Improving on the IS F sedan, Lexus brings out the RC F, a fun performance coupe that is all about the thrill of driving. Packed with dynamic prowess, this truly is the top sports car from Lexus. The RC F is a luxury sports coupe wrapped in refinement. With the promise of an exciting driving experience combined with stellar performance and the lure of standing out from the rest of the pack – this is the Lexus RC F.
To form the structure of its new coupe, Lexus combined the GS sedan’s front clip, IS C convertible’s center section, and the IS sedan’s rear end, using welding, adhesives and a fancy technique known as laser screw welding which gives greater rigidity since it allows for more frequent tacks.
Once it is explained, the three-piece approach makes a lot more sense. With the GS front, engineers get the extra track width they needed for handling. The IS rear is deemed adequate to keep the dimension’s of the car tidy, and the center section of the IS C necessary for its shorter wheelbase and inherent stiffness.
Compared with the IS sedan, the Lexus RC coupe is about 1.5 inches wider, longer and lower but has a shorter wheelbase by 2.7 inches. The RC F we are talking about is the hot-rod version and it is the car that Lexus is using as an effective replacement for its IS F sedan, which comes without an analogue in this new IS generation. However, the RC F is not looking to be a direct knockoff of the BMW M-whatever. It very much has its own thing going on.
It is a looker for sure, sharp and clean.
EXTERIOR
To begin with, the 2016 Lexus RC F has 19-inch split 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, which are priced at $850. It does not end just yet! The RC F we tested came in a beautiful Ultra White color and with the performance package which includes the carbon fiber rear wing, roof, etc. Some of the exterior features in the 2016 RC F will be explained here….
It also has premium triple beam LED headlamps which costs $1,160. This adds visual appeal and also gives you high-performance illumination. You also get LED turn signals and automatic high beams. The rear lights come in an L-shaped design which gives you a powerful presence as well as consumes less power to give you better efficiency.
The 2016 RC F comes with Brembo-sourced ventilated disc brakes, giving you some serious stopping power. You can have the control you want with the large 14.9-inch front brake rotors that huge six-piston aluminum monoblock Brembo calipers clamp on to, and the 13.5-inch rotors with four-piston calipers for the rear wheels. Your stopping power is formidable. It also features high-friction pads and a slotted rotor design that cools fast to help in reducing brake fade.
Quad exhaust
The RC F’s quad exhaust reduces back pressure to give you better high-rpm output. The vehicle’s rear is definitely one of the best in the industry partly because of the well-designed quad exhaust.
Cooling ducts
You experience some outstanding performance with the RC F due to its functional air outlets in the fenders and hood. They help keep the brakes and engine cool. The aerodynamic ducts that are set in the front bumper channel air to the engine oil cooler, the transmission oil cooler and the front brakes. You can be sure that this will affect the way your car performs on the road.
The Performance Package costs $5,500 which gives you the following as described here….
Carbon fiber roof and rear wing
The carbon fiber roof helps in reducing weight and lowers the coupe’s center of gravity so you experience much more responsive handling. The speed-activated carbon rear wing is activated when you go at speeds above 50 mph or you could do it with just a click of a button. It increases downforce and gives you better aerodynamics, helping to keep you firmly planted on the ground at high speeds. The lightweight carbon fiber wing also gives you the benefits that you get with a standard speed-activate rear wing while it also helps to give you a lower center of gravity.
The exterior features of the 2016 RC F are definitely impressive. It certainly gets a 10 in the looks department.
INTERIOR
Our tester came in the beautiful Circuit Red leather with the trim in black carbon fiber, unlike the basic black leather and carbon fiber trim that was seen in the 2015 model. We recommend the red leather for all potential RC F buyers.
The interior features of the 2016 Lexus RC F include:
Leather trimmed seats
These are no ordinary seats; they come with “F” embossed headrests to give you looks as well as comfort. These exclusive sports seats have a unique foam construction that is designed to spread body pressure, increase support and keep you firmly planted when you make turns. The stitching pattern on the seats and seatbacks are inspired by cutting-edge sportswear with carefully calculated position and shape to give you better support for your muscles and greater grip in high-g situations. Priced at $800, this is definitely one of our favorite elements of the interior.
Leather-trimmed steering wheel
The 2016 RC F comes with a uniquely designed F-spec leather-trimmed steering wheel that allows you to get the optimum performance you need. The thick-grip sport steering wheel has a unique shape that feels like it has been molded to your hands. It puts the voice-activated controls and paddle shifters right at your fingertips.
Racing pedals
The racing pedals have a distinctive design that does not just add style to the interior. The position and size of the rubber pads are designed specifically to grip your foot as you go lap after lap.
All-weather floor mats
The RC F comes with a set of all-weather floor mats, allowing you to brave the elements in style. Lightweight and durable, these mats are made from a high-quality thermoplastic polymer. They are designed with distinctive ribbed channels to help contain moisture, dirt, etc. They look fantastic and are 100% recyclable.
Ambient lighting
Intrigue is added to the interior design with ambient lighting. It dims or brightens depending on whether the vehicle is parked or moving. It also has illuminated door handles with door pocket LEDs which give you a sophisticated entrance into the vehicle.
The Premium Package is priced at $3,240 and includes the following features:
Heated/ventilated front seats that come with driver seat memory that makes you feel totally comfortable as soon as you settle yourself and get ready to drive. Carbon fiber interior trim to give you that exclusive look and feel you are looking for in your vehicle. G-heated steering wheel to keep your hands toasty while you are driving.
FUEL ECONOMY
The 2016 Lexus RC F’s numbers are – 16 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined.
With more revs, you get more power but you also need more fuel and more air. This is why, as the V-8 is coded, the 2UR-GSE comes with a larger throttle body and fuel injectors with higher flow. You get max power at 7,100 rpm, and 4,800 rpm for the 389 lb.-ft. torque peak, up 18 from the IS F. You also receive a compression of 12.3:1, up from 11.8:1. Not bad!
The RC F’s cam phasers have a wider range, which means extra power and also Atkinson-cycle capability for the V-8 engine. This gives you improved efficiency while you are cruising as well as under low roads. It also gives the RC F a 2 mpg increase in EPA highway testing to 25 mpg. The fuel economy is 16 in the city. The RC F used a gallon of premium fuel every 15 miles while we were testing it. Although these are not the best numbers, they are on par with the other current performance models.
You cannot wait to get back on the road every time you fill up the RC F, so it is definitely worth the money you spend on fuel.
PERFORMANCE
The mighty 2016 RC F is powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that gives you 389 lb.-ft. of torque and 467 hp. This means that the RC F can take you from 0-60 mph in merely 4.4 seconds!
You will find the powerful 467 hp that the 5.0-liter V-8 delivers even more impressive when you consider the fact that the RC F’s Atkinson-cycle capability is engineered to make it as prolific as possible. When you are on the road, the gearbox maps and variable drive modes make the RC F a pleasantly sporty and comfortable car to drive up to about seven tenths. The powerful V-8 engine sounds fantastic only the way an NA V-8 can. Also, you get immediate throttle response and a feeling of enduring solidity to the build quality.
Some of the performance features include:
5.0-liter engine
The powerful 467 hp that the 5.0-liter V-8 delivers is all the more impressive when you consider the fact that the coupe’s Atkinson-cycle capability is engineered to make it as efficient as possible. Its inventive components include lightweight titanium valves that are combined with forged, high-strength connecting rods. The powerful V-8 is also made most stirring with the throaty, specially-tuned sound that the engine emits throughout its intense 7300 rpm range.
8-speed sport direct-shift transmission
If you are looking for dynamic performance, you will not be disappointed. You can achieve this both on and off the track, thanks to the 8-speed sport direct-shift transmission that gives you manual control with the help of large paddle shifters that are conveniently mounted on the steering wheel. You can change gears faster with their precise positioning.
Thanks to downshift rev matching, you get split-second upshifts and almost seamless downshifts. Also, when it is in automatic mode, a g-sensor is featured on the transmission’s AI (artificial intelligence) shift control. The sensor detects when you enter a curve and also gives you optimal response when you are accelerating out by holding the lower gear.
The RC F’s torque vectoring rear differential plays a significant role on both the coupe’s personality and performance. It helps in putting maximum power to corner on pavements when it is in track mode. With a weight of around 4,000 pounds, this car is definitely not a lightweight but it has a surprisingly much lighter response and feel. When turning corners, you will be kept securely in place with the bolstered RC F sport seats, while still delivering the comfort that you demand as a driver.
SAFETY
The safety features of the 2016 Lexus RC F include:
Vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM) with sport mode
VDIM is specifically designed to predict and take steps to help in preventing a skid before it even happens by using a combination of torque modulation, individual wheel-braking and steering torque assistance. Its exclusive sport mode setting provides adjustment for the system’s sensitivity, increasing the threshold before intervention of the VDIM and allowing you to push the RC F to its limits.
LED tail lamps
Taking the exterior to the next level, the LED combination lamps in the rear are constructed to create an intense presence and consumes less power for better efficiency. LED tail lamps also illuminate faster and last longer than conventional bulbs, possibly giving more time for drivers behind you to react to brake lamps.
LED headlamps and LED daytime running lights
With the RC F, you can make your presence known before you even arrive. The headlamp’s unique design uses striking LEDs that not only provide illumination, but also give you a brilliant, high-contrast impression. Located on the lower front fascia, these LED headlamps are a bold accent on the spindle grille. Inset LED daytime running lights (DRL) highlight the design and at the same time, increase Lexus’ visibility to vehicles that approach from a distance.
Lexus Enform Safety Connect
The Enform Safety Connect gives you peace of mind knowing that you will have assistance when you most need it. Whether your vehicle is stolen or you are involved in a collision and cannot call for help, or in any other type of emergency, you can have help sent to the location on your vehicle GPS immediately. You get a complimentary Lexus Enform Safety Connect for the first year of ownership.
Backup monitor with dynamic gridlines
When shifting the vehicle into reverse, you can have the backup camera’s view shown on the multimedia display in full color. It comes with innovative, dynamic guidelines to help you with parking and other maneuvers.
You also get advanced front airbags, knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, front seat-mounted side impact airbags, side curtain airbags and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).
The Premium Package also gives you some great additional features such as intuitive park assist, auto dimming mirrors with memory reverse tilt and blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.
Rain-sensing wipers
The rain-sensing wipers have the ability to detect moisture on the glass. The wipers are then automatically turned on with their speed continuously adjusted. The wiper timing is not only automatically adjusted based on rain volume and the speed at which you are driving, but operation can also be fine-tuned to your preferences.
Steering wheel memory
To help you focus on the road ahead, you get intuitively-placed controls so that you have a variety of features right at your fingertips. Quite convenient! These include cruise control, voice activation and multi-information display.
TECH
You get quite a few great tech features on the Lexus RC F including:
SmartAccess with push button start/stop
With the SmartAccess key fob, you can lock and unlock your doors and start the push button ignition without taking your keys out of your purse or pocket. As soon as the presence of your SmartAccess key is detected by the sensors, the doors unlock when you touch the handle of one of the front doors. We think that it is pretty awesome!
Electroluminescent gauges with shift indicator
The cockpit’s track-inspired instrumentation is designed to keep your heart racing. With the full-color LCD multi-information display within the gauge cluster, you can quickly read the information you need for optimum performance. In the readouts, you get performance data such as odometer information, gear position, and variable drive modes. Additionally, you get multimedia linkage in the in-dash display, allowing you to see incoming calls, titles of current songs and more.
Drive mode select with Sport S mode
With the drive mode select, you can make your vehicle more efficient or responsive simply by turning a switch. The Sport S mode provides powertrain alteration to make the throttle response more dynamic. The Sport S+ mode changes the adaptive variable suspension, providing a higher level of responsiveness. Normal mode gives you the optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency balance. With the ECO mode, you get moderation of the engine power output, throttle response, and climate settings for improved fuel efficiency.
Other features include G-force meter, inside auto-dimming electrochromic rearview mirror and auto dual-zone climate control with pollen filter.
The Navigation/Mark Levinson Package, which comes with a $2,610 price tag, gives you Audio 5.1 surround, 17 speakers, 835 watts and navigation-backup camera, 7’ multimedia display, DVD player, and more.
And if you love to bob your head to your favorite notes, you will love the 835-watt Mark Levinson premium surround sound audio system which features the latest GreenEdge speaker technology. This technology gives you twice the output of conventional speakers, while a sensation of openness is recreated by the midrange unity drivers. With the dispersion of sound significantly widened, it creates a larger “sweet spot”, which envelops your passengers with three-dimensional sound that even the finest home-audio systems would not be able to give you.
CONCLUSION
The 2016 Lexus RC F starts at $62,805. When you add the Premium, Performance, and Navigation Package, it comes to a total of $77,905! It is a stellar and awesome buy for anyone who wants a sports coupe that has speed, power, and looks. Dynamic yet practical, the RC F is an incredible innovation from Lexus.
What we liked: There are too many to list for the 2016 RC F, but we have narrowed them down to: the huge cooling ducts; the spindle grille; the carbon fiber parts – the rear wing and roof add so much to the car’s beauty; the dual-quad exhaust; embossed F headrest and last but not least, the responsive powertrain.
What we did not like: you cannot say too many bad things about the RC F. However, some potential buyers may be turned off by the weight (3,958 lbs) and has poor mpg numbers.
Rivals – When it comes to performance, the RC F can finally stake its claim in the arena that barely has some of the world’s highest-performance coupes. One of its rivals is the BMW M4 which is astonishingly quick and stable on high speed tracks, but the RC F’s overall performance definitely beats it. Cadillac’s ATS-V has incredible steering and chassis, but the RC F gives you quick upshifts and smooth downshifts, making it the better ride. Another rival is the Audi S5 which the RC F beats with excellent features and performance package. The RC F comes at a price to compete with the Audi and BMW, its most obvious rivals. The only difference is that it has a more comprehensive standard specification, with included features such as the automatic gearbox.
With an ever so sleek coupe body styling and a wide, low stance, the Lexus RC F coupe has upscale amenities coupled with an eye-catching design that you will fall in love with at first sight!
All in all, we love the 2016 Lexus RC F. With its impeccable design, fantastic features, and powerful performance, there is no doubt that the RC F is one of the best coupes in its class today. It is a true sports car wrapped in Lexus refinement. Drive one and you will never want to drive another vehicle again! Well, as long as you are staying on pavement!
Photo Credit: Copyright 2016 Victor Mosqueda / Car Fanatics Blog
