Car Guy Magazine Car Guy Magazine Issue 1214 | Page 50

This versatile character does not mean compromise: the new performance pinnacle of the
Lexus range is true to its “F” designation as a powerful and technically advanced machine that has
been honed on race circuits around the world.
The F denotes Fuji Speedway, the Japanese track
where Lexus carries out much of its high-speed
product testing.
Yukihiko Yaguchi, the RC F’s chief engineer, explains: “There’s a perception that many high-performance cars are hard to drive. In fact they’re easy
in the right hands because they’ve been purposebuilt for the skill level of their drivers. It’s the same
with the RC F, which I have built to be enjoyed by
all enthusiasts, no matter what their level of expertise. Electronics can be modified instantly on

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board to provide performance and protection appropriate to each driver’s abilities. But even in its
basic settings, it’s a blast.”
The key ingredients are a new 5.0-litre V8 engine delivering 471bhp and 530Nm of torque, and
a significantly upgraded eight-speed Sports Direct
Shift transmission that gives the driver a choice of
five operating modes, from fuel-efficient Eco to
full-blooded Sport S+, plus an option to switch
to manual, sequential shift control. Lexus has also
revised the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system with new Sport and Expert settings
that let the driver safely exploit the car’s full performance capabilities.
The RC F is the most powerful V8 road car
Lexus has yet produced. In raw figures, it covers