2015 Lexus RC F: Proving Automatic Can Still Be Fun
According to chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi, the 2015 Lexus RC F is one performance vehicle that was built purely for the pleasure of the people.
Lexus of Highland Park thinks the new RC F’s most compelling feature is the car’s 8-speed sport direct transmission.
See, the engineers at Lexus were out to defy conventional wisdom that says a manual transmission is a faster, more thrilling drive than an automatic. They sat down and came up with a way to create the world’s fastest shifting automatic transmission.
With a lightning quick shift time of 0.05 seconds, the Formula One transmission was their guide. The Lexus RC F comes pretty close to those numbers with an upshift time of approximately 0.2 seconds in manual mode.
With a capability of 450 horsepower and more than 383 lb. ft of torque, it’s no surprise that the all-new RC F is the car company’s most powerful engine to date.
Sporting an incredibly forceful 5.0-liter 32 valve V8, this little number produces higher engine RPM than ever before.
The secret of the RC F’s awe-inspiring performance is the Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) which employs the 8 speed Sport Direct Shift transmission. As a result, the linear throttle response is enhanced for superior handling, giving the driver more control behind the wheel.
The front engine, rear wheel drive RC F will be the industry’s first performance car to use a TVD that operates in three different modes:
- Standard
- Slalom
- Track
The TVD shoots torque to each wheel – a technology that Lexus has never used before – sending the RC F soaring from 0 to 60 in about 4.4 seconds.
Lexus upgrades the engine on its 2015 sports coupe to utilize the more fuel-efficient Atkinson cycle while in cruise mode, but quickly converts to the Otto cycle for improved performance – a first-ever for a sports car.
The Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) was featured in 2004 with the Lexus GS. It was the company’s first vehicle handling / software control system designed to improved driver input, safety, and performance.
The RC F also sports a recalibrated version of the original VDIM for better vehicle stability.
For extras, Lexus’ created AI-Shift which intelligently monitors the conditions on the road, while tuning into the shift pattern of the driver.
With all of the capabilities and technology built into the 2015 Lexus RC F, it’s easy for the team here at Lexus of Highland Park to see this model as a pleasure-seeking performance vehicle. Visit our Lexus Dealership near Chicago for a full selection of New Lexus vehicles ready for a thrilling test drive.
