What’s that you say? A Lexus? Surely not, that’s an old man’s car.
That stereotypical response has been shattered with the arrival of the RC F, Toyota’s luxury brand’s most powerful production V8 coupe yet, which combines high performance engineering with the quality build for which the name has become synonymous.
It grabbed the headlines when it was first revealed at the Detroit Motor Show and has been turning heads now it has started to appear on the roads.
That was especially true when I ventured out in the Carbon test model with its stunning metallic red paintjob, massive black composite technology carbon fibre reinforced plastic lightweight bonnet, roof and active rear spoiler. Couple that with the roar from the huge vertically stacked twin tailpipes and it’s difficult, if not impossible to keep a low profile.
I think it might be a touch Marmitey on the beauty front – I personally thought it looked stunning – but it’s what’s under the surface that’s important in this flying machine.
Beneath the bonnet is a beast of a 5 litre V8 which belts out 471bhp – 46bhp more than a BMW M4 – and it feels it, when you get the revs going and the full power kicks in and everything starts bellowing. I had some fabulous driving fun and for the first time in a long while, some of my passengers enjoyed the experience almost as much as I did….if not more so….even if they were squeezed into the smallest of spaces in the back.
Standard performance and handling features include Brembo ventilated and slotted brakes, Sachs monotube shocks, Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, Lexus Drive Mode Select, and 19-inch forged alloys.
The Carbon model also has a torque-vectoring differential – a world first for a front engine/rear-wheel drive car – which offers the driver the choice of three operating modes for traction and control in a range of conditions from everyday eco driving to sporty track performance.
On the comfort front, there’s a bespoke interior with Alcantara figure-hugging heated seats, Mark Levinson audio system LED headlights with automatic high beam; Premium navigation and dual-zone climate control.
The 8 speed automatic sports direct shift gearbox is smooth and slick in normal driving but I found it a bit slow on the uptake when pushed for quick power delivery. For better response the steering-mounted paddles did the job but it still needed to be worked hard to get the most from it. Maximum torque is at 4,800rpm and once you’re there, you can certainly feel it as the car takes a big breath and gives you its all.
Where it really excelled was in its road manners, solid and secure even when facing heavy demand on the tightest of bends on the less-than-best of surfaces. I was surprised you couldn’t manually adjust the suspension but the double wishbone at the front and multilink at the rear actually dealt well with everything without feeling too firm or tough on the joints and backbone.
It is the third performance model from the Lexus F Sport division, following the IS F saloon and the LFA supercar and while the £60,000-ish price tag looks attractive, it’s got some serious competition from the German high performance sports coupes.
But it’s good to see Lexus widening their appeal and coming up with something which adds to the rich tapestry of exciting equipment which is available to sports coupe enthusiasts.
CAR: Lexus RC F Carbon
PRICE: £67,995 (£69,915 as tested)
POWER: V8 4969cc 32 valve DOHCÂ with Dual VVTÂ 471bhp
TORQUE: 530 Nm
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 168 mph (governed)Â 0-62 mph 4.5 secs
MPG: 26 mpg combined
CO2 EMISSIONS: 252 g/km
TT Rating: 
