2015 Lexus RCF Review

2015 Lexus RC F
A few years ago now in 2008 Lexus, a brand that built its reputation on building supreme quality luxury sedans, managed to stun the automotive industry by releasing the ISF sedan. Here was a sports sedan that rivalled the BMW M3 and was capable of going ballistic if pushed with superb road manners and quietness. Out of nowhere the sedate brand had a hero car that was simply AWESOME. It shocked almost everyone and quickly became a most desirable ‘Q’ car.

2015 Lexus RC F

Well have they done it again with the RCF? Launched in early 2015 the RCF embodies the essential elements of a prestige high performance coupe. Stunning looks that promotes discussion, luxurious interior that leaves nothing on the wish list, balanced ride and handling and that beautiful 5.0L V8 engine and yet extremely easy to live with on a day by day basis which is so important. Is it however a true sports coupe or luxurious performance tourer.

The exterior shape does promote discussion, I guess is a personal thing but I happen to like it. There is just enough style and curved lines to give the sports coupe appeal. The front grill is imposing and probably the best view is from the side where the long sleek lines are accentuated. It can appear disjointed with the front grill appearing stuck on as an afterthought.

2015 Lexus RC F

Step inside and its all Lexus. That means luxury where the design blends into user friendly implementation. Everything simply works with a minor exception which we will discuss later.

2015 Lexus RC F

The RCF seats are unbelievably comfortable, multi electrically adjustable, air conditioned and with the electrically adjustable small thick rimmed leather steering wheel you can find the perfect drivers position. One slight beef is that taller drivers (190cm and above) will find head space restricted as I kept bumping my head on the sunroof surrounds. Drivers left foot rest is perfectly placed.

2015 Lexus RC F

The dash layout again is a testament to simple functional design that works and easy to use. Like all good sports cars the tacho is front and centre with speedo to the right and MFD to the left. The centre stack again simple to use but full of features. The screen is a little smaller than I would have expected though. I love the elegant analogue clock. The fit and finish is as you would expect from Lexus and a $140,000+ sports car.

2014 Lexus RC 350 F Sport

One complaint is the ‘mouse’ touch plate for navigating the functions on the small centre screen. I found it too sensitive to use and was often selecting something other than what I wanted. Some people love it however I am in the bunch of drivers that preferred the previous control system. It seemed to work better for the more clumsy amongst us.

Rear seats are for the vertically challenged (though better than most similar vehicles) and best suited for the overnight bags along with a small but practical boot space. These cars are not about hedonistic pleasure for more than two people. If that is your thing buy the ISF sedan.

2015 Lexus RC F

The RCF is a tad heavy at 1860kg and while that benefits with smooth ride and handling for the average punter it does tend to dull the performance a touch. The RCF offers the stunning and powerful 5.0L V8 engine which produces 351kW of power @ 7,100rpm and 530Nm of torque @ 4,800rpm. It drives all this power through a eight speed transmission that will propel this hefty coupe from 0-100kmh in 4.5 seconds and top out at an electronically governed 270kmh. That is fast but not superfast.

2015 Lexus RC F

However switch to sports mode and find some windy roads and the RCF will excite all but the purist of drivers. There is little understeer but the heavy rear end is manageable if let loose. It is affected by rough surfaces and can feel bumpy at times despite its weight. Sports + mode provides another level of fun. That’s the key word here, the RCF is plain and simple fun to drive without feeling that you have to control a beast to extract the best from it.

The Lexus RCF is a little hard to place. It isn’t really an out and out sports coupe nor is it a proper GT. It is however perfectly designed for those drivers who like the extra performance in a stylish coupe that is easy to live with every day and provides just enough thrills when they head to the open road. This is a true luxury coupe with extra performance.

The Lexus RCF has been built with passion for those who enjoy the pleasure of simply driving. At a RDAP of $145,175 the RCF isn’t cheap yet it represents outstanding value with the Lexus core values of excellent value, practicality, effortless styling and trustworthy Lexus reputation. Its main competition though may be the RC 350 F Sport that provides perhaps a better balanced vehicle albeit with less performance but some $50,00 cheaper.

About Rob Fraser 2479 Articles
Rob Fraser – General dogsbody & Director Rob is the founder of the business. He constantly mutters something about way too many red wines one evening being to blame. Often known for taking the 4WD in the driveway over the sports car, he has travelled pretty much everywhere in Australia and when he is bored goes for a drive. He first learned to drive on the farm in a left hand drive WW11 Jeep when he was 11, and was hooked on 4WDriving way back then. In addition to 4WD he is an avid motoring enthusiast and has maintained a strong interest in the industry ever since his teens. He has owned way too many cars in his time as well. Having previously lived at the top of corporate life he retired in 2000 and hasn’t put a suit and tie on since. Cars are his passion so why not have a business doing what you love he figures. He has towed either a caravan or camper trailer to most parts of Australia, has run guided tours for camper trailers’ and instructed drivers in off road towing.