MIXING IT UP WITH SPORTY HEAVYWEIGHTS
Provided it goes on a diet, the Lexus RC F is a smooth, speedy and tight-handling brute
Well, colour me surprised, preferably with a Solar Flare Orange crayon. Lexus, best known for silent-running, feature-laden luxury cars and crossovers, can mix it up with the big boys, occupying the upper strata of the sport coupe segment, albeit doing so in typical Lexus fashion.
The posh marque has experience fielding entry-level sport sedans and coupes with its IS and RC series of cars, alternatives to the better-known Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, et al. And, sure, it did build the very limited and very pricey LFA supercar a few years ago. But until the RC F came along, Lexus had nothing to go against the highly regarded, if not iconic, performance models from the German powerhouses.
Even when the RC F debuted for the 2015 model year — as a serious sport-luxury coupe with a serious price tag — there were a lot of armchair critics doubting whether it belonged in the same circle as the BMW M4, the Mercedes AMG C63 or even the Cadillac ATS-V coupe, its primary competition.
Now, finally having the chance to drive the sophisticated and aggressively styled brute — and once I throw out a couple of caveats — I think the RC F ($85,000 to start, $92,700 as tested) can show its oversized spindle grille around this rarefied club.
A certain amount of corporate hyperbole is expected when it comes to extolling any vehicle’s virtues, though Lexus tends to lay it on a little thick. I’ll allow some leeway with the brand describing the RC F as “a feat of performance engineering, designed for the most demanding driving enthusiast.” I’m less charitable when it comes to describing the coupe’s handling dynamics as “honed to perfection on the gruelling Fuji Speedway and the Nurburgring.”
The RC F has a big engine, wide and fat Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, and humongous brakes. It will hustle when the gas pedal is given a prod, and it takes a set, cornering with remarkable flatness when hooning deep into a corner. But here’s the rub: It also carries big weight, at just under 1,800 kilograms. That’s about 175 kg more than the M4. The solidity is there and the RC F is as tight as a drum, but you feel that extra avoirdupois with every forward or lateral movement. So, I’d be toning down the track references; leave that for the GT3 race car, which weighs some 500 kilograms less than the production car on which it’s based.
Let’s call the reardrive RC F what it really is: a GT (as in gran turismo), and one with significant rumble under the hood in the form of a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, which puts out an estimable 467 horsepower. It’s not quite as impressive as the AMG C63 S’s 503 ponies, but infinitesimally better than the Cadillac ATS-V Coupe’s 464 and a major improvement over the basic M4’s 425.
Yet, unless you are going to track the car — and if you do, then you’ve got more money than I to waste — it’s all just bluster and braggadocio. Really, all you need to know is that the big car moves, especially when Sport or Sport+ mode is selected, and can go from zero to 100 km/h in under five seconds. (Somewhat illogically, at least in my book, there’s also an Eco mode.)
The V8 is hooked up to an eightspeed “sports direct shift” automatic with the obligatory paddle shifters. In Sport+, the upshifts are knocked off rapidly, if slightly abruptly. And, when not in manual mode, Lexus says the transmission automatically detects curves and holds the lower gear to give optimal response when accelerating out.
Also interesting: The 5.0-L engine uses the Atkinson cycle at cruising speeds and switches to the Otto cycle for higher rpm, delivering (marginally) better fuel economy as well as an impressive 7,300-rpm operating range. That said, the RC F likes its 91 octane; I averaged 14.3 litres per 100 kilometres during my time with the car, including a fair romp on secondary highways at “sporting” speeds.
New for 2017, the RC F now features a Linear Adaptive Variable Suspension system (AVS), controlling damping force with more precision. According to LexusEnthusiast.com, the AVS system has two core functions: “Improving ride comfort by reducing damper force to help absorb vibrations on rough roads, and applying increased damping force while cornering to minimize body roll through the turn.”
The website says Lexus has also boosted the suspension control by linking it with both the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management safety technology and Drive Mode Select control.
Inside, the cabin is properly complete and sporting, as befitting the RC F’s intent. The anchor point is the two high-back sport seats that hug the body in just the right spots, both for long-distance travel and energetic driving, but the back seats are next to useless for all but toddlers. The thick, elliptically shaped steering wheel feels good in the hands, while the instrument cluster and multiinformation display, apparently adopted from the Lexus LFA, displays a full range of information, including the G Meter and “torque distribution meter.”
I’m not a fan of the Lexus Remote Touch interface, the touchpad controller for many of the car’s programs (climate, navigation, radio, info, phone, etc.). It operates much like a computer touchpad, which is good, but it’s located too far back on the centre console and is too sensitive to use, meaning it’s easy to select the wrong icon. A simple knob or touch screen would work better.
The car’s mass notwithstanding, there’s much to like about the RC F. Smooth, powerful, confident, it garnered positive attention from young and old alike, including one charming elderly lady who, crossing the street in front of the car, stopped, took a long look and then gave me a nod and a thumbs-up. I think it was the Lexus’ bright Solar Flare Orange paint job that sealed the deal. But if you are going to misbehave in the RC F — and the temptation is there — choose a subtler shade. Law enforcement could see this car a mile away! Overview: Luxury rear-drive sports coupe
Pros: Aggressive looks, techy interior, comfortable front seats Cons: No back-seat legroom, Lexus known for luxury not performance, remote touch control is not user friendly
Value for money: Fair What I would change: Reduce weight by about 100 kilograms How I would spec it: Stock; The performance package is not necessary