Toyota’s 2016 Lexus RC F is a high-performance luxury
sports car powered by a 5.0 L DOHC 32-valve V8, featuring both direct
and port fuel injection. The 8-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic
transmission with steering wheel-mounted “F” Spec paddle shifters
delivers 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque.
With this ample amount of power, the RC F gets an EPA-rated
consumption of 19 mpg city/highway combined (16 mpg city and 25 mpg
highway).
To keep informed of exactly what the engine is doing, simply check
the instrument panel that displays G-force, includes a lap-time counter,
and shows you the status of the speed-activated rear wing. Lexus states
that the RC F is track-proven with a pedigree for performance.
The RC F has a highly rigid body formed by high-strength adhesive
bonding, laser brazing, and multiple laser screw welding. This means
quiet sound and a quality vehicle, second to none.
Inside, the cockpit looks like a race car.
There were several unique features that I personally enjoyed. Large
paddle shifters are positioned for fast gear changes, and specially
designed rubber pads help to give the grip your foot needs, adding
comfort regardless of the number of laps you run.
The seats, designed to disperse body pressure, provide great support
and help to keep you firmly planted through the turns. The headrests
are comfortable and designed to keep your head safely in place. They
also act as an aid for perfect viewing.
However, although the seats are constructed to support your hips,
the seat side ridge is too wide and high and makes it difficult to exit
the vehicle.
The RC F offers a Performance Package ($5,500) that provides
track-ready upgrades. These include a torque-vectoring rear
differential, an exclusive carbon-fiber rear wing, and a carbon-fiber
roof.
The RC F has three “selectable driver modes”: Standard, Slalom, and
Track. The mode you select determines things like torque distribution
according to cornering conditions, which can route more power to the
outside rear tire for enhanced agility. This helps you to hold the line
with unprecedented precision.
The interior of the RC F. (Courtesy of Lexus Newsroom)
Inside, the cockpit looks like a race car, with a race-ready gauge
cluster featuring a multi-information display and a remote touchpad that
places everything just a fingertip away.
The test drive of the RC F was an incredibly interesting and
exhilarating experience. In all my years of driving, I have never
received such positive comments about a car than I did with the RC F.
Whether it was in a conversation with a store clerk looking through the
car’s front window, neighbors coming over to get a closer look, or
fellow drivers giving a “thumbs up” as they were being passed, everyone
smiled.
I heard men and women, young and old, remark with enthusiasm about how “beautiful,” “stylish,” and “cool” the RC F looked.
There is also a Premium Package ($3,240) that offers features like
heated and ventilated front seats with driver-seat memory, black
carbon-fiber interior trim, advanced blind-spot monitoring with rear
cross-traffic alert, and intuitive park assist, just to name a few.
Driving the RC F gave me a sense of empowerment. I became so proud
to drive this powerful, luxury sports car that I actually felt like I
was a part of the car.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $62,805.
Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or dcaussey@sbcglobal.net
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