2020 RC F Track Edition Will Be Second Most Powerful Lexus Ever

New Horizon for Lexus

The Lexus F marque represents the brand's performance division, similar to M or AMG cars for the Germans. While proving to be competitive on the road, they do not have dedicated track cars to back their successful racing pedigree. But that is about to change.

In a shadowy, obscure release photo consistent with a Toyota Supra teaser, Lexus shows a giant, all carbon fiber wing, and not much more. The trunk-mounted wing is finished in naked carbon fiber with a Lexus “F” logo weaved into the carbon fiber via opposing patterns.

Photos: Lexus

LFA's Younger Sister

The upcoming RC F Track Edition is shaping up to be a thoroughbred track-focused machine. Robert Carter, executive vice president of sales for Toyota Motor North America states "With the exception of LFA, this is the fastest, most powerful vehicle we've ever built". The LFA rang in at 553 hp, and the top hp Lexus now, the LC 500, boasts 477 hp. Expect to see the RC F Track Edition fit around the high 400s if not low to mid 500s for horsepower. The LFA could easily be described as a supercar. It took ten years to develop, and cost so much for Lexus to make that they took a loss on every $375,000 sale. Seeing Lexus developing the RC F, a standard model, into a top echelon track vehicle proves they deserve their place as one of the top performance luxury brands.

>>Join the conversation about the upcoming RC F Track Edition right here in the ClubLexus forum.

Performance to Match The Wing

The standard RC F is already a powerful machine. Its burley old school 5.0L V8 produces 467 hp (348 kW) and 389 lb-ft, the RC F propels itself from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and holds a quarter mile time of 12.9 sec at 110.3 mph. With more tweaking from the Lexus F division, the car will surely make for an extremely fun and engaging track car.

The Achilles heel of the RC F has, of course, always been its weight. At nearly 4,000 lbs (~1800 kg) the RC F is not what you would call, petite. Generous use of carbon fiber can easily mediate this issue. I pray that we get to see heavy use of the very expensive, one of a kind carbon fiber loom specially designed for the LFA. Any use of that machine is a benefit to humankind.

>>Join the conversation about the upcoming RC F Track Edition right here in the ClubLexus forum.

What to Expect From The Car

The RC F Track Edition will not be just another trim package. This is going to be a fully dedicated track car. As a purpose-built machine, it will join Lexus’s lineup, as Carter says, with “very, very limited production.”

The car is made for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts. "There's still some of us that like to drive fast, and there's some of us that like to drive really fast. And for those customers, we have something they'll enjoy." And we look forward to seeing what the RC F Track Edition will have to offer.

>>Join the conversation about the upcoming RC F Track Edition right here in the ClubLexus forum.

When Will We See It?

Reportedly, the RC F Track Edition will be debuted alongside the over-hyped Toyota Supra at the North American International Auto Show, in Detroit. With many of the luxury brands pulling out of the show entirely, this car will surely help Toyota/Lexus steal the show. We have been waiting on the Supra for years now, teased with constant spy shots and camo-covered mule cars. Luckily for this track car, one that I am frankly more excited about than the Supra, there's only another month or so of anticipation. Assuming the vehicle is production ready, we should expect to see it on sale in limited numbers to customers by mid-2019.

>>Join the conversation about the upcoming RC F Track Edition right here in the ClubLexus forum.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.