KATHY RENWALD

Lexus RC 350 is sexy and sleek.

WITH ITS KNIFE pleated sheet metal, and smooth as silken tofu profile, the Lexus RC 350 makes a bewitching statement about identity. There’s a sweet-salty ballet going on here. From the drafting table to the last bolt on the assembly line, the production guideline for the luxury sport coupe was “sexy.” It had to be sexy from the outside skin to the stitching on the leather wrapped steering wheel. I have to say, “mission accomplished.” The exterior styling is provocative, some might say unsettling. The edgy looking air intakes, the mysterious shadow lines snaking through the body panels, and the menacing looking front grille, combine to make a performance coupe that looks like nothing else on the road. Conservative was not in the cards for this low slung showoff. My test drive was in the $63,277, 6-speed AWD RC 350, it also comes in rear-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and in the full attack mode RC F with a V8 and all the goosed-up glory that comes with more horsepower. But let’s live in the real world, the RC 350 with 307 horsepower and a 3.5 litre V6 is the kind of car that delivers a bucket of fun, while still keeping the driver out of the court system (well maybe). If you can’t quite place the Lexus RC 350 in the Dewey Decimal system, let’s say you could file it in with the BMW M4, the Mercedes-Benz C-class Coupe and Audi A5 and RS5. That’s pretty fine company and exactly where Lexus wants to be to steal some new customers. Having driven the M4 recently I’d say it feels lighter in all ways to the RC 350, more mercurial and lithe. But the Lexus delivers an excellent all-around driving experience. It’s an accomplishment to make a car that drives both sporty and refined. The RC 350 does that. We have pretty battered roads, and most of us don’t want to go cracking our joints every time we go for a drive. The RC really absorbs the worst paving without a ruffle to its composure. Performance can be custom tailored by choosing between Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus driving modes. Once you’re out

of the city and on smooth roads migrate to Sport Plus to really put the secret sauce on the experience. Have some fun with the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, test the capable brakes, enjoy the flat cornering, and the winning formula of this luxury coupe is let loose. Now if Lexus could crank up more exhaust note pleasure it would be even better. Driving joy is further enhanced by being in a cabin that is a lovely home away from home for front seat occupants. I say front seat because there is a back seat but it’s more like a mirage. In front the seats are form fitting and comfortable for every kilometre travelled. Taller types might wish for more headroom since the coupe’s sloping roof takes no prisoners. A soothing sort of minimalism is the design code for the interior and it flows from the graphics to the switches, to the air vents and to the dashboard. Little moments of joy keep surprising you — like the way a special light circles the speedometer when the RC 350 is in sport mode, or the spa-like glow of the ambient night lighting. The only misfire is the too fussy control for the touch screen computer. It mimics the flicks and pinches used on a smartphone, but it’s too distracting in a car. Tech aides like lane departure and adaptive cruise control work well, and I was especially impressed when the rear cross traffic alert picked up two people who were about to walk behind the car as I was slowly backing out of a parking spot. They were hidden by a massive pickup truck parked beside me. The lesson here is always back into a parking spot when you can. As I finished my test week with the RC 350 the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study came out with Lexus ranked No. 1 in dependability for the fourth year in a row. So how can you go wrong with the RC 350? It’s dependable, daring and a darling to drive.