Lexus RC F Coupe – Luxury Meets Performance

Lexus RC F Coupe

The 2018 Lexus RC-F Coupe was never meant to be an answer to the BMW M4 despite the many comparisons made. The RC-F is heavier, softer, clumsier, and yes- slower than its German counterpart, but despite its somewhat odd shape and in your face grill, the RC-F sure feels like a Lexus.

With a naturally aspirated 5.0 liter V-8 that generates  467 horsepower one would think the RC-F could hold its own on the track, but that engine is hauling two tons of weight. Still, even with all that weight the RC-F will get you from 0-60 in about 4.4 seconds; slower than an AMG or M4, but not bad for a daily driver.

The cockpit feels like a race car with beautifully bolstered, high-back seats that hug you from hip to shoulder and paddle shifters at your fingertips. Hell, it even sounds like a race car when the active exhaust opens up and that V-8 gives you a throaty growl.

Put the car into Sport Plus mode and you can literally feel the suspension stiffen and the steering wheel tighten. The tachometer changes color, increases the size of the fonts, and adds flashing shift bars on each side, making you feel like your in the cockpit of a fighter jet.

Set the transmission to manual mode, turn off the traction control and punch the accelerator and the RC-F immediately wakes up. There is no turbo, so there is no turbo lag and despite its lack of low-end torque, the RC hunkers down and lunches you from 0-60 in just over four seconds.

As the revs climb the retractable carbon fiber rear wing reveals itself in the rearview and the roar of the quad exhaust gets even louder. The engine reaches its 7300 RPM redline without complaint and a quick tap of the paddle shifter launches you into the next gear.

While you are not going to outrun a Mercedes AMG or a BMW M4, you’ll still have one hell of a ride that will top out at nearly 170 mph, and you’ll do it wrapped in the luxury and civility that Lexus is famous for. All in all, its a very satisfying experience.