Lexus RC-F

On the inside, things have started ageing in the Lexus RC-F. While the cabin is well put together with impeccable fit and finish levels, the overall layout of all the controls and their design now looks a bit dated.

Take for instance, the three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and the slanted center console which gets an archaic-looking arrangement of various buttons. However, the recessed freestanding touchscreen infotainment system and 10.3-inch full TFT instrument console try to liven up the cabin.

The Lexus RC-F has all the features which one expects from a car of this class, such as a powered steering wheel, mirrors and front seats with memory function, heated and ventilated front seats, Alcantara leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control and 10-speaker premium audio system.

The Lexus RC-F is in the international market for quite some time now without many changes to its exterior styling. However, the sports coupe manages to be a great head-turner even today, thanks to its curvaceous styling and many interesting styling bits, making it a timeless beauty.

The biggest highlight of the front profile of the Lexus RC-F has to be the large spindle-theme front grille, which over time has become a characteristic design element of all the cars from Lexus. The grille gets chrome surrounds and diamond-shaped inserts in it, with its upper side extensions beautifully flowing towards the bonnet.

The long bonnet with prominent curves and bulges gives it a smooth looking stance to it. The angular wing-like headlamps house LED projectors and boomerang-shaped daytime running LEDs in its inner corners. To show off its sporty intent, the Lexus RC-F comes with air inlets on the corners of the front bumper and a black lip spoiler at the bottom of the bumper.

The long swooping bonnet makes the side profile of the Lexus RC-F look very graceful, which gels well with the rounded roofline which ends up at the stubby boot at the back. The car sits on 19-inch wheels, which along with the long wheelbase of the car, gives it a very planted stance. The air inlets recessed in the front fender further make the car look sportier. 

At the back, the Lexus RC-F gets a stubby and simple looking boot lid which gets two-part wide tail lamps with L-shaped LED inserts. The rear bumper too comes with sleek looking vertical air slats on its corners. The black painted rear diffuser with quad exhaust pipe arrangement makes it look aggressive from the rear.

The Lexus RC-F is aimed at providing a top-notch driving experience, and the stiffer setup of double wishbone at the front and multi-link at the rear is one step in the right direction. The car feels sure-footed and planted and complements the performance available on tap.

The Lexus RC-F is one of the few cars in its category which continue to get a naturally aspirated petrol engine – a 5.0-litre V8 in this case. Coupled with a 10-speed automatic gearbox, the engine is capable of pumping out maximum power and torque outputs of 471 bhp and 530 Nm respectively. The RC-F can touch a top speed of 270 kmph and cover the 0-100 kmph sprint in 4.3 seconds.

The Lexus RC-F has been bestowed with a sufficient number of safety features, the list of which includes eight airbags, blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, hill start assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, ABS with EBD, front and rear park assist with rearview camera and tyre pressure monitoring system.

In today’s day and age, the Lexus RC-F feels like a generation old (which it actually is). However, despite the aged look in and out, it manages to look timeless and beautiful, and the understated performance and driving dynamics well complement its personality.