The RC F hits showrooms WITH the RC350 in November, starting at $62,400

What is it?
The RC F loosely replaces the old IS F, and essentially it's Japan's intriguing and undeniably striking looking alternative to a BMW M3/M4.

Look beyond its arresting new nose and browse what's on offer objectively in the new £59,995 RC F, however, and you will immediately be struck by two thoughts. One, that it appears to represent an awful lot of car for the money. Two, that it is, despite what Lexus might claim, very much an old school kind of sports car.

Thought number one is entirely positive, of course, and arrives courtesy of the fact that the RC F looks a million dollars - both in photos and in the metal - and appears to be bursting at the seams with potential.

Lexus claims the car can hit 60mph in 4.5sec and has a top speed of almost 170mph but that it is also one of the stiffest and most refined sports coupés the world has ever seen.

The gradual realisation of thought number two, however, is rather less welcome today than it might have been 10 years ago.

Back then, a brand new rear wheel-drive coupe that's powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine with 471bhp would have seemed like a mouth watering proposition.

Nowadays, such He-Man credentials no longer seem quite so relevant, and they certainly don't feel very cutting edge beside what's on offer from the faster, more economical, less polluting competition from Germany.

And perhaps the most baffling statistic of all about the RC F is its kerb weight - because at 1840kg it is a full quarter tonne heavier than the BMW M4/M3 with which it is so obviously intended to compete.

To be blunt, sending the RC F into battle with a compromise such as this to bear - against competition like that - almost seems like harakiri on Lexus' behalf.

What is it like?
Key question here is therefore - can the Lexus RC F belie such apparent technical antiquation by being all warm and cuddly where it counts - on the road? The answer is both yes and no.

In many ways, what you see is what you get. The RC F makes a fabulous noise and goes as hard as you'd imagine it might given that it has 471bhp and 392lb ft but weighs two tonnes with two people on board.

In a straight line it's at least a seven out of 10, with a snappy eight-speed gearbox that features all sorts of different drive modes plus that NASCAR soundtrack doing all it can to enhance the excitement factor whenever possible. But even in a straight line, a BMW M3 it is not. Not by a long chalk.

But that doesn't matter because it goes round corners beautifully and has delicious steering and handling so can be forgiven for weighing a bit too much because the driver involvement it provides makes an M3 seem boring by comparison, correct? Not quite.

On the track we drove on in the USA, which had been chosen specifically by Lexus to demonstrate the car's abilities, the RC F felt surprisingly clumsy near the limit, with shuddering brakes and nowhere near enough precision to its handling.

It was, to be honest, a bit of a disappointment at eight tenths and beyond, with neither the composure nor the thrill factor you'd hope for, despite featuring a new Torsen differential.

As a road car, though, the RC F makes much more sense. Its ride is supple in all but the most aggressive drive mode, of which there are four in total to choose from.

Its electric power steering is also accurate and precise without ever delivering much in the way of genuine interaction between your palms and the road below. And the noise and thrust from its V8 engine is pretty magical on occasions, while even the handling seems more incisive at lower, less strenuous road speeds.

As a pure road car, in fact, the RC F is a highly desirable, rapid, and really rather lovely thing to drive - with a mostly brilliant new interior and a level of quality inside that few if any cars at this level can match.

If Lexus made a little bit less of a noise about the RC F being a great track car, it would be far easier to accept it for the soothing and refined sports GT car that it unquestionably is. But as a track weapon alone it lacks teeth, and in this class that's either a major drawback or a mild disappointment, depending on what you expect from such a machine.

Should I buy one?
Overall the RC F struggles to compete with the M3 on too many levels to be classed as a genuine contender. Like the IS F it loosely replaces, it's an intriguing outsider, nothing more, even if it is powered by one of the most naughty sounding V8s money can buy.

And for the 170 people who Lexus hopes will buy one in the UK next year, none of this will matter much because, if nothing else, the RC F looks so compellingly different from the herd. This alone will make it appeal to a certain kind of customer; to someone who wouldn't be seen dead in an Audi or an M3. And that's absolutely fine by us.

The RC F is the first performance car from Lexus since the incredible LFA supercar, and bucks the current turbo trend with a traditional naturally aspirated V8. But has it got the goods to outmuscle BMW’s M4?

Where did this Lexus RC F suddenly spring from?
It’s based on the RC coupe which US dealers get very soon, but which we won’t get in the UK until next year when a turbo four will replace the Yank-spec V6. But you might recognise the styling from a couple of previous Lexus concept cars, the LF-CC and LF-LC.

What’s under the skin?
The front end is from a GS, the back end from the old IS-F saloon, and the bit in between, is borrowed from the IS-C cabrio. Seventy percent of the suspension components are new, however, and Lexus says the structure is massively stiff, which it bloody well ought to be, given that it weighs 200kg more than a BMW M4 coupe.

To deal with that heft, it gets a reworked version of the IS-F’s 5.0 V8, which receives a 48bhp boost and now sends 465bhp to the rear-wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. At the back there’s a Torsen limited slip diff as standard, with the option of a torque-vectoring unit.

First impressions?
A smile when you see that the exhaust tailpipes are genuine this time, instead of the nasty fake plastic things stuck onto the bumper of the IS-F. And an even bigger smile when the V8 wakes up with a growl and serves a perfect reminder of what’s wrong with the M4’s new engine. Then you squeeze the right pedal and realise what BMW got right. The truth is the RC F never feels that quick, not quick enough for the company it keeps, anyway. Lexus quotes 4.5sec to 62mph, but that’s 0.3sec down on an M4, and you really have to work it hard to get your kicks. It simply doesn’t produce enough torque for a car that’s too heavy. It’s around 6mpg thirstier than the BMW, too.

There are good points. On track, it feels absolutely faithful, the steering has a reassuring linearity to it and the brakes are strong. But it never feels as nimble or controlled as the BMW, even with the smart diff working its magic, and lacks the wallop you get in the M4 when you plant the throttle on the exit of a corner.

On the road it fares much better. The ride is mostly good, and while the paucity of low and mid-range power is even more apparent, the engine is actually a bit of a charmer. The interior, lifted straight from the IS saloon, is a lovely thing too. You twist the audio volume dial and everything from the texture and shape of the **** to the precision and gearing of the gubbins behind it exemplifies Lexus’s attention to detail. Less happily, the LFA’s unloved computer mouse controller has been swapped for a rubbish laptop-style trackpad to operate the multimedia system. It needs binned for a rotary dial. And while there are four seats, the rear is more cramped than an M4’s.

Anything else I need to know?
Well, you’d be advised to steer clear of the hideous RC F Carbon, which adds a massive £8000 to the £59,995 base price in exchange for a Mark Levinson hi-fi, heated Alcantara seats, tastier same-sized alloys and that trick diff, but also a carbon roof and bonnet. The roof, we could live with, and the two are said to save 15kg, but the bonnet is seriously OTT. Fortunately you should be able to cherry pick some of those options for the base car, which is predictably loaded with goodies anyway.

Verdict
We ran an IS-F, a car that never troubled the old M3 much in group tests, as a long termer, and really came to admire it. Lexus cars have that effect on you. They’re about more than what you’ll discover on a brief test drive. But if you asked us where to put your coupe money today, we’d have to go for the BMW, or hang on for the new twin-turbo AMG C63 that’s due to pop up any time soon. As it stands the Lexus is heavier, thirstier, pricier, and not as much fun as the competition. It’s a three and half star car, but we don’t do half stars. The ray of sunlight that might turn those three stars into four is that Lexus’s engineers say there’s much more to come from the RC F. We’re ready when you are, boys.

CAR's rating Rated 3 out of 5

Lexus RC F Chief Engineer Yukihiro Yaguchi plans to make continual improvements to his new super-coupe — from an interview with Motoring Australia:

“We are already thinking about some changes to make for next year,” he confirmed via an interpreter.

“The objective is to make the car more fun to drive. If you make the car go too fast then the human being won’t be able to catch up with it.

Intriguingly, he did concede there was more power to be eked from the engine, without resorting to forced induction.

“We think we can get a little more out of it,” he said.

“It’s really about increasing the rpm to be able to gain more horsepower, so if we were to increase the rpm then we would have to look at using what components to be able to meet the rpm increase… so at that time we would also have to review the cost etcetera. So right now it is set.”
Yaguchi-san followed a similar development schedule with the IS F, where year-over-year improvements gradually transformed the vehicle into a very strong performance contender.

(Kaizen, or continuous improvement, is a key component in the Toyota Production System, and it’s very interesting to see the concept applied so dramatically to a vehicle year-over-year. Exciting things ahead.)

Pricing for the new Lexus RC 350 sports car has been announced.

The 2015 Lexus RC 350 will start from $43,715 including delivery while the more powerful RC F will have a starting price tag of $63,225. Arriving dealerships this fall, the RC 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine providing 306 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque while the RC F will look to keep up with other luxury sports cars like the BMW M4 with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 churning 467 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque.

The entry-level RC 350 will have its powerplant mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission for the rear-wheel drive models and a six-speed automatic with all-wheel drive. Inside, the RC 350 comes standard with NuLuxe imitation leather, aluminum and wood trim while genuine leather is available as an option. Available packages on the RC 350 include the F Sport Package ($5,085 for rear-wheel drive/$4,680 for all-wheel drive), Premium Package ($1,240/$800), Luxury Package ($4,885/$4,460) and All-Weather Package (available on all-wheel drive only for $220).

As for the RC F, buyers can opt for the Premium Package ($4,400), Performance Package ($5,500 and requires Premium Package), All-Weather Package ($280), Navigation ($1,760), Navigation with Mark Levinson stereo ($2,840), Moonroof ($1,100), Leather seats ($800) and Pre-collision system with dynamic radar cruise control ($500).

Here’s an automotive riddle for you: what two-door car is blazingly fast but doesn’t stop? Which one is cool to the touch and scorching hot at the same time?

FAST FACTS

• Engine: The 2015 Lexus RC F is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 that puts out 467 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque.
• Transmission: The only transmission offered in this car is an eight-speed automatic.
• Fuel Economy: On the economy front the RC F stickers at 16 miles per gallon in urban driving and 25 on the highway resulting in a combined score of 19 MPG.
• Price: Base price for a 2015 Lexus RC F is $63,325, including $925 in destination fees.

I’m not describing the new Jaguar F-Type, a Porsche 911 or even Chevy’s Corvette. The car in question is actually a Lexus. The brand-new RC F is a high-performance coupe that’s got serious substance backing its style. It handles well, is blazingly fleet and because it’s a Toyota at heart it’ll never quit.
RC F You

Yep, believe it, this is a Lexus with attitude. This well-mannered luxury brand that’s known for selling legions of RX crossovers and ES350 sedans has built a coupe with the design, dynamics and on-track performance to compete with some pretty thorny rivals.

One glance at the spec sheet reveals the RC F’s got the right ingredients to go wheel-to-wheel with cars like the Audi RS5, BMW M4 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.

In recent years the company has been on a mission to inject more passion into its product portfolio; they’ve been busier than an librarian with obsessive compulsive disorder and a jumbled-up card catalog. More aggressively styled vehicles, enthusiast-focused F-Sport models and the world-beating LFA supercar have proven that Lexus actually has soul, not just sensibility and the New RC F is the next step on this continuing journey.

Company executives hope this car, and the rest of the RC lineup, which includes a base model as well as an F-Sport variant, will help attract younger buyers to the brand.

Look At Me!



To play the role you’ve got to look the part. Ensuring this car never gets lost in the crowd designers have given it a seriously aggressive body, which is to be expected. This is essentially a production version of the LF-CC concept car that bowed in 2012.

The RC F’s face is dominated by the brand’s massive spindle grille, which takes up most of the front. Angular daytime-running lamps are separate from the main light assemblies and the front fenders are better ventilated than a hotel’s HVAC system. These aggressive outlets help exhaust heat from the engine compartment and smooth airflow around the body.

Three different wheel designs are available and they’re all made from lightweight forged aluminum spanning 19 inches.

For a lighter curb weight, the roof and active rear spoiler can be made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. It’s a cool-looking addition but of course it’s an extra-cost option.

Around back this machine’s rump is just as in your face. Pointed tail-lights, lots of intriguing surface details and the F brand’s signature stacked quad exhaust tips round out the exterior.

Curiously the new RC’s architecture is constructed of parts pilfered from several other Lexus vehicle platforms. The front section comes from the GS sedan while the car’s middle is actually borrowed from the IS C drop top. As for the rear structure, it comes from the new IS sedan.

Dimensionally the RC is both shorter and wider than the IS. Additionally its platform is a whopping 50 percent stiffer than the GS.

Vroom With a View



Inside, the car’s cabin is nicely trimmed with squishy-soft plastics and smooth leather. Wavy stitching is splashed across the door panels and front seats, which adds a dash of flair to the interior, though the overall design is a lot busier than I typically like. Each to their own, I suppose.

As expected in a Lexus everything has a high-quality feel. The switches and controls work well and seem like they’re built to withstand a lifetime of abuse.

The company has developed a new interface paradigm for the car’s infotainment system. Their latest version of “Remote Touch” does away with the mouse-like joystick used in the previous iteration. Now it incorporates a clicking touchpad, just like a laptop computer.

This interaction method takes some getting used to because it doesn’t feel quite as natural. Fortunately the Lexus engineers incorporated surprisingly effective haptic feedback into the pad, which helps give you a better idea of what you’re pointing at.

The RC F’s front seats are road-trip comfortable and surprisingly supportive on the racetrack, though they are a tiny bit snug around my ribs. If you’re sized like a normal person you may find the car’s accommodations a little tight, especially if you try to climb into the cramped back seat.

2UR-GSE



So it’s got striking design and a nice interior, but what matters most with the new Lexus RC F is under the hood.

Hauling mail is a 5.0-liter V8 engine. If this sounds familiar it should because this powerplant has served active duty in the IS F sedan for years, though for 2015 it’s been newly invigorated. If you want to impress your friends its internal designation is 2UR-GSE.

The only major component these engines share is the cylinder block. The RC F’s incarnation features a higher compression ratio, bigger intake and exhaust ports, titanium valves, new camshaft profiles, forged connecting rods and countless other improvements.

The result of all this engineering tomfoolery is 467 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque plus the ability to reach 60 miles an hour in just 4.4 seconds! The only transmission offered in this car is an eight-speed automatic.

Helping put all that power to the pavement, a Torsen limited-slip differential is standard, but for extra dough you can opt for a fancy torque-vectoring unit. This electronically controlled wonder has three different settings and is designed to help the car rotate through corners, making it massive fun to toss around.

Bringing everything to a safe stop are powerful brakes. The front rotors clock in at nearly 15 inches, the rears almost 14. Combined this quartet of binders provides plenty of clamping power for fade-free performance time after time, lap after scalding-hot lap.

To preserve a modicum or environmental responsibility this powerplant can actually run on the Atkinson cycle while at cruising speeds. Delaying the closure of intake valves effectively reduces the displacement of the engine, improving fuel economy in the process. Accordingly the RC F should sticker at 16 MPG city, 25 highway and 19 combined, which isn’t too bad for a performance car of this caliber.

Track Time



Unquestionably the best place to evaluate a machine like this is on a racetrack. You can push it to the limit without endangering the general populace or getting a heap of points on your license when ol’ Smokey catches you having too much fun.

The RC F was designed for drivers of any skill level meaning it’s approachable for novices yet still engaging enough to keep veteran enthusiasts entertained. Engineers hit this broad target; the car feels secure at all times yet it will still get sideways if you know what you’re doing.

Evaluated under the trying conditions of a high-speed road course the RC F acquitted itself quite well. The thing accelerates as effortlessly as a hurricane making landfall. It’s blazingly fast yet buttoned down enough to build driver confidence.

The RC F’s 5.0-liter V8 screams all the way to a 7,300-RPM redline and produces a wonderfully reedy-sounding tune that’s reminiscent of the LFA, though the car’s sound-synthesizing system (Active Sound Control) probably had a lot to do with its symphonic performance.

Likewise, the steering is impressive. The tiller is very direct with plenty of feedback. Snaking through corners, the body remains planted like a century-old oak.

If there’s a weak part to the RC F’s track performance it’s probably the transmission. At times it seems a little slow to respond. You’ll request a gear change with one of the paddle shifters and it’s followed by an uncomfortably long delay before anything happens. In racing situations the wait seems seems like an eternity.

Partially making up for this gripe, the transmission will do something pretty neat if you just leave it in drive. Depending on what mode you have it in the RC F can measure the G’s you’re pulling and anticipate gear changes. If you’re hard on the brakes entering a corner it will automatically downshift and hold that lower ratio through the turn so you can power out after the apex.

As much fun as it is on a track the RC F is a little less enjoyable on the street, though still lots of fun. The ride is pretty stiff on anything less than ideal surfaces and speed limits become an exercise in mastering self restraint because of how powerful it is.



The Verdict

Overall the 2015 Lexus RC F competes very favorably with its primary rivals, though it’s practically guaranteed to top all of them in at least one area: reliability. This is a Toyota after all. The car is a blast to drive but is that enough for Lexus to breakthrough in the tough luxury performance-coupe segment? We’ll have to see how customers react, though all of the necessary ingredients are there.

Finally for the all-important issue of pricing; the RC F should start at $63,325. But since we’re all not lawyers or corporate vice presidents the base RC should kick off around 44 grand. Both of these figures include delivery charges of $925. You can look for these cars at Lexus showrooms in November.

LOVE IT
Aggressive styling
Driving dynamics
V8 sounds
V8 thrust

LEAVE IT
Transmission delay
Firm street ride
Busy interior