Official Lexus RC thread
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 6
From: Florida
My issue with the front end of this car is that it's very, very busy and there are already a lot of different shapes for the eye to consider as a whole. For one, the main headlight housing now has 3 small projectors with LED "frames" on each one, and then under that, a disconnected DRL. Foglights are also integrated into the grille, so the lighting alone (while badass) is...well...a lot.
The grille continues this "busy" theme with vertical slats, a splitter bar and mesh below that. The lines of horizontal slats compliment the splitter bar and don't create more perpendicular lines on the front of the car. They also compliment the DRLs better than vertical slats. The mesh part under the splitter bar doesn't bother me because it's barely visible, but again, more shapes.
The horizontal slats also align the car with the entire Lexus lineup and give it a little bit more elegance...something to consider in this price point. As much as we all want super aggressive, Lexus will also be going after Merc E Class coupe buyers, 4 series buyers and A5 owners, and this is already far more aggressive than those three. I'm not complaining - I love the aggression - but I like the idea of the "standard" grille being more conservative and the F/F Sport grille being a little more outlandish. With the RC, the F Sport grille may actually end up looking more cohesive.
The grille continues this "busy" theme with vertical slats, a splitter bar and mesh below that. The lines of horizontal slats compliment the splitter bar and don't create more perpendicular lines on the front of the car. They also compliment the DRLs better than vertical slats. The mesh part under the splitter bar doesn't bother me because it's barely visible, but again, more shapes.
The horizontal slats also align the car with the entire Lexus lineup and give it a little bit more elegance...something to consider in this price point. As much as we all want super aggressive, Lexus will also be going after Merc E Class coupe buyers, 4 series buyers and A5 owners, and this is already far more aggressive than those three. I'm not complaining - I love the aggression - but I like the idea of the "standard" grille being more conservative and the F/F Sport grille being a little more outlandish. With the RC, the F Sport grille may actually end up looking more cohesive.
I think vertical slats are the way to go. I think they would look better on LS and IS instead of horizontal ones.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,551
Likes: 230
From: San Francisco, CA
I think lexus may be going a bit overboard with all the L design cues. Having one here and there is a nice touch, but now we have the actual physical tail light, then the lighting strips in the tail light, then the individual headlight bulbs, then the shape of the DRLs...
Driver
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: MD
I'm loving the back and side profile view. Not a big fan of the current grille, so I hacked together a quick photoshop of RC with the 3IS F-Sport grille. (Posted this in the 3IS forum thread.) I think it looks a lot better without the vertical slats.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 1
From: Makati, Philippines
Originally Posted by RXSF
Those turn signals will be very hard to see if the DRLs remain on. They should have just made the whole arrow turn yellow, replacing the DRLs
On the A8 family and A6 family for instance, the LED DRL signal strip turns into a turn signal LED strip when the turn signal indicators are activated. When the turn signal is deactivated, it reverts back to a LED DRL function
On the A5 and A7 family, there are separate strips for LED turn signals which are above the LED DRL strip. In that method, both light strips can operate at the same time.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 1
From: Makati, Philippines
Originally Posted by RXSF
Those turn signals will be very hard to see if the DRLs remain on. They should have just made the whole arrow turn yellow, replacing the DRLs
On the A8 family and A6 family for instance, the LED DRL signal strip turns into a turn signal LED strip when the turn signal indicators are activated. When the turn signal is deactivated, it reverts back to a LED DRL function
On the A5 and A7 family, there are separate strips for LED turn signals which are above the LED DRL strip. In that method, both light strips can operate at the same time.
Anyways, I'm definitely keeping an eye on developments for this car.
Oh and my personal opinion:
The headlights of this RC coupe look better than what the 3IS has.
The 3IS headlamps look like they were designed by someone with autism
The RC headlamps are way better imho
That's a nice touch
What you mentioned relates in a way two how Audi has two different approaches to this.
On the A8 family and A6 family for instance, the LED DRL signal strip turns into a turn signal LED strip when the turn signal indicators are activated. When the turn signal is deactivated, it reverts back to a LED DRL function
On the A5 and A7 family, there are separate strips for LED turn signals which are above the LED DRL strip. In that method, both light strips can operate at the same time.
Anyways, I'm definitely keeping an eye on developments for this car.
Oh and my personal opinion:
The headlights of this RC coupe look better than what the 3IS has.
The 3IS headlamps look like they were designed by someone with autism
The RC headlamps are way better imho
What you mentioned relates in a way two how Audi has two different approaches to this.
On the A8 family and A6 family for instance, the LED DRL signal strip turns into a turn signal LED strip when the turn signal indicators are activated. When the turn signal is deactivated, it reverts back to a LED DRL function
On the A5 and A7 family, there are separate strips for LED turn signals which are above the LED DRL strip. In that method, both light strips can operate at the same time.
Anyways, I'm definitely keeping an eye on developments for this car.
Oh and my personal opinion:
The headlights of this RC coupe look better than what the 3IS has.
The 3IS headlamps look like they were designed by someone with autism
The RC headlamps are way better imho
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 608
Likes: 2
From: CA
I read this comment on Motor Trend:
Totally nailed it. For an "entry-level" coupe, its exterior looks like it could go punch above its weight class and go up against the 6-series. The other cars in its class all look dated and a class below. The RC is the W222 S-class of its class. 
Now imagine what Lexus can do with the production version of the LF-LC which I'm guessing will resurrect the SC nameplate. :O
It looks like an exotic which nothing in its class can say, and I think its a good thing. Love it or hate it, its very striking.
Now imagine what Lexus can do with the production version of the LF-LC which I'm guessing will resurrect the SC nameplate. :O
