Sports coupes blend those perfect ingredients of being practical, to an extent, while offering a sporty drive and experience at the same time. Of course, cars like Porsche’s 911 Turbo blend supercar performance into the mix with a level of basic practicality.
Apart from coupe offerings from American and European manufacturers in the shape of cars like the Ford Mustang and the BMW 8 Series, performance coupes have, in some cases, become few and far between from some manufacturers. Even so, several current and used examples still offer enough space and, in many cases, more than enough performance to keep you engaged from behind the steering wheel.
The Lexus RC F Delivers Serious Performance Without Feeling Intimidating
However, if we move to the Far East, there is a Japanese performance coupe that has quietly shown its value and everyday usability over the past decade. Step forward the Lexus RC F. Although Lexus has offered more affordable and entry-level models like the RC 350, petrolheads took notice when Lexus unveiled the RC F at none other than the Detroit Auto Show in January 2014.
Keep in mind, fitted with a 5.0-liter V8 engine, this was a brave move by the Japanese manufacturer as most competitors, especially from Europe, were now moving to turbocharged units. This Lexus V8 powertrain was clearly aimed at those drivers who still want an exciting level of performance, a naturally aspirated experience, and a feel from the wheel that will not intimidate the driver. That is not always the case with many modern performance coupes, where torque delivery can feel overwhelming at low speeds and in everyday traffic situations.
Delivering 471 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, the RC F is able to sprint to 62 mph in a respectable 4.5 seconds and achieve a maximum speed of 168 mph, figures that are quite impressive, more than a decade after the car’s launch.
Comfortable Enough To Drive Every Day
In true Lexus form, the RC F, although being the most dynamic model in the lineup, still offers a supple, well-damped driving experience. This allows it to be used as a daily driver, even though you have all the performance at your fingertips. When Lexus put the brief together for the engineers, it was clear that it was supposed to be a GT first, and secondly, a performance coupe. After all, it is rather heavy, tipping the scales at a substantial 3,948 lbs, adding to the comfortable and weighty feel of the car.
Apart from the suspension setup, the wheel and tire combination is also sensible, and the RC F doesn’t offer such large wheels with very low-profile tires, which often leads to a choppy driving experience. Up front, the RC F is fitted with 255/35 R19 tires, and at the rear, wider 275/35 R19. Although there are the notable four exhaust pipes at the rear, this sound is more pleasant and not as loud and intrusive as some of its competitors.
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Enough Space For The School Run And The Weekend Getaway
Lexus’s approach to cars has always been one of comfort and space, and here the RC F doesn’t disappoint. Apart from the space available to the front seat occupants, the rear seats are also ideal for small children, whether on the school run or for a short trip. Both of the rear seats offer ISOFIX seats for baby seats, while there is also a center armrest. The rear window and small side windows also allow enough light into the rear quarters. The rear trunk offers around 10.1 cubic feet of space, enough for a number of soft bags and weekend luggage. This makes it genuinely usable for short family trips or airport runs, something many performance coupes struggle with in real-world ownership. Keep in mind, although other RC models’ rear seats can fold flat, the RC F rear seats are fixed.
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The RC F Offers Luxury, Style, And Comfort
In typical Lexus fashion, the cabin is a place of luxury, comfort, and technology. Depending on the options of the first owner, some cars feature unique colored stitching on the seats as well as contrasting leather inserts on the seats and parts of the transmission tunnel and door cards. There is also a partly digital display behind the steering wheel, with the rev counter taking center stage. In true performance car style, when the engine is cold, the red line starts at 5,500 rpm, but once all the fluids are warmed to optimum temperatures, the red line is 7,300 rpm.
Another digital display above the center air vents offers access to the satellite navigation and the connection with your smartphone, while further down, the air-conditioning controls and even a CD player can be found—something increasingly rare in modern performance cars where physical media has been removed entirely.
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A Coupe That Stands Out Because You Rarely See One
Even though Lexus has a significant footprint in North America, there are not many of these cars on the road or for sale. On one website, the ratio of used RC F for sale versus RC 350 vehicles was nearly 1:5, indicating the relative rarity of the model—an element that many enthusiasts prefer. If you really want to stand out, there are also rarer models like the Fuji Speedway Edition, which adds additional aerodynamic parts and an upgraded braking system. Offering improved performance, it moves the goalposts away from being a daily driver.
Lexus Reliability Means Lower Ownership Stress
As there are no turbochargers or superchargers, and it being a Lexus, you can be assured of owning a reliable vehicle. Performance and reliability often don’t go together, but here is an example where it is possible. Equipped with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, it is a transmission that is known for not only smoothness but also long-term reliability. With fewer moving parts in the engine and gearbox than many of its competitors, owners have less to worry about in terms of maintenance and servicing.
It Offers Sports Car Character Without The Sports Car Compromises
Offering a near-perfect combination of style, performance, luxury, technology, and practicality, the Lexus RC F is a coupe that can work perfectly in the real world. Throw in the level of reliability we have come to expect from Toyota’s luxury division, and the RC F has another box ticked. There are over 240 Lexus dealerships in the USA, and although that is much less than some competitors, these dealerships are located in all the main metropolitan areas, ensuring reasonable access to servicing and support. Ultimately, the RC F proves that a performance coupe does not need to be extreme or compromised to be desirable. It can be fast, comfortable, reliable, and still emotionally engaging in everyday driving situations.
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