2014+ Lexus IS | RC General Discussion: RC-F Revealed

[Heldenzeit]

Man, I love the current Lexus interior. Shame the outside isn't as clean as the inside.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I think Lexus' look so much better in the flesh. I felt a bit indifferent when the current IS arrived. But in person it looks absolutely stunning!

 

[05XR8]

At about +$160kAUD(on-road) , I now know what the "F" stands for. Me in an Australian Lexus dealership? Kendrick Lamar said it best in A.D.H.D.
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/32DAB6A2492F6924CA25806D0011EE36

 

[ProjectWHaT]

RCF GT

No power increase likely, but it will more carbon fiber and general weight savings.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Oh God no...

This is everything the RC-F isn't meant to be. It's supposed to be a GT car, not an M4 competitor.

For goodness sakes Lexus, it was a great car, keep your hands off it and work on that LC-F!

 

[Turbo]

Oh God no...

This is everything the RC-F isn't meant to be. It's supposed to be a GT car, not an M4 competitor.

For goodness sakes Lexus, it was a great car, keep your hands off it and work on that LC-F!

I wholeheartedly disagree. Why shouldn't Lexus make a version of the RCF more competitive with the M4? Wouldn't that be a good thing?

 

[FT-1]

I wholeheartedly disagree. Why shouldn't Lexus make a version of the RCF more competitive with the M4? Wouldn't that be a good thing?

Exactly - The more Lexus uses the F brand to challenge M products, the more interest there will be. We already know an LC-F is in the works, so it is not like the RC-F GT has interfered with development.

I hope the RC-F doesn't go too crazy with the price increase. The prototype lacks a rollcage so it is more like a competitor to the M4 CS rather than M4 GTS. Even then, the former still costs about 40% more than a standard M4. Target price, in my opinion, should undercut a Nissan GT-R (i.e. less than £80k)

 

[McLaren]

Oh God no...

This is everything the RC-F isn't meant to be. It's supposed to be a GT car, not an M4 competitor.

For goodness sakes Lexus, it was a great car, keep your hands off it and work on that LC-F!

First, the car is a M4 competitor. They're in the same luxury performance segment, they're in the same power bracket, and they're in the same price bracket. They've been compared many, many times over the years. Whether that was Lexus' exact intention or not, they built a car that sits in the M4 market.

Secondly, anyone that has spent time in a RC F will know that the car is fine on its own as an all-around car. But, when you start to push its performance, you start to feel how much weight is under it: 3,958lbs. That has always been its achilles heel against the competition in comparisons. Which is why a weight-loss is exactly what it needs; that decision to shoe-horn an IS Conv. frame was an awful decision in hindsight. My worry is how much carbon do they plan to incorporate. Lexus has already made a carbon hood and rocker panels for the RC F, but they don't meet US regulations, so the car is shipped with color-matching parts instead. The mule has the carbon hood, and its lower body wrapped up. If these are carbon fiber (which I suspect would be a goal), will they conform to US regulations?

Last, the car is 4 years old anyway with no update. It's time for a refresh overall. The car has been spotted with the LC F so odds are they're developing together.

Exactly - The more Lexus uses the F brand to challenge M products, the more interest there will be. We already know an LC-F is in the works, so it is not like the RC-F GT has interfered with development.

I hope the RC-F doesn't go too crazy with the price increase. The prototype lacks a rollcage so it is more like a competitor to the M4 CS rather than M4 GTS. Even then, the former still costs about 40% more than a standard M4. Target price, in my opinion, should undercut a Nissan GT-R (i.e. less than £80k)

If Lexus has learned anything from the RC line's poor sales following the honeymoon phase of a new car, they'll keep the facelifted RC F under $65,000, and price this around $90,000-$95,000. A fully-loaded RC F is around $83,000, so that leaves enough room for an owner to consider making the jump and paying the extra $7,000-$12,000 for the GT's improvements. Tack on a couple "options" that are usually built into every car as if they were standard (such as Nav. & Premium Pkg for the base RC F), and the car should start right around $95,000-$100,000 before you add anything else. Depending on how hardcore the GT is, this could sit fairly well next to the LC without intrusion.

 

[Sage Ages]

This is everything the RC-F isn't meant to be. It's supposed to be a GT car, not an M4 competitor.

For goodness sakes Lexus, it was a great car, keep your hands off it and work on that LC-F!

This is about as ass-backwards as it gets.

You don't want them to focus on making a performance version of their smaller coupe, but on the LC, which itself is a large and heavy GT car?

 

[Keef]

You don't want them to focus on making a performance version of their smaller coupe, but on the LC, which itself is a large and heavy GT car?

The RC proved to have a pretty lame chassis in all its testing. The LC is actually the better sports car.

 

[MedigoFlame]

2020 RC F Track Edition teased.

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/12/06/2020-lexus-rc-f-track-edition-official/

 

[ProjectWHaT]

RC-F facelift and Track Edition

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases/2020+lexus+rc+f+and+rc+f+track+edition+debut+in+detroit.htm

RC-F is now lighter and stiffer. The V8 now makes 472 horsepower (+5hp) and 395 pound feet of torque (+6 lb ft). Now has launch control and uses Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

Now the Track Edition:

"Developed with input from Lexus race teams in the Super GT and IMSA series"
There's now 58 more pounds of downforce. It now weighs 176 pounds lighter than the pre-facelift RC-F. Brembo carbon ceramic brakes. Carbon fiber bits are used in a lot of places, including the roof and hood. It uses the same engine, same performance as the normal RC-F. 0-to-60 mph in 3.96 seconds

 

[FT-1]

Ahhh, that's hot... That's hot.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'd be interested to drive it (and ideally on track) but it's reinforced to me that the RC looks its best the less sporty it is. The "Takumi"-spec facelift RC 300h I drove the other week looked fabulous, but that Track Edition is a bit much for me.