2016 Lexus RC-F in Molten Coral
We’re coming up on nearly a decade since Lexus first officially announced its attempt to take on the Ms, AMGs and RSs of the automotive world. Toyota’s premium brand selected F as its official designation for performance-oriented variants of its well-built but staid vehicles. Until the arrival of an LC-F at some future date, the RC-F can arguably be called the current Lexus performance herald.
F was born nearly a decade ago on the compact IS-F as the first Japanese challenger to the beloved M3. While the IS-F never scaled the same heights as the Munich standard bearer, it was an able start to the brand.
2016 Lexus RC-F
Like its German premium counterparts, there are two sorts of F-branded Lexi. The F-Sport packages are offered on most of the current model lines and generally consist of some more aggressive styling, rolling stock and perhaps some retuned suspension. Just as with an M Sport BMW, they look the part but don’t necessarily walk the walk. The true hard-core F is currently only available as the midsize rear-wheel-drive GS-F sedan and the compact RC-F coupe which is what I drove recently.
The base RC is a handsome 2+2 sport coupe powered by a choice of V6 or turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The RC probably has the best looking incarnation of the signature Lexus spindle grille, although even it can seem a bit overwrought at times. The RC-F is propelled by the latest iteration of the 5.0-liter V8 that we saw in the IS-F. In order to provide adequate clearance for that larger engine in the front of the RC, the forward portion of the hood has become swollen and fitted with a vent to release hot air. In profile the nose of the RC-F has become more bulbous than the sleek look of its less powerful siblings.
Echoing the earlier IS-F, the RC-F has augmented wheel arches with vents behind the front wheels. A reworked rear fascia accommodates the diagonally stacked quad exhaust pipes that have become a signature of true Lexus F models. Inside, the driver and passenger (let’s just work from the assumption that no one will ever attempt to use the miniscule rear seats in this car) get a pair of wonderfully shaped, supportive sport seats. The seats don’t have a lot of adjustments (fore-aft, seat back angle, cushion angle and lumbar) but frankly when a seat is done right, it doesn’t need dozens of buttons to try to find the right position and these are done right.
Lexus touchpad
The RC-F continues with the central trackpad controller with haptic feedback to let you know when you’ve hit touch targets. It’s not quite as precise as the mouse/joystick found in the RX and other models, but I still prefer it to a touch screen. Speaking of screens, the one in the RC is clear, bright and legible if not as large as what you find in some other recent premium vehicles. The Lexus Enform infotainment system is about middle of pack, featuring Bing search, Yelp, Open Table, iHeartRadio, Pandora and Slacker among others.
2016 lexus rc-f
However, on the day before the RC-F was due to go back I was leaving a meeting when I got into the car and the audio system just went into a boot loop, cycling through the Lexus and Enform logos and the caution screen. It was impossible to turn off or reset. Apparently the issue was at the Lexus server level with some sort of update bug and it affected many Lexus owners that day. More of an annoyance than anything and it has since been corrected.
Another electronic irritant was the adaptive cruise control. Like other such systems a radar sensor looks forward to establish the distance and closing speed to the vehicle ahead. However, as with other systems I’ve tried, this one remains susceptible to the vagaries of weather. Driving home from Detroit along I-94 one day, it began raining heavily and the ACC disengaged because the radar could no longer see through the rain, even though I still had more than enough visibility to drive safely although at a somewhat reduced speed. This is an issue that engineers are going to have to overcome with all of the sensors used for autonomous vehicles before they are ready to be used by ordinary people.
2016 lexus rc-f
Like most contemporary Lexus engines, the 5.0-liter V8 features the D4S fuel injection system with two injectors for each cylinder – one direct in the combustion chamber and a second in the port. In combination with an Atkinson cycle, this delivers cleaner emissions, better efficiency and more than adequate power. In RC-F tune, it produces 467-horsepower and 389 lb.-ft. albeit the latter peaks between 4,800 and 5,600 rpm.
Click here to compare the 2016 Lexus RC-F
Low-end torque doesn’t feel especially prodigious which combined with aggressive traction control and a curb weight just shy of two tons, means this isn’t a great drag racer. On the other hand, when the time comes for a quick pass on a back country two-lane, the sport and sport+ drive modes work well with the transmission to provide all the thrust you need. In the sport modes, the eight-speed automatic kicks down quickly to get the V8 into the heart of its productive zone. When that happens, the engine produces a wonderful soundtrack although it too is augmented by electronics. Thankfully it sounds more natural than the system on the BMW M5.
Big Brembo brakes all around
Sport mode also uses the transmission to augment the big brakes on the RC-F by downshifting during braking in much the way I would with a three-pedal car. With this sort of control the paddle shifters really become redundant. Speaking of brakes, this Lexus has what it takes with Brembo six-piston fixed calipers gripping the 15-inch front rotors. The 13.6-inch rear vented rotors are squeezed by four-piston calipers. Deceleration confidence was never an issue.
The RC-F may be the most aggressive of current Lexus models, but it still doesn’t have the edge of a true sports car. Overall, it feels very good and has a lot to recommend it, but its mass and some of the electronic intervention dulls it just enough to make me want to look elsewhere. As the old song goes your mileage will vary and you may find it just the right balance. For me, I think I actually prefer the V6-powered RC350 F-Sport I drove last year. The look is a bit cleaner and sleeker and it has enough performance to be fun. Actually while I’m at it, I think I’ll actually go all the way to the Scion FR-S/Toyota 86 with a manual gearbox but that’s just me.
2016 lexus rc-f
The RC-F starts at $62,805 and my tester rang in at $79,355 including delivery. Among the extra cost options on my car were the $5,500 performance package that brings a carbon fiber roof and rear wing and torque-vectoring rear axle. Those cool looking 20-spoke wheels added another $1,500 to the bottom line. The RC-F may not be a track car, but for someone looking for an alternative to the German counterparts you see everywhere, it’s worth a look.
Click here for full specifications of the 2016 Lexus RC-F
