Lexus RC F - Japanese coupe is still alive
Remember how many iconic coupes Japan produced in the nineties? Honda Integra, Mitsubishi 3000 GT, Nissan 200SX and the like enjoyed a large group of fans. Some people still dream about them. Although most of them have disappeared from the market, their spirit lives on to this day.
Japanese sports cars were so adored in the 80s and 90s that they still enjoy an incredibly dedicated group of fans. However, the market changed direction and the sports coupe from Japan died out over time ... Where can you find such cars today?
They have been experiencing a renaissance for several years, but do not grow like mushrooms after rain. We have Nissan GT-R and 370Z, Toyota GT86 and Honda NSX. Recently, the beautiful Infiniti Q60 joined them, but for three years now we can admire and buy the Lexus RC F.
к japanese coupe. Will it become a cult?
carved with katana
Projects Lexus they are pretty good at resisting the passage of time. Sharp curves and stylistic refinements, rarely found elsewhere, distinguish the cars of this brand and remain “fresh” even after several years.
Same thing with RC F-em. Although some time has passed since its premiere, it still pleases the eye with its form. Perhaps also because it has not “captured” the market at all and has not yet become commonplace, but this probably applies to all expensive sports cars. More important, however, is that, at least since the premiere JK Fa there are a lot of competitors in this segment, the appearance is still unique.
Lexus in all its glory
interior JK Fa it's quite interesting, but rather traditional. On the screen of the multimedia system, we will see only typical functions - navigation, multimedia, phone and some settings. An interesting solution - the temperature adjustment sliders of the dual-zone air conditioner - against all odds, they are quite accurate.
A lot of leather has been used on the dashboard, but we can also find it on the doors and seats. In the standard. Here we have no doubt that we are dealing with a premium car.
The driving position is quite low, sporty, and we have all the tools right in front of our eyes. The thick steering wheel fits comfortably in the hands, but for a sports car it is quite large.
R It's a 2+2 coupe, so you can fit two more in the back, but like any car of this type, there isn't a lot of room. It's definitely better than the Porsche 911, but still not by much.
Naturally aspirated V8 for the century
While the big, naturally aspirated V8 engines seemed to be a thing of the past, Lexus continues their tradition. Under its long hood is just such an engine, with a capacity of 5 liters. However, this has nothing to do with the clumsy units of many years ago.
The effect of a turbocharger is achieved by changing the valve timing. As a result, this engine reaches 477 hp, 528 Nm at 4800 rpm, and the car accelerates to 100 km/h in 4,5 seconds.
Trip RC F-em however, it is a bit like driving a Honda with a VTEC engine. From about 4000 rpm it takes on a second life, spins more willingly, and acceleration becomes more brutal. For some this is good, for some it is not - we will not enjoy the moment every moment. If we want to move fast, we must spin it at high speed. This does not always suit an elegant car. Higher revs also increase the likelihood of rear axle skidding - and not always at the right moment for us. Overtaking on wet surfaces can lead to forehead wrinkles.
R it is first and foremost a gran turismo, so we can skip visiting the winding tracks. We were on one and the impressions are quite mixed. With a headache, strong washings in front. On short straights, the engine will not have time to spin up. To get out of a side turn, we need more speed and more space.
So it's much better to go on tour in a Lexus. It is here that the bass rumble of the big V8 will soothe our nerves, we will melt into comfortable, sporty seats and pull the next kilometers in this way. This is exactly what customers expect from this car.
However, this does not mean that this car does not have a lot to do with sports. I had the opportunity to ride it on the Poznań highway. On the right seat - but with Ben Collins Behind the wheel! The pace was excellent, and the understeer was almost zero. Oversteer was much more common, but in Ben's hands it was certainly manageable. This made the race on the track even more spectacular.
Doesn't the fuel consumption of 19 l/100 km scare anyone here? I doubt it. We rather know what we decide to do when buying a car with such an engine.
Iconic?
The Japanese coupes of the 90s became iconic, but also because they were fairly widely available. Lexus RC F - in theory - it also exists, but its price makes it a car only for the rich. On the other hand, people who already have sufficient resources will appreciate that the standard is rich - which is not so obvious in the premium class. R We can buy it for PLN 397.
However, despite the price, can this model become a cult? Definitely. It has very expressive forms and its own unique character. Lexus is definitely going its own way, as it can sell a coupe with a 5-liter V8 engine that burns almost any amount of fuel along with hybrids and other eco-friendly cars. This uniqueness is confirmed by the fact that we do not see it on the road so often, unlike the Mustang or the Porsche 911. I think that we will remember this model for a long time.
Do you agree?
