans Lexus Has Already Lost

That comment carries extra weight when viewed against Lexus’ recent history. The company has already watched parts of its sedan lineup disappear or shrink in importance. The GS was discontinued in 2020, the LS has become increasingly niche with Lexus even contemplating a six-wheel minivan replacement, and the future of traditional luxury sedans has looked less certain as SUVs continue to dominate nearly every segment.

Against that backdrop, keeping the ES relevant meant doing more than simply refreshing an existing formula. Lexus expanded the sedan’s role dramatically. The new generation now supports both hybrid and battery-electric powertrains while growing larger and more spacious in the process.

Interestingly, Chiashi also made it clear that Lexus didn’t approach the ES as some kind of reluctant compromise or farewell tour. Instead, the focus stayed on protecting the model’s identity: comfort, cabin space, and effortless long-distance driving. The funny thing is that the ES may now matter more than ever. Fighting for it seems to have been the right choice for everyone involved.

Credit: Stephen Rivers for Carscoops