- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He
Lexus RC. Impractical but stylish coupe
The Lexus RC Coupe is a compact sports car, the two-door sibling of the IS Sedan, which has been produced since 2013. Lexus is a young brand. And the manufacturer has decided to add a coupe to the third generation IS sedan, a compact stylish car designed for young people. Interestingly, the two-door version is longer and wider than the sedan. The coupe has inherited the graceful design with pronounced sports features, rear-wheel drive layout and units: 2.5-liter and 3.5-liter engines, as well as a hybrid version. The coupe is not available in Israel, but loved in the US and European markets.
The Lexus RC was designed by the leading Lexus engineers who previously participated in the creation of the LFA supercar, and was tested at the Nürburgring. Thanks to its short wheelbase and extremely rigid chassis, the vehicle provides you with an unforgettable driving experience. And considering the true motorsport aerodynamics, the coupe offers excellent handling characteristics. The dynamic nature of the car is accentuated by a striking design with a distinctive spindle-shaped radiator grille, the widest of any Lexus model.
The first generation
The model was unveiled as the Lexus LF-CC concept car at the end of September 2012 in the capital of fashion and beauty, Paris. The hybrid version was also announced there. In mid-November 2013, the production coupe was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show. It turns out that the Japanese, with their usual meticulousness, did not just remove the doors from the IS model. They borrowed only the rear end from the original sedan, and the middle part was taken from the IS C coupe-cabriolet due to the higher rigidity provided by higher sills. And the front end comes from the larger GS sedan, since more space was needed around the V8 engine, the heart of the sporty RC F version. This is how the Lexus RC coupe was created.
The first Lexus RC was powered by one of two naturally aspirated gasoline engines: a 2.5-liter inline 4 cylinder engine (for the hybrid version) or a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The hybrid version had a continuously variable transmission, while the gasoline version had an 8-speed automatic transmission. There was also a 2-liter turbocharged version. The cars were equipped with electric power steering, double wishbone suspension at the front and multi-link at the rear.
2017/2018 restyling
In 2017, the Lexus RC was restyled. Thus, the Lexus Safety System+ package (including adaptive cruise control, lane control assist, high-beam switching and automatic braking system) was included in the entry-level version. The multimedia screen of the top-end versions has grown to 10.3 inches. The engines have become a little stronger: the all-wheel drive version RC 300 AWD boasts a herd of 264 hp, while the RC 350 version driving the rear or both axles offers 315 hp.
In August 2018, Lexus introduced a restyled coupe. The 2018/2019 Lexus RC was made to resemble the larger Lexus LC coupe - the most expensive model at the time. The interior and suspension have been slightly improved, but the equipment remains the same. In Russia, the new Lexus RC was recognized as the Car of the Year 2019. It was chosen as the best coupe by the results of an all-Russian vote of more than 1 million people.
In 2020, the manufacturer released the luxury Lexus RC Black Line Edition, which is currently available in the North American market. The model is distinguished by two body colors to choose from (Ultra White or Cloudburst Gray), 19-inch wheels painted in black and trimmed exhaust pipes, a special interior trim. The Black Line package is available for the RC 300 and RC 350 versions. The Black Line interior features a natural ash steering wheel, black faux leather seats and gray stitching. In total, it is planned to produce 350 such coupes.
