The New Lexus RC F: Pure Exhilaration
Last year, Lexus unveiled their new 2015 RC F coupe at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It’s only the third Lexus to earn the prestigious F badge after the IS F and the LFA supercar, making it the new flagship Lexus model. And now, it can be yours.
Developed at the Fuji and Nürburgring circuits, the RC F is a luxurious racing car that’s both fun to drive in the city and on the interstate. It has a 5-liter 32-valve V8 engine that sits up front and center under a low-slung hood, applying 470 hp of power and 530 Nm of torque directly and efficiently to the tarmac through an eight-speed transmission and the first Lexus torque vectoring differential.
Lexus calls this new and improved V8 engine, with 13 percent more power than the IS F, the 2UR-GSE. It boasts new cylinder heads, a new D-4S dual-injection system for the gas, a lighter crankshaft, new cam profiles, and new intake and exhaust manifolds. Inside, lighter con-rods and titanium valves can push the rpm to 7,300. It’s faster than both the BMW M4 and Audi RS 5 on a closed track.
The new torque vectoring differential uses computers and sensors throughout the car to control the side-to-side torque split, making the car pivot harder and faster on turns. You can switch between Standard mode, Slalom mode for sensitive steering, and Track mode for stability and cornering. All this makes for a tight 35.4-ft turning circle.
The 2UR-GSE engine takes the RC F from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and with independent front and rear coil-spring suspension, monotube gas shock absorbers, ball-jointed stabilizer bars, wide wheels for a better grip, and brakes that could stop a train, you’ll feel completely in control.
Using the Atkinson cycle at cruising speeds and the Otto cycle at higher rpms, the RC F’s fuel economy is 168 mph at top speed and 16 mpg in city, and it even meets the prestigious Euro 6 emission requirements.
Design-wise, the RC F builds on the sporty style of RC coupe, a four-seat rear-wheel drive compact executive coupe. Its rigid body has cross-section rocker panels and a stiff front lower brace, with a higher bonnet to make room for the V8. The characteristic Lexus spindle grille with F-mesh pattern decorates the front, and with strategically-placed ducts and stabilizing fins, the RC F is a highly aerodynamic car.
The interior is based on an aircraft cockpit, with a large customizable center tachometer and combination meters, digital and analog speedometers, a monitor for the torque vectoring differential, a G-Force meter, oil and water temp gauges, mileage, and just for fun, a stopwatch.
This luxury hot rod promises a fun and stable ride for both pros and novices, with all the design, power, and performance that Lexus is known for: pure exhilaration.
Want to get behind the wheel? Stop by Lexus of Highland Park to test drive the RC F, or any of our other thrilling Lexus models.
