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Marton Pettendy14 Feb 2015
REVIEW

Lexus RC F 2015 Review

Lexus heads to The Mountain to demonstrate the racetrack potential of its F-badged mid-size coupe
Model Tested
Review Type
Local Launch
Review Location
Bathurst, NSW

First there was the IS F – Lexus' inaugural F model, based on the previous-generation IS mid-size sedan — and now there's the RC F Coupe, based on the Japanese luxury brand's first mid-size coupe, which itself employs the front section of the latest GS large sedan, the mid section of the old IS 250C convertible and the rear-end of the third-generation IS sedan. Inspired by the LFA supercar and employing an upgraded version of the IS F's tried and proven 5.0-litre V8 powertrain, the range-topping RC is the car-maker's first direct competitor for lauded German coupes like the Audi RS 5, BMW M4 and Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG. Does it have what it takes?

Lexus says the RC F is a grand tourer and not a hard-core sports coupe like the M4, against which it will inevitably be shopped. To underline that, just like the IS F undercut its chief German rivals, the Toyota premium division's new F flag-bearer arrives with a $133,500 starting price – almost $33K less than the M4.

But when the opportunity to hire the Mount Panorama circuit arose in the days following last weekend's 12-Hour sports car race, it couldn't resist the chance to launch its brand-new 'halo' model at Australia's most famous racetrack.

After all, if Lexus Australia decides to go motor racing from 2017, and it looks increasingly likely it will, the RC F will form the basis of its assault in either the new coupe-inclusive V8 Supercars Championship or the Australian GT Championship, both of which are headlined by epic endurance races at Bathurst's famous mountain.

So the symbolism wasn't lost on anyone at Bathurst, where the fast, undulating, narrow and concrete-lined track is a thorough test for any car, let alone a relatively heavy production car at the hands of sweaty-palmed automotive journalists – even if we were chaperoned by professional racers and prevented from doing full, flying laps. As an added precaution, Lexus over-inflated the tyres and changed brake pads mid-way through the day.

Luckily, we were also able to sample the RC F on twisty public roads around Bathurst which, although Lexus says it's perfectly suited to track work, is the more likely environment in which owners will explore the RC F's potential.

And the RC F clearly has potential – much more so than the IS F. First, it's a proper two-door, four-seat coupe with an undeniably sexy, low-slung, long-bonnet silhouette that oozes road presence, although its unashamedly aggressive front-end treatment won't be to everyone's tastes. The big 19-inch 10-spoke forged alloy wheels and six-piston yellow Brembo front brake callipers look the business and at least this time the diagonally stacked quad exhausts are not just for show.

Similarly, inside, the RC F is superbly crafted, impeccably finished and well equipped – with faux-carbon dash and door trims and the blue-stitched suede leather seats, steering wheel and instrument binnacle being particular highlights – but it won't win any beauty contests.

The multi-mode TFT instrument display with large central tacho and g-force and torque vectoring displays is classy but a bit busy, the huge sports seats highly supportive and the 17-speaker, 835-Watt Mark Levinson sound system cracking, but storage space is tight, the foot-operated parking brake is both old-school and awkward, and one car we drove had a centre stack vibration that wouldn't go away.

Specification levels are impressive, with a full safety suite including eight airbags, reversing camera, lane departure warning, lane change assist, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, active cruise control, pre-collision safety system and clearance and rear parking systems.

There are other features some rivals charge extra for, such as LED headlights with automatic high-beam, sunroof and heated/ventilated front seats, and the $147,500 RC F Carbon model adds cool carbon-fibre finishes inside and on the roof, bonnet and active rear wing.

On the road, performance – like the RC F's macho body kit – is a big step up from the 233kW/378Nm 3.5-litre V6-powered RC 350, as you'd expect given it costs more than twice as much as the cheapest model ($66,000).

There's a hairy-chested rumble from the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 as you finger the start button and suitably enthusiastic response via the standard eight-speed automatic from low speeds. The big-bore V8 is more flexible than the M4's turbo six, offering more torque down low and barrels of twist anywhere between 3000 and 6000rpm, but it lacks the sledgehammer-like mid-range thrust of the C 63's mighty 6.2-litre natmo bent eight.

Lexus says the upgraded V8, which runs on 98 RON PULP, was tuned to sound like the LFA's V10 between 6000rpm and its 7300 rev-limit, which is 500rpm higher than in the IS F, but it doesn't deliver the same aural rewards as the RS 5's guttural 4.2-litre V8, which revs beyond 8000rpm.

Thanks to new cylinder-heads with electronic VVT-i valve timing, higher compression (11.8 v 12.3:1), titanium valves, revised intake ports and reduced mechanical losses, the F division's oversquare, 90-degree 308ci V8 now churns out 351kW of power (up 12 per cent) at 7100rpm and 530Nm of torque between 4800 and 5600rpm, which are impressive numbers by any standard.

But it also carries about 100kg more weight than the IS F, with RC F kerb masses ranging between a substantial 1780 and 1860kg (yes, that's about 300kg more than the M4 and 100kg more than the C 63 and RS 5). So while it feels quicker than the IS F and about as rapid as the RS 5, its 4.5-second 0-100km/h time is at least a couple of tenths slower than the other two Germans. Fuel consumption is also higher at 10.9L/100km.

It's a similar situation at the racetrack – especially one as demanding as Bathurst -- where there's no escaping the RC F's mass. There are a number of places at Mount Panorama where just about every car will understeer, such as Griffins Bend at the end of Mountain Straight, down through The Dipper and Forrest's Elbow leading onto the near-2km Conrod Straight.

But more than many, the RC F pushes wide when asked to brake and steer at the same time, rewarding its driver with crisp turn-in only after heavy braking is dispensed with. Body roll is kept well in check despite the car's heft and the stiff springs only affected ride quality on the bumpiest of broken public-road surfaces, where the tight-ratio (2.84 turns lock-to-lock) rack-and-pinion steering was agile, responsive, talkative and free of rattle or kickback.

Braking was well up to the task and the RC body felt unquestionably solid in all conditions, and although we couldn't feel much difference between the multi-plate clutch-operated torque vectoring (rear) differential settings on track, the four transmission modes made noticeable changes to the car's performance when not using the gearshift paddles on the road, where it was slow to downshift in Normal setting.

There was no doubting the raw speed of the RC F down Conrod though. Most of us saw slightly over 250km/h near the rev-limiter in fifth gear (with three ratios to go), and Neal bates said he saw 264km/h in six before The Chase – near enough to the 270km/h electronic limit.

Like its pricetag – and the IS F – however, the RC F falls slightly short of its two most established German foes on paper and on a challenging road like a racetrack, where there's more than enough grunt to overwhelm even the broad Michelin Pilot Supersports and its dynamic envelope is limited ultimately by its weight.

Away from the track, like it says on the box, the RC F is a swift, satisfying grand touring coupe that looks the business and has the engine and handling performance, comfort, refinement and stability to match, at a great value price.

2015 Lexus RC F pricing and specifications:
Price: $133,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.0-litre V8 petrol
Output: 351kW/530Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 253g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC

What we liked:
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Not so much:
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Also consider:
>>
>> BMW M4 Coupe (from $166,430 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz C 63 Coupe (from $159,500 plus ORCs)

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Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Expert rating
80/100
Engine, Drivetrain & Chassis
16/20
Price, Packaging & Practicality
17/20
Safety & Technology
16/20
Behind the Wheel
16/20
X-Factor
15/20
Pros
  • Brawny V8 grunt and note
  • Classic coupe proportions
  • Refinement, equipment, price
Cons
  • Weight
  • Foot parking brake
  • Slow to downshift in Normal
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