Skip to main content

The Lexus ES 350 measures its trunk space in wine bottles, not cubic feet

At first glance, this dark red 2019 Lexus ES 350 isn’t wild enough to turn heads at the annual SEMA show, an event which improbably brings Hot Wheels-like creations and 1,000-horsepower hot rods to life. Pop the trunk and you’ll see exactly why Lexus bothered to ship the sedan to Las Vegas.

You’re on the right track if the deep, lustrous red paint reminded you of a bottle of red wine. Lexus integrated a fully functional wine cooler into the compartment below the floor. It’s deep enough to keep at least six bottles of your favorite wine at a steady temperature. There is a second compartment right next to the wine cooler that lets the driver — who, hopefully, is not the drinker — store four wine glasses, and a cutout for an additional bottle of wine on the left side of the trunk.

Related Videos

Lexus upped the vineyard vibe by surrounding the cooler with an oak floor that hides a fold-out tablet and inserting wine barrels into each corner of the trunk. The ES retains most of its 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space so you’ve got plenty of space left for more cases of red, white, or rosé. The passenger compartment receives floormats made with wine corks, plus wine-themed stitching in the front headrests. It’s an oenophile’s dream come true, though you’ll need to bring your own cheese for wine-pairing trips to the countryside.

The vineyard-friendly modifications stop there; Lexus hasn’t found a way to make the ES’ V6 engine run on pinot noir. Power comes from a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine that makes 302 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 267 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. It sends its power to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The cars displayed at the SEMA show are rarely an accurate indication of what automakers are preparing to launch in the coming years. They’re wild, outlandish concepts built to turn heads. The custom ES 350 is no exception, for better or worse. Don’t expect to see a wine cooler appear on Lexus’ ordering guide anytime soon. The firm has nonetheless demonstrated it’s entirely possible to integrate one into its sedan — the ball is in your court, DIYers.

Editors' Recommendations

The best cars for camping

A night under the brilliant, undiluted stars is one of the best ways to escape the stresses of daily life, but to do it right, you’ll need supplies. Firewood, graham crackers, and chocolate are obvious choices, but the right vehicle can be the gooey marshmallow that brings it all together.

A lot goes into choosing the ideal camping car. It has to get you there, for starters, so it must be adventurous and at least somewhat tough. It should also be reliable, with lots of cargo room and seating for all your friends and gear. We’ve already done a list of our favorite trucks and the best 4x4s, so when we set out to choose the best cars for camping, we focused on fun. That’s the point of camping, right?

Read more
The most reliable cars of 2021
2018 Lexus NX 300h

In 2020, motorists who buy a new car rightfully expect it to provide many years of trouble-free operation. Warranties are gradually getting longer and more generous, too, so odds are an issue that occurs during the first few years of ownership will be covered by the manufacturer. Cars aren't perfect, but they're better than ever.

Further reading

Read more
Audi’s electric 2022 Q4 E-Tron packs big tech, lots of space in compact package
audi previews 2022 q4 e tron compact electric crossover

First presented in 2019, the Audi Q4 E-Tron concept has nearly completed its transition to becoming a production model. It will join the full-size E-Tron and the recently introduced E-Tron GT sport sedan when it makes its full debut later in 2021.

Don't let the funky orange, black, and white livery trick your mind; It's camouflage applied specifically to keep the full exterior design hidden. We can nonetheless discern key elements like the lights, which stylists have tweaked over the past two or so years, and the proportions, which are unusual. First of all, the front end is a lot shorter than we're used to seeing. Audi was able to achieve this because an electric motor requires less space than a four-cylinder or a V6 engine.

Read more