I really like the Infrared paint on this check car or truck.


Emme Corridor/Roadshow

The luxurious functionality coupe section is dominated by weighty-hitters these as the Audi RS5, BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63. But Lexus has been participating in in this area, too. The sharp-seeking RC F released in 2015 — a coupe-bodied successor to the outrageous IS F that came in advance of it — and it gets a couple meaningful updates for the 2020 model yr that make it even extra appealing than in advance of.

Like

  • Sizzling damn this matter appears to be great
  • V8 motor brings a good rumble to the cabin

Don’t Like

  • Enform infotainment procedure requires a important overhaul
  • Transmission could be snappier

What is new

There’s no denying the RC F is a handsome car or truck, specially decked out in the Infrared colour of my tester. But for 2020, the huge coupe gets a couple modest styling tweaks. The cool-seeking stacked tailpipes are even now below, but they’re established off by new taillights and a redesigned bumper. Up front, you are going to see greater air intakes and restyled headlights. The enormous spindle grille is as distinguished below as it really is ever been, while it really is basically a bit smaller sized for 2020.

The RC F gets a couple engineering tweaks, too, slicing fifty six lbs . from the coupe’s body weight many thanks to lighter elements in the manifold and air conditioning procedure, as properly as a bumper assistance piece produced from a combine of carbon fiber and aluminum.

And whaddaya know, the motor gets a couple small variations, as properly. The five.-liter obviously aspirated V8 now provides 472 horsepower at seven,100 rpm and 395 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm — gains of five hp and 6 lb-ft. Which is not really ample to go the needle in any meaningful way, but hey, extra ability is extra ability. Energy gets down to the rear wheels as a result of an eight-velocity automated transmission. Gasoline financial system is as dismal as ever, while, with the 2020 RC F earning EPA ratings of sixteen miles for each gallon metropolis, 24 mpg freeway and 19 mpg put together.

The RC F gets extra linear throttle mapping for 2020, as properly as a shorter closing-push ratio of three.thirteen:one. Launch command is also section of the package deal now, and Lexus suggests it’ll assist propel the RC F to sixty mph in a rather-darn-speedy 4.2 seconds.

On the street

As I make my way to my favored twisty backroad, I change the push method to Activity S to make use of its quicker throttle response, but I continue to keep the torque-vectoring differential in its standard environment. The gearbox largely knows what it really is undertaking, while occasionally I will get an early upshift or it would not downshift below braking. Thankfully, that is quickly remedied by using the paddler shifters, and I even get a very little throttle blip when I downshift — a excellent way to listen to that V8 roar inside of the cabin.

Transferring to the Activity S Additionally environment presents me greatest powertrain response and heavier steering really feel. The TVD tech has Slalom and Keep track of modes, the former of which assists the RC F really feel a bit extra spry on these limited backroads. Don’t be fooled by the aforementioned body weight decline — the 2020 RC F even now guidelines the scales at three,902 lbs .. The onboard electronics do a good work of producing the coupe really feel a bit extra svelte, if you are going to pardon that use of an adjective as an adverb. In Slalom method, the RC F rotates improved as a result of turns, and I locate myself pushing it more durable as I careen as a result of the corners.

The RC F rides on a staggered established of Michelin Pilot Activity 4S tires, with 275/35-series front and 255/35-series rear rubber, wrapped all over 19-inch wheels. These tires supply lots of grip, and Michelin worked with Lexus to exclusively establish these tires for the RC F. It functions, too — at no issue does the rear finish want to move out below hard cornering, and I’ve got tons of grip at all instances.

The five.-liter V8 puts out 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque.


Emme Corridor/Roadshow

When it really is time to just commute, the Lexus fortunately settles down. Placing all the options back again to Normal reveals a car or truck that is even now business, but not uncomfortably so. Fortunately, the front seats supply lots of assistance for very long journeys, as properly as the correct quantity of cushiness for my hindquarters.

The standard adaptive cruise command functions as advertised, but its procedure is a very little wonky. I have to engage the procedure from a stalk on the reduced still left aspect of the steering column, but the distance command is on the steering wheel itself. In fact, there are a ton of format challenges with the inside, but I will get to that in a moment. The RC F’s other standard driver-support capabilities include things like lane-departure warning and lane-trying to keep support, as properly as forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection. Blind-location checking and rear cross-targeted traffic notify are equally package deal-based alternatives.

Troublesome tech

I are unable to discuss about the RC F without the need of shaming the Lexus Enform infotainment procedure. It truly is bad. Definitely bad. My tester has the optional 10.three-inch multimedia display, which is a good upgrade around the standard seven-inch unit. Enform is managed by a touchpad that is intended to be analogous to a smartphone, wherever I can tap, swipe and pinch-to-zoom to my heart’s material. In truth, on the other hand, this is just terrible to use. It truly is extremely easy to swipe past icons, even soon after adjusting the parameters of the touchpad. There are hard buttons for the map, most important menu and to move back again just one display, but everything else will have to be selected by the touchpad, which is infuriating to use when driving.

Additional, in purchase to entry apps like I Heart Radio, Yelp, Amazon Alexa and Waze, motorists will have to have the Lexus Enform App Suite 2. set up on their telephone. You can get all over this using Apple CarPlay, but Android Vehicle is absent (even while you can get it on the non-F RC coupe).

The cabin is comfy, but the infotainment tech is infuriating.


Emme Corridor/Roadshow

Although the inside of the RC F is comprehensive of comfortable-touch, top quality resources, it suffers in terms of format and user knowledge. In addition to the aforementioned adaptive cruise command stalk/steering wheel snafu, a button on the correct-hand aspect of the steering wheel controls a electronic facts pane on the still left-hand aspect of the gauge cluster. The flip alerts and windshield wiper stalks equally return to area immediately and it really is challenging to get just a couple blinker clicks for, say, a lane transform, or just one wiper swipe to just take care of a very little rain mist. Oh, and why does a car or truck so packed with tech even now have a foot pedal parking brake?

I you should not hope a sporting activities coupe to have a great deal in the way of utility, but the Lexus falls shorter below by comparison. There is limited in-cabin storage and the truck only delivers 10.one cubic feet of area, which is smaller sized than what you get in the Audi RS5, BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63. The rear seats you should not fold down but there is a go-as a result of to accommodate for a longer period items, for when you want to just take your rear-wheel-push sporting activities car or truck skiing.

How I’d spec it

I really like the way this car or truck appears to be, so my suitable RC F would be painted Infrared, which fees $595. I’d increase the premium package deal ($five,350) which gets me heated and cooled seats, a heated steering wheel, blind-location checking, rear cross-targeted traffic notify and the rear seat go-as a result of. Lastly, I will increase the $one,250 torque-vectoring differential, bringing my best RC F up to $73,a hundred and twenty out the door.

Lexus also delivers a $6,000 functionality package deal which tacks on a bunch of carbon fiber sections, which I you should not really want. Embedded navigation fees $2,725, which I will also skip contemplating Apple CarPlay is free of charge. If you really want to go huge, there is also the $97,825 RC F Keep track of Edition, but that is a complete various animal.

The RC F is a fun car or truck, but it just cannot continue to keep up with the competitors.


Emme Corridor/Roadshow

Superior appears to be usually are not ample

At $sixty five,925 to begin, including spot, the RC F is cheaper than its essential rivals, but not by a great deal. The Audi RS5 comes in at $seventy five,195, the BMW M4 starts at $70,a hundred forty five and the Mercedes-AMG C63 fees $70,895, all including their respective spot prices. For a couple thousand bucks extra you get nicer interiors, extra keen powertrains and a great deal improved cabin tech.

The 2020 Lexus RC F is a fine selection for those people who favor day-to-day-driving consolation around comprehensive-blast, knock-your-socks-off shenanigans. But with fierce competition that do so lots of things improved, it even now winds up remaining a back again-of-the-pack choose in this enjoyable section, even if it does flip heads.