Lexus has the RC-F concept car, a high-performance version of the previously released RC Coupe concept. Just as the standard car will rival the BMW 4-series, the 450bhp V8-powered RC-F will take on the M4. A production version is expected to go on sale towards the end of 2014 with a price of around £57,000.
Lexus actually claims that output from the company’s most powerful ever normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine will be in excess of 450bhp – outgunning BMW’s 425bhp straight-six turbo. There are currently no other details on the torque or all-important CO2 figures. The 32-valve engine has been honed with new internals to allow higher revs.
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An eight-speed transmission transfers power to the road, with the help of a torque vectoring rear diff – a world first on a front-engined rear-wheel drive car according to Lexus. There are three modes available to the driver, ranging from comfort, slalom and finally track.
The concept features a substantially different look to the standard coupe, with wide wheel arches, larger intake ducts at the front and an active rear spoiler in the style of the LFA. Three different types of wheels will be available on the production model, all variations of the 19-inch forged 10-spoke wheels as seen here.
A lot of work has gone into making the body incredibly rigid, with strut bracing, body adhesives, laser-screw welding and multi-spot welding. An active rear spoiler increases downforce above 50mph, with Lexus playing close attention to the aerodynamics of the car, utilising a flat underbody and ‘air management’ flaps in the front bumper.
Carbon fibre is used for the roof, bonnet and rear spoiler in an effort to keep weight down. Although there is no official figure, Lexus is giving a conservative estimate of below 1800kg.
Just like the IS-F model that this car replaces, there are stacked quad tail pipes at the rear. Inside the new car, the dashboard is dominated by a large central dial, which much like the rest of the Lexus range will change depending on which of four driving modes are selected.
