Lexus engineers argued about shock absorbers until the very end
One might think that during the development of a new car, engineers and designers argue most about the design, powertrains, or which options buyers will choose. During a conversation with Lexus ES Chief Engineer Kohei Chiashi at an event dedicated to the first test drive of the new model, we learned that the most heated internal discussion revolved around a much less glamorous thing: shock absorbers. Not batteries. Not horsepower. Not giant touchscreens. Dampers.
When we asked Chiashi which tuning decision caused the most controversy during the development of the all-new ES, his response was immediate.
“We discussed the shock absorbers right up to the very end,” he told us. “We need to provide good feedback from the road, but balance it between comfort and a sense of connection with the car. We constantly wavered over the dampers, deciding which settings to settle on for the final version of the car.”
Comfort above all
This answer says a lot about Lexus’s priorities. The ES has never tried to be a sports sedan. Instead, it has always revolved around comfort, refinement, and making long journeys feel effortless. Earlier in our conversation, Chiashi described the modern Lexus driving character as creating a car that responds naturally to the driver’s inputs, ensuring that after hundreds of kilometers, “no one in the car should be tired.”
Naturally, suspension tuning becomes a balancing act. Too soft — and the car feels disconnected from the road. Too stiff — and you start to feel fatigue, harshness, and unnecessary road impacts inside the cabin.
A stiffer body did the heavy lifting
Interestingly, Chiashi also told us that the biggest improvement in ride quality came from the new ES body structure. According to him, the stiffer platform created a more solid foundation for improving ride characteristics, noise insulation, and vibration control. Lexus also switched to a rear multi-link suspension, which improved not only comfort but also straight-line stability.
Perhaps at the start of the development process, the team argued over things that couldn’t be changed in the later stages. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to know that Lexus debated damper settings right up until the moment pre-production cars came off the assembly line.
This approach demonstrates just how important the small details are to Lexus, details that ultimately shape the brand’s signature driving experience. Although the market is increasingly leaning towards crossovers, the company’s engineers continue to refine the classic sedan, proving that even in a familiar format, new ways can be found to make a car better. In the end, it is these seemingly minor arguments over shock absorbers that make it possible to create a car that doesn’t tire you after a long journey, while remaining pleasant to drive.