The Lexus RC.
Part of a dynamic duo, along with the new NX Crossover, aimed at making Lexus younger, sportier, but also delivering on that confident thing they do.
Let's see how all that's working out, as we drive this 15RC350, an all new model and check the tech.
Now the RC as you can tell is all about one thing.
A stylish, sporty, self-indulgent two-door coupe.
Slotted in your mind against let's say a BMW 4-series or an Audi 5. In general proportions, lines, and emissions.
Now we have a 350, that means we have a V6.
We'll get to know in a minute.
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There's also an RC 300 H, a hybrid version of this car but unfortunately, here in the US, neither our carbon awareness nor our current gas prices are high enough to warrant it's importation.
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Now inside the RC, is a handsome tight cabin with some of these Lexus cues that I love.
You've got this nice laid back console with great ergonomics.
They do this so well.
that's your LFA inspired instrument pod with that moving video techometer that physically moves to the right under certain modes to give you more information screens on the left.
It's, frankly, a bunch of gimmickry but it's cool.
Now your LCD up here, in Lexus fashion, is looking a little dated.
It's not wide screen, it's still kind of a, mm, 4 by 3ish ratio.
However, you've got a new controller driving it.
Ya know, i've been hating the remote touch controller, which has been, sort of, upside down puck they used to have her.
Now, look what they've done.
They've got a track pad.
It's a really nicely calibrated cursor control.
And then when you get to what you want, just click.
It's very laptop-like.
You also get these glowing zones that remind you where the cursor is to keep it easy to digest while you're driving.
A cursor's not ideal in a car.
Well, unless you make it do this little trick.
This is a well-featured system, with the exception of navigation.
And Mark Levison, the two main option you'll want to consider to add to this.
And speaking of interfaces, you've also got Siri eyes free support on this vehicle through the voice commands button if you've got a 4S or above.
Lexus in general loves radio.
You've got satellite radio of course, HD radio, you've got HD radio tagging, also the ability on this vehicle doing some pause and play of what you're listening to on the radio.
Now controlling drive modes on the RC is pretty straightforward.
You've got a rather traditional looking shifter here for your automatic transmission with a manual gate to the left, here on the wheel paddles that are split downshift, upshift, left and right respectively, and then this is the rather familiar Lexus drive mode control that is pretty simple.
Push it to go to normal.
Turn it to the right, to go to Sport Mode, or again, to go to Sport Plus.
And then the other way, counterclockwise, gets you into Eco Mode.
Now, up front of the RC350, you've got a three and a half liter.
V-6.
Feeding those cylinders is a combination of injection methods which is notable.
They've got multiport fuel injection which is kind of riding shotgun on top of the more modern direct injection.
But they serve different purposes in the engine's operational range and Lexus has put' em both in here.
No turbos or other fancy artificial trickery.
Your power goes out to the rear wheels base and you can see the engine is sitting longitudinally of course.
Eight speed automatic if you get rear wheel drive.
Six speed automatic if you get all wheel drive.
Either way the power's the same, 306 horsepower and 277 pound feet of toque.
Now if you go all wheel drive you pick up a couple hundred pounds, you also get a bit of a haircut on acceleration in MPG.
Your zero to 60 goes.
The 5.8, up to 6.0 in all wheel drive, and your mpg goes from 28 highway to 26 all wheel drive, city numbers stay the same.
Underway you definitely buy Lexus hype about how stiff and rigid this car is, pushing it through corners on twisty roads, it definitely feels of a piece.
It's got real guts, it's got good power, it's got.
A nice overall layout of its dynamics and the way things respond, but it's always civilized.
Shifts are not that quick, and I'm in sport.
Now I'm in sport plus, and I've spent a lot of time in both modes and I find the suspension is also very compliant.
That's gonna throw some people who come to this car and look at its outside and say, wow, this is gonna be.
A sharp edge, surgical experience to drive.
I don't t know that it is.
On the other hand, it's very livable mile after mile.
Which a lot of the more gutsy, highly **** cars are not.
Now let's price this guy.
You're at nearly $49,000 in F Sport trim.
Now the F Sport adds a fair amount of money, and a fair amount of toys, as well, including heated and cooled sports seats, a very different adapted smart sport suspension, you've got 19 inch wheels, and of course, that very slick LFA inspired instrument panel, and quite a bit more.
If you want all wheel drive, that's another two grand.
Navigation and Levinson, another twenty six hundred.
A moon roof is option, interestingly, if you really wanna go trap purist, you'll delete it, it's eleven hundred bucks to take it.
That exotic variable steering and rear steering is $2000 more.
Add in some adaptive cruise and pre collision, LED foglights, now you see that style and now you're also pushing.
In the mid $57,000.
