Lexus RC F

Lexus RC-F – Overview

Just like how the BMW 4-series is the coupe version of the BMW 3-series, Lexus launched the RC model as the two-door twin to the Lexus IS. Lexus’ performance division, the F-Brand put their expertise into the Lexus RC, and thus, the high-performance variant, the RC-F was born. It was officially made available starting from 2014 and received a facelift in 2019.

It is said the RC-F is one of the last sports cars that features a Naturally Aspirated V8 engine with a rear-wheel drive setup. Most of the modern sports cars including its competitor, the BMW M4, Audi RS5, and Mercedes Benz AMG C63 Coupe have all favored a smaller, turbocharged engine instead. The starting price for the RC-F was RM 782,000 without insurance.

Lexus RC-F – Exterior

The RC-F is a beautiful coupe and is so edgy that it has literal edges in the front design. The first thing that comes meets the eye is the big, distinctive, signature Spindle Grille that is on every Lexus car. There are two cooling ducts (for brakes) within the grille and two air vents (for engine oil cooler) on each corner of the front bumper. The RC-F gains a raised front hood with an air vent that raises the car’s peak and releases heat from the engine bay. The two corner air vents were redesigned for the 2019 facelift and under the grille, there is a new horizontal air vent. 

The airflow from the front exits through the L-shape, wide fender air vents. The line from the fender runs down smoothly down to the side skirt and makes the side profile so curvy. Moving to the rear, the RC-F has a retractable spoiler that can be engaged via a button. The exhaust is the signature slanted, quad pipe that made an appearance in F-Brand complete cars such as the IS-F and GS-F. Lexus added a rear diffuser and air vents on the rear bumper when they facelifted the RC-F.

It was thought to be a bold look when Lexus revealed the design of Lexus IS’ headlights, shared with the Lexus RC. The main LED bulbs are separated from the Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), where the DRLs are an L-shape design under the main lights. Later, the main LED merged with a new arrow shape DRLs into an integrated light housing to create a new, sharper look for the facelift. The rear lights also carried the L-shape motive but the design was improved with a curvier bottom.

The standard wheels of the RC-F are a 19-inch, forged aluminum rim made by BBS and wrapped in 255/35 (front) and 275/35 (rear) tyres. The brakes behind the rims are Monoblock aluminum calipers provided by Brembo. The front gets a 6-pot while the rear gets a 4-pot caliper with all round ventilated rotors.

Lexus RC-F – Interior

Lexus is synonymous with luxury and even their hardcore performance model will have an elegant interior. The whole cabin is beautifully wrapped in either leather or soft-touch material with blue and white stitching (F-Brand color). That includes the seats, the steering wheel, gear boot, and door card. 

The instrument panel would be the highlight of the interior. It is a combination of a 7-inch screen that acts as the rev meter and multi-info screen, and an analog speedometer taken from the Lexus LF-A supercar. The rev meter changes its appearance according to driving modes.

The RC-F is strictly a 2+2 configuration because there is a center console in between its rear seats. Auto sliding front seats help entry to the rear seats but a full-sized adult would find the lack of knee room and headroom an inconvenience. The boot only has 366 liters of storage space, which is lesser than its own sibling, the Lexus IS, and the RC-F’s competitor. 

Lexus RC-F – Features

The RC-F features a dual-zone auto air-con with climate control for the front. The design of the control is conservative but you adjust the temperature through a touch-sensitive panel. The RC-F gets standard safety features such as eight airbags, Brake Limited Slip Differential (B-LSD), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring.

There is a 10.3-inch screen on top of the dashboard and it has Lexus’ Remote Touch Interface system. This screen is not a touchscreen and users have to interact with the system via a touchpad like on a laptop computer. It comes with a Mark Levinson sound system consisting of 17 speakers and you are able to connect using Apple Carplay or Android Auto. 

Lexus RC-F – Powertrain

The Lexus RC-F has a 5.0 liter, V8 engine that puts out 473 PS at 7,100 rpm and 530 Nm of torque at 4,800 to 5,600 rpm. It is known that you need to work a Naturally Aspirated engine hard to get the best performance from it and the 2UR-GSE is no different. 

Below 4,000 rpm, the engine is quiet and feels no faster than your average car but above 4,000 rpm, all the power explodes and is released, with speed increasing at a ferocious rate. Since it does not have a turbo, the torque delivery is linear. Lexus tinkered with the throttle response and made more rigid engine mounts in 2019. The 2UR-GSE now pushes out 481 PS (+8 PS) and 535 Nm (+5 Nm) of torque.

The RC-F’s engine is paired with an 8-speed, torque converter automatic transmission. There is no manual transmission or fancy dual-clutch transmission. It is traditional and old-fashioned, but it does the job well and shifts smoothly. Throttle response changes according to the chosen driving mode and Sport+ mode delivers the best overall performance. The facelift model gets a higher final drive ratio and acceleration improved greatly.

Lexus picked the Double Wishbone suspension for the front and a Multi-link for the rear. Shock absorbers used were Monotube absorbers when it first launched. In 2016, Lexus made their Driver-selectable Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) standard for the RC-F. The AVS system electronically monitors and controls the damping force at all four wheels simultaneously using sensors.

There are 4 driving modes available: Normal, Eco, Sport S, and Sport S+. Throttle response, steering feel, and transmission shifting are affected by these driving modes. If you want to save some petrol you could drive in Eco mode and a comfortable ride in Normal mode. When you have a need for speed then go for Sport or Sport S+ and you will be guaranteed to have fun.

Buyers could choose to have the standard Torsen mechanical Limited Slip Differential (LSD) or a Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) as an option. The TVD allows torque to be sent to either rear wheel instead of just the inner wheel like the Torsen and it has 3 settings: Standard, Slalom, and Track. Each mode adjusts the agility and stability of the car based on driving conditions. 

Lexus RC-F - Fuel Economy

The fuel consumption stated in Lexus’ website is around 11.2 liters per 100 km (~8.9 km/L). This does not come as a surprise when the RC-F has eight cylinders and a high engine capacity. Performance does not run on water. 

Lexus RC-F – Driving Performance

Initially, the RC-F could achieve the 0 – 100 km/h sprint in 4.3 seconds with launch control. However, this figure was shaved to 4.1 seconds when the engine was retuned, and 20 kg was shaved off for the facelift model. The top speed is limited to 270 km/h.

The driving performance of the RC-F depends entirely on the driving mode selected and how hardworking the driver is. In Sport S+ mode, the throttle, steering, transmission, and differential work together to give the best performance possible. The last piece of the puzzle is the driver’s patience to draw out the V8’s potential.

Lexus RC-F - Ride Comfort

Based on experience, Lexus knew the ingredients to make a powerful, sports car but they did not forget what their brand represents: luxury and comfort. The RC-F is a relaxing car to drive thanks to the comfortable seats, adaptive suspension, and gentle ride quality. The cabin is also a tranquil place with no sign of noise from the outside other than the roar of the V8. 

Lexus RC-F - Conclusion 

Lexus has achieved a balance of blending luxury with performance typically reserved for sports cars.
A stunning exterior and luxurious interior, combined with a big V-8 engine under the hood, and rear-wheel drive layout. It stood out among its rival for having “old” technology in 2021. The RC-F is traditional and old-school but not outdated. It will be worth looking for one because the Lexus RC-F will age well into a collector’s item.