Lexus went all in on the RC line when the automaker began rolling out models last year.
First, we got the RC F – the current second tier halo car for Lexus. It replaced the surprisingly entertaining Lexus IS F in the company line — a car I enjoyed a great deal. Starting around $63,000, the RC F takes up a spot right near the very top of the Lexus catalog — a sports car a notch below the much more expensive ($400,000+-) LFA.
I’ve driven both the LFA and RC F. There’s no comparison between the two in performance, in precision, in noise, etc. There shouldn’t be. Depending on the specs you serve up with the former, you’re setting up a half million dollar car. It’s farther out of reach for most men than Kate Upton. Maybe not. I don’t think a half million is getting you far in that neighborhood either.
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The RC F is in a more reasonable neighborhood — “aspirational,” as opposed to “ … Who are you kidding? … ” It’s a track performer and a potential every day ride within at least potential reach of consumers. And it still offers a big, brutish, 5.0 liter, eight cylinder powerhouse, an eight speed automative transmission with paddle shifters and a newly designed torque-vectoring diff — all teaming to put out 467 horsepower.
However, to bring the RC concept to more would-be buyers, Lexus dropped the engine size and horsepower and offered the Lexus RC 350 F Sport. While not as powerful as the RC F (…I know all of this alphanumerical nomenclature can become confusing for the uninitiated, but stick with me and I’ll explain…), the 350 still carries that F Sport badge signifying its part of the Lexus sport-tuned family. It’s just not the top of the line RC F.
The F Sport version has a 306 horsepower, 3.5 liter (hence the “350”) V6 engine with the same transmission as the RC F. As with all Lexus F Sport versions, buyer get the F Sport badge and special, sport tuned suspension for use with the Sport + Driving mode selected from the car’s center console.
A week-long test drive made it clear that the 350 F Sport is no more its RC F cousin’s equal than that RC F can match muscles with the LFA. The 350 is less aggressive, less toothy in the turns and less intimidating for average luxury car buyers. However, it’s still packed with technology and very comfortable on short and long trips (as I ran it from Los Angeles to Las Vegas).
Of course, the two upsides to the less potent power of the RC 350 are better gas milage than the beefier V8 (19/28 mpg) and a lower price tag – starting out around $50,000.
Buyer also end up with the very appealing, new Lexus design language — ensuring a sportier look than any previous generation out of Toyota’s fancier sister.
