Review
2015 Lexus RC F
We already knew that Lexus can make sports cars that appeal to the imagination, including with the LFA. Now the RC F has been added. A sports car with a handsome exotic look and a cool 5.0 liter V8 with 477 hp and endless torque. We were more than happy to take a test.
Design
We can only praise the design of the RC F. What a handsome appearance this is in the street scene. From most angles, this sports car looks exotically handsome. At the front, the monumental radiator grille is immediately noticeable. What also appeals to us is the design of the triple LED headlights, which is further emphasized by separate LED daytime running lights in L-shape.
At the rear of the car, the 4 exhausts immediately make it clear that this is not an everyday car. Not that this would be necessary anymore, but we are fans of 4 exhausts. At the rear we also find an active four-point wing to optimize stability at high speeds. From 80 km/h the wing squeaks and when the speed drops below 40 km/h it hides again. Apart from aerodynamics, it also looks cool.
On the inside we find a design that, according to Lexus, is focused on the driver. The F-exclusive dials of the RC F are a further evolution of the central screen in the LFA. The sports seats not only look good, but offer the driver support and comfort through every bend. We also find a nice analogue clock in the center of the dashboard and we could taste the decorative moldings in carbon. Cost of all this? From a budget of €85,910 you can call yourself the proud owner of an RC F.
engines
The Lexus RC F has at its heart a powerful 5-liter petrol engine that provides the driver with pleasure thanks to 477 horses and a torque of 530 Nm. No turbo engine, but a naturally aspirated V8. They are becoming a bit rarer, but luckily we still find one in this RC F. The RC F reaches 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and only stops at 270 km/h. Quite impressive figures, especially the RC F with its 1840 kg is no slouch. The sound that this roaring V8 produces easily makes the heart beat faster. It starts with a deep and low sound and somewhere around 3,000 rpm. this switches to a higher, more howling sound.
The RC F has rear-wheel drive and the sports car uses an 8-speed “sports direct shift” automatic transmission. If you don’t want that, you as a driver don’t have to worry about switching gears. The automatic transmission shifts through the 8 gears very quickly and is usually spot on. If you feel the need to shift gears yourself, you can do so by putting the lever in M mode and switching gears yourself via the paddles on the steering wheel.
The letter “F” does not stand for Fast nor for Furious, but for “Fuji Speedway”. This is the track where Lexus conducts many of its high-speed tests. It is also more than a letter, more of a label. A label that stands for a leading sports car brand.
Driving modes
The RC F was developed for enthusiasts, regardless of their experience level. This is made possible by a number of driving modes that you can use driver can choose via a rotary knob on the center console. There are 4 options: ECO, NORMAL, SPORT S and SPORT S+. These driving modes then influence numerous settings such as power, response to the accelerator pedal, gears, … but also the appearance of the dial.
The ECO mode focuses on efficiency and driving as environmentally friendly as possible. NORMAL mode focuses on smooth starts, seamless acceleration and optimal power delivery. SPORT-S mode is aimed at an ultra-sporty driving style and “SPORT+”-S mode builds on SPORT mode and automatically adjusts the intensity of the electric power steering for track conditions. For most of our test drive, the NORMAL mode offered more than enough driving pleasure.
Conclusion
In our opinion, the Lexus RC F has everything it takes to become an iconic sports car of our time. Not a modest engine blown up with turbos, but a true naturally aspirated 5 liter V8 with endless power and torque. An exotic design and lines that have an edge over its German competitors and a gearbox that shifts faster than its shadow.
Johan De Haes
Test driver
