What's all this about?
Lexus has given us a few more spec details and prices of the forthcoming RC F coupé, on sale now with first deliveries in January next year.
Wonderful, so how much will an RC F set me back?
There will be two versions on sale in the UK, the standard RC F at £59,995 and the RC F Carbon, commanding an £8,000 premium at £67,995. This latter machine comes with a carbon fibre reinforced plastic bonnet, roof and rear spoiler as standard, as well as a torque-vectoring differential that is only an option on the RC F.
What do I get for my money?
Something that can bloody the noses of the Germanic sub-supercar performance set - think BMW M4, Mercedes-AMG C 63 and Audi RS 5 - but which is also normally aspirated.
Is it really?
Yes, this is the best part of the RC F, as Lexus has admirably resisted the lure of forced induction. This rear-wheel drive machine is powered by a 5.0-litre V8, which drives the wheels through a 'significantly upgraded' eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission with five operating modes. Thus the RC F, Lexus' most powerful V8 road car yet built, can do 0-62mph in a scorching 4.5 seconds and runs on to a limited top speed of 168mph.
Ah, but how does it go around corners?
Well, the spec looks pretty good, with the aforementioned diff and active aerodynamics (the rear wing) on the cards. Also, the RC F has been designed by its creator, Yukihiko Yaguchi, to be all things to all petrolheads - easy and entertaining to drive whether you're on a par ability-wise with Sir Stirling Moss or Kate Moss.
But is it as entertaining to cane about the place as a BMW M4?
As yet, we don't know - but Car Enthusiast is driving this car next week, so stay tuned for our first impressions from behind the wheel on the Lexus Road Tests page.
Matt Robinson - 27 Nov 2014