Hi owners.

The Rioja Red color has transitioned to Circuit Red on many of the latest “refresh” models by Lexus and likely phase out the former shade entirely on all models.

I have had two Lexuses with the Rioja Red color specifically because it was not the polarizing bright lipstick red shade found in many other interiors. It’s a refined, welcoming, and warmer shade of red. For this reason, it has appealed to many who would have otherwise not gone with that “traditional” red interior. Mercedes has also used a very similar shade that is almost identical to Rioja that looks much refined than the usual brighter red interior color.

For those of you that are or were owners of the Rioja, what are your thoughts about the newer were Circuit Red color? I was looking forward to continuing the Rioja in my next Lexus and a bit bummed that it has been replaced with the brighter red shade of yesteryear. This “update” to the Nuluxe Red seems like a step backward. Just from the pictures alone, it looks like the tackier brighter red color that Lexus refreshingly and welcomely avoided with the introduction of the Rioja.

Is the Circuit Red that much of a deviation from the Rioja as it appears in pictures from the dealership and buy the Lexus website online? For those who have seen both, what are your opinions?

I can’t understand why Lexus would tinker with something good. The Rioja Red I found to be a sporty, yet refined and classy red variant that I can’t see why Lexus would go back to that less popular stark polarizing shade of red that Rioja Red had been so successful at making red sexy again.

I haven’t seen any posts in the forum in regard which is quite surprising. Let the (friendly) debates begin!

 

^^ Well, let me chime in. I had a 2015 IS350 F sport (white with red interior) and just recently brought it back to get into an RC350 F sport (white with red interior) and you are correct, the red is far more of a "brighter red" than the Rioja red. It is all about personal preference and I sure loved my Rioja red in my IS but I must admit that I prefer the Circuit red in the RC.

I find the circuit red fits this car better given its more 'sportier' stance. One thing I enjoy with the recent trend of Lexus with their red interior is that they bring a bit more contrast in the seats and sitting area. In my IS, the whole seat was red while my RC has the back of the seats as black (as with the headrest) and the center console in the back too. I have seen some of the SUV with black and red seats so again, they mix the colors a bit more and breaks the "all red". I wish they would do the same for the black interiors. I know that in the US, you have a black and yellow option but that is not available here.

So in a nutshell, I am on the "prefer the circuit red" after owning the Rioja red. Don't get me wrong, the Rioja was absolutely gorgeous too....

 

Great review! It’s nice to know that the seats a broken up a bit with the two tone design. Thanks.