German cars are good, yes, and because of that they’re obvious, ubiquitous. Take the BMW M3 and M4 as an example: good as they are, they're a tad boring because everyone who’s ever wanted a sporty coupe to drive daily has bought one. Or a C63 AMG from Mercedes. Or a Porsche.
But sometimes it’s good to be different.
And the 2015 Lexus RC F coupe — which is going head to head with those juggernauts — is certainly different.
F-ing mean-looking
The RC F is the top dog of the new RC coupe lineup from Lexus. The lesser RC 350 comes with a V6 engine and looks rather tame compared to the RC F.
As befits an F model — think AMG/M/RS for Lexus — it is wider and lower than the standard RC. Flared wheel arches and a plethora of vents and scoops complete the angry-Dustbuster look. The new, angular Lexus design language is more successful on this sports coupe than it is on the NX SUV.
Inside, the Lexus differentiates itself from the pack. It’s worlds apart from the Germans, and that’s a good thing here.
The dashboard is anything but dull. There are a vast number of shapes and materials all protruding at angles. The centre console is high, giving the interior a proper sports car feel. The all-digital instruments behind the steering wheel evoke the $400,000 LF-A supercar right down to the G-meter and lap timer.
How low can you go?
The sport seats — exclusive to the F — are beautifully stitched and perfectly comfortable. Lexus says the driving position has been lowered, but it would be nice if it were even lower still.
A new touchpad — just like on your laptop — controls the central infotainment screen. Lexus calls it “remote touch” and it’s vastly superior to any in-car touch-screen set up. The graphics on the screen let it down though, looking like a website circa 1998.
Blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert are both standard on the F, along with the usual suspects like radar cruise and lane departure.
The RC is offered in all-wheel or rear-wheel drive, but the F is a pure sports car: rear-wheel drive only.
Notably different
Two differentials are offered: a standard Torsen limited slip unit and an optional clutch-type torque-vectoring diff. You won’t feel much difference between the two on the road, but on track, the torque-vectoring unit provides noticeably better grip when accelerating hard out of a turn.
Lexus was confident enough in the RC F to let it loose on the incredible Monticello Motor Circuit in New York. It’s an extremely challenging track.
What quickly becomes apparent is that the highlight of the RC F is its motor. It’s a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 which is actually kind of old fashioned compared to the twin-turbo units the Germans are now fielding. Its stats are in the ballpark: 467 horsepower from 6,800-7,100 rpm, and 389 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. You’ve really got to work the eight-speed automatic, flicking up and down through the ratios, with wheel-mounted paddles, to keep the revs up. But it’s a fun challenge.
Perhaps it’s because peak torque doesn’t come until so high in the rev range, but the RC F just doesn’t feel quite as fast as its main rival, the BMW M4. (For comparison, its twin-turbo straight-six has 406 lb-ft torque at just 1,850 rpm.).
Weight: there's more
The RC F tackled Monticello admirably, but it never quite feels happy there. It’s not encouraging you to go faster, faster, faster like the BMW. Changing direction is sluggish, and little wonder given the Lexus’ curb weight: 1,840 kg. Compared to its rivals, it is significantly overweight. A setup apparently tuned for understeer only exacerbates the feeling. Lexus changed 70 percent of the RC’s suspension for the F version, but it just can’t hide the weight.
But, that’s at Monticello. On the road? The RC F is much more happy. Here it feels like a Lexus should: refined and comfortable and very fast. Finally you can get a sense of the V8’s old-school character, and appreciate its baritone bark. If you could afford the gasoline, you wouldn’t hesitate to use this car as a daily driver.
Pricing has yet to be announced for the RC F, but we expect it to be slightly higher than the BMW M4, albeit with more standard equipment to make up for it. So, we’d estimate around $80,000 in Canada.
Track record
Ask yourself: are you really going to take your car to the track?
If you said yes, then stick with the M3/4. Same applies if you absolutely must have a manual transmission.
But if you said no, then you’ve got a choice to make. If the BMW and its German peers are too predictable, too obvious, and you want something different, you’re in luck, the Lexus RC F is here. On the road, it won’t disappoint.