***** dude calm down man, I think what he meant was like, 3/4/5/6 series and M3/4/5/6. Even though if you look at my username, I'd be in no position to talk right now lol.
Carbon Fiber Honda Yes I did since that is what was being compared against in the video, fact he has to go to the most expensive car BMW sells shows he has no argument. BMW sell hundreds of thousands of cars worldwide, Lexus doesn't come close.
yea this car is great, its so impolite looking. Tired of bland polite cars that blend in. I like the sinister axe murderer look to this car, not the "please sir may I pass" looks of blander cars.
i'd have one over an m4. i'm sure the m4 is sharper to drive, but the fact that this car comes with a high-tech, high-revving, amazing sounding v8 makes it a winner in day-to-day driving. the fact is that you can't always take turns at 100 mph in the real world, nor can you drag race (without getting in trouble with the law, on both accounts). what you can do is downshift-pass on the highway, and occasionally rev it out at traffic lights. it's unfortunate but true. because of that, you want a car that makes you feel special in those moments, in the real world. that's why this car shines.
I think for the average customer who might go to track once with their sporty coupe, this Lexus is the better choice. Factor in the reliability and it's not that easy for me to discount the Lexus. A large majority of people are going to choose the Germans for brand identity alone, so no amount of logic is going to sway their decision.
BYSMA4th True that, but don't forget we're talking about Lexus here, not Hyundai, and Lexus still IS in fact, a luxury car, and many people would consider it equally against the german counterparts. You do have a point though, people who haven't experienced Lexus cars won't change their mind so easily... until they see how gorgeous this thing is at least hahaha
From the beginning Lexus was saying the RCF wasn't going to be built on speed or paper numbers but for pure enjoyment and obviously mission accomplished by the smiles on this guys face and the massive controllable power slides he was doing. Plus the sound of that thing also adds soul and enjoyment to the driving experience, it actually makes you wanna floor it! I find it funny how alot of reviewers a actually TRY not to like Lexus. This is a phenomenal car hands down and this guy knows it- yet every positive statement he made, he quickly had to turn around with a "but..."
1840kg is crazy for a 2 door sports car, especially considering an M4 weighs 1612kg with DCT. What's even more peculiar about the RC-F's 1840kg curb weight is that the IS-F has a curb weight of 1715kg even considering that car has two more doors and near identical dimensions to the RC-F.
Is it though? The C-coupe AMG and RS5 weigh roughly as much. I'm pretty sure the RC-F is based on the GS limousine, not the compact IS and it's bigger than the M4, hence more weight. I wish it was lighter and smaler, kinda GT86 size, that would make it a monster.
Run the RCF on the track like you see M3s and then see what happens, of course you will not get more than a couple laps out of it before the brake peddle sags to the floor. I haven't seen a Lexus at the track yet.
n9athan Let's be real, no Lexus customer in their right mind would take this to the track regularly. Why? Because it's not a track car. It's a fun car, but not a track car. Why? Well, being a Lexus, it has all the creature comforts you could ask for and more. You might be thinking "wait a second, so does the M4", but that's where you're wrong. You see, the M4 isn't anywhere near as comfortable to drive, nor is it as nice to actually sit in. Have you seen this car's interior? It's a masterpiece. BMW interiors are pretty rubbish, they look good in magazines, but not in real life, and I'm saying that from experience. The V8 in this car is, to my eyes, the selling point - if we overlook the LOOKS for a second... The M4 isn't a standalone model, it's the top-of-the-range 3-Series. This, on the other hand, is a standalone coupe. The RC comes in other trims, but it's still a dedicated coupe on its own. It's not an IS Coupe, it's not a coupe of a cheaper, entry-level Lexus. I'll have to go back to the looks now. This thing looks fantastic. Even if you know nothing about cars, you'll love to look at this thing. Coming back from a drive and exiting the vehicle, you would turn back and look at how stunning this car looks in person; Lexus brought a concept car into production without ruining its looks. I would compare this car to the Maserati GranTurismo, so yes the RC F is sort of a GT car instead of a super-coupe. This car is BIG just like the Maserati, it has a great sounding engine, and it's beautiful to look at. But it's also faster, more refined, more sporting, and much more reliable. In conclusion, I think Lexus shouldn't go head-to-head with BMW when it comes to sportiness and straight-out performance, but try to sell the car's design, refinement, power, and elegance. Oh and the sound, don't forget that...
n9athan Add some perspective. People spend 95% of their so called sporty cars on regular roads and 5% on tracks. If you want a true track car for around 60K, even BMW M3/4 isn't the right choice. You would go with Porsche Cayman or even Corvette.
I have had 3 x M3's in a row, kept the last two to 100,000 miles nearly and absolutely hammered them and had pretty much zero go wrong. Currently have a low mileage last of the E92 M3's and i intend to do the same. Think that i even prefer my current car to this new car.
Got a 2015 rc f in Dec and I adore her my fav ever so unique and gorgeous can’t help but smile while listening to that v8 worth every cent constantly turning heads
I've seen this car in person. It has some really bad angles. Other angles look nice. I blame pedestrian crash regs, but it's one of those things that once you see, you can't unsee. Still glad to see them trying and doing their own thing.
Am I the only one who honestly loves the new Lexus design language? Sharp lines, Aggressive front grille, creative head/fog lights integration, an Avant-garde design. Something that's quite extraordinary. Most cars today have started to look like each other unlike this one. This, stands out from the crowd.
Stellar review. Now it sounds to me that the Audi RS5 is more of a competitor to this than the M4. That car has been criticized as being a bit dull on the track relative to a BMW M, but quite a pleasant experience on the street. I hear the same sort things in this video about this Lexus. In any event, when you guys get an opportunity the might be some merit in running this against the usual suspects from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. Just to see where it lies.
Did anyone else notice its two cars? In cockpit video is from a right hand drive car, while the track video is of a left hand drive? Otherwize, if youre not using the car on track a lot, this would be a nice option for the M3/M4, witch is a bit to comon in thease parts. Then the +400kg wont mater that much.
They could easily release a lightened version of the RCF and call it the RCF GT make it about 1650kgs or 1750kgs at least and get about 490hp it would be a killer.
This dude is nuts. Randy Pbrost of Motor Trend loved this car on the track only losing to the M4 by .3 seconds and said the brakes and transmission were superior.
We are forever being told we need to get used to smaller capacity turbo charged engines to meet emission. Then Lexus come out with this.Maybe a better comparison is the C63 AMG
So, the RCF ran a 3.9 0-60 and beat the M4 and RS5 in certified AMCI testing on a closed circuit track. The testing was done with the soon to be released carbon fiber TVD.
m3s are so common...these are less common...so if it loses a second or 2 to the bmer...who cares...on the road going to work..sunday drives....that's where 88% of people will use it..looks great..i like this lexus..think it looks twice as good as the bmer...the bmer looks like a standard 3 series with larger arches
I don't remember a car's looks polarising petrolheads this much. I, personally, quite like the looks. The headlights look a bit small with the main bulbs and LEDs being separate, but otherwise, I think it looks pretty cool.
It even looks like it's heavy going around a track. And, the styling of it (profile and rear) reminds me of a Mazda 6. One thing it will have over an M4, though, is reliability.
Great review and great car. I like the styling, the sound can be improved even more (if you can buy this car, you can buy an aftermarket exhaust). I would take this over BMW and perhaps even over Audi.
To me this feels like a really well-built TVR. "TVR" at least as far as how its looks make me feel. If it were just based on looks, this thing is definitely in the "exotic" category. It's not a beautiful car by any means; but something that WILL get attention. It is enticing. Sure this may not beat M3 / M4 as far as performance / dynamics go, but heck... I see so many M3 / M4's nowadays and M3 / M4's sorta look like 3 / 4 series with a bit of factory body kit on it, while RC-F looks otherworldly. This definitely is a car that will have a very clear divide between lovers and haters. I like that.
...were you guys using two different RC Fs in this video? I see a left hand drive, California-plated RC F throughout the video for the exterior shots, but Steve is driving a RHD RC F. I don't think the video is mirrored either, since the license plate isn't mirrored, and the RHD interior shot with Steve in it isn't mirrored either since I can clearly see the "F" logo in its regular, unmirrored state. Just curious.
Funny that you mention brakes Steve, because the ISF was known for its great brakes. What went wrong with the RCF then? Or maybe it will have optional carbon-ceramics later on?
I think the styling is quite busy. The engine seems a gem, and If it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility I'd simply pluck it from under the bonnet and drop it into an FT-86 or early 70's era Celica. That's just me.
Once again another successful video ! U make us feel like were right there riding with you quality work. The nose is growing on me. As much as i love german cars I would hv this one over a BMW. Good job Steve....
Im sorry but does this guy not understand that this car is not a drift car,im pretty sure when lexus says "track car" they are referring to handling,acceleration and those sorts not how sideways it can get.I know if I owned this car I wouldnt be swinging it around like that.Overall beautiful machine they just need to shave some weight off this thing
i'm a fan of the LFA and a bit of a fan of the IS-F and i agree with him, they need to lower the weight and fit carbon ceramic brakes maybe they should've given the job to tanahashi (LFA chief engineer)
Shed some weight and add carbon ceramic brakes as standard. 2 or 4 doors doesn't really matter too much to me. I think it's rather striking looking and a change from the BMW/Merc/Audi styling we are accustomed to.
If Lexus launch a stripped down 1650kg RC F, with a more powerful 480hp V8 down the line it should be the best sports coupe to date. Really hope they do.
I have the pleasure of owning one of the total ~6K IS-Fs imported to the US, a 2011, and I will have a RC F. This guy sure was smiling and laughing a lot on the track to say "Don't bother taking it to the track because to won't enjoy it". That said, no car in this class is a good track toy, unless you can afford to beat up a car this expensive. For occasional track use, I know it would be a hoot. It will be great on road, where it will be driven 99.9% of the time, and I'm sure the extra weight has advantages in stiffness and crash-worthiness. The press love to beat on Lexus and praise BMW...that's why you seldom hear them mention reliability, resale and cost to own.
Top Gear has a lot to answer for. Everyone who gets onto a track these days seems to think that if a road car can't go sideways it's a minus. Also, when you are out on a public road, see if you can go around a bend and stay on your side of the road.
with its n/a V8 5.0 and kerb weight putting together, for what else could you ask for:-) it will blend so easy on the streets of London.....yup, must do 60 large ones now.
I admire Lexus for maintaining NA engines. Bigger engine with more power than the turbo'd M4, inside a much heavier car overall, and it still matches the BMW in fuel economy.
I bet all people buying this car do not want to drift it or race it on a track. most people want a nice sounding, muscular, V8 like the AMGs. another point to be added to the Lexus that you forgot is reliability... there is no way in hell the BMW can come near Lexus in reliability or customer satisfaction. it is the all round winner for the normal person IMO. cheers
The car is great but it has 2 problems: A) it's badly positioned (it's based on a hybrid platform mixed with the GS and the IS,making it bigger and heavier than it's supossed rivals,it should be positioned with the 6 series and the E class coupe) and B)The M3/4 they are so fucking fast that one will care about it. At least with Lex' you get a better car for the same or less money than a RS4/M3/C63,with a beautiful trans and high revving NA V8. I'm pretty sure it will be faster than the RS4 B8 (apart from the engine and trans it has a lot of understeer and the steering is lifelees)
I'm kind of conflicted about this car. It seems like it's pretty great as a car, and I do like Lexus, but what the hell were they thinking with the styling? The thing is, it actually has a really nice silhouette to it, but then they had to ruin it with fussy little details, like those headlights, and those creases on the rear bumper. It's so sad, because pretty much all Lexuses are like this now, after they hit pretty much perfect styling with the LFA. That looked great, but then they just went and overdesigned everything after that. Actually, it's a similar kind of problem that I've had with a lot of new cars recently. Lexus are probably the worst offenders, but there are so many cars now which could be so much better than they are if they just didn't do certain small details in the way they did. I don't feel like I'm being too picky, because surely these cars are supposedly designed by people with a good aesthetic sense, so why the hell do they add on these pointless jarring details that I just can't take my eye off? Like the M4. Overall, it's a great looking car. But then they have those weird headlights connected to the kidneys, and that ugly bonnet seam. Why the hell couldn't they do the lights like the ones the 2 series? And there's the new MX-5 as well. Why couldn't they have made those front lights just a little bit bigger, and smooth out the ugly undersides, and get rid of that pointless bend in front of the rear wheels? These are such small details on otherwise great looking cars, but they just ruin the whole thing for no reason. They could have easily taken them out, yet for some reason they didn't. It just makes no sense to me.
Lovely car! Something you'd buy precisely because it isn't an Audi, BMW or Mercedes. I'm sure it isn't the most dynamic but in all honesty despite what everything thinks about their own abilities behind the wheel, few will notice! The only challenge from the others is the noise the AMG Merc makes.
Hello Autocar. I can explain to you why the car is heavier. When you make a car, you can make it strong and reliable, or making it lighter... but there is no way around physics. If you want to make a giant dimension car and make it light in the same time, you are going to play with the thickness of the metals you will put in this car, and this will affect reliability and strongness of the components. You can go around this problem with carbon fiber and composite materials, but this will explode the budget and makes the car going in the hypercar segment. This Lexus was designed to beeing track ready and realiable. I'm a user of one of those, and I know other users of this that I met on the pitlanes or around the tracks. They all have zero issues with that. Even the brakes are aging well withtout needing replacement after every track day. Go and track your Audi or BMW on a regular basics, and report us how it will behave after a time.
people said the same exact thing about the LFA before it came out, and after a FAIR reviews, Top Gear's first video about it was Richard Hammond's over the top production to spend the budget, I think, and he loved the car. The stig said it was one of the best cars, if not the best car he ever drove and Jeremy loved it too. I believe in lexus, just mark my sentence, the RCF will beat the M4. and its really funny how they did review the RCF before lexus released it and the BMW M4 already released but not reviewed. people just hate Japanese cars, I guarantee It could weigh only 500KG and do 0-60 in 1.0 sec and they would still say its no good because of something else lol, compare it ON track with M4, few days left and we will see a lot of videos comparing between both of them. remark my words *sorry for my bad english
I luv the M4, but this is going to beat the hell out of it or the MB-C63 in the long run for cost of ownership. I think it's the best car for $60k right now. I want one.
I really liked this car i had lots of expectations and i thought it gonna beat M4 badly as drivers car, but when i saw weight i said no way it can, i didn't want to judge early so i waited for so long to find review now its here and i can finally see it weight makes difference no matter how perfect car is
Every manufacturer in this segment claims to have track bred models but AMGs over heat, RS models understeer plus the launch control doesn't always work, and the Lexus is under braked and too heavy. M cars and Porsches are really the only track bred cars in this segment. The new M4 lost weight, a novel idea from a large manufacturer it seems.
I'm not a fan of the new M3/M4, mainly because I think they're becoming a touch too ordinary. But then again, seeing the review of RC F I kind of start to appreciate the M3 again ;) cartoony looks ftw!
I'd have one, not only do I like the look and sound of it but it won't be anywhere near as common as a BMW.
***** Probably only that many because it is expensive plus BMW cars look so alike that unless you know your cars they look no different.
***** Awww look he has to swear... Different class of car...
***** dude calm down man, I think what he meant was like, 3/4/5/6 series and M3/4/5/6. Even though if you look at my username, I'd be in no position to talk right now lol.
Carbon Fiber Honda Yes I did since that is what was being compared against in the video, fact he has to go to the most expensive car BMW sells shows he has no argument. BMW sell hundreds of thousands of cars worldwide, Lexus doesn't come close.
***** Not really but that wasn't my original point...
omfg, this is one of the best looking sedan i've ever seen
coupes*
yes, sry
yea this car is great, its so impolite looking. Tired of bland polite cars that blend in. I like the sinister axe murderer look to this car, not the "please sir may I pass" looks of blander cars.
A grown up gt86
The front looks like my asshole.
Looks like Sutcliffe likes it, in a way no German rivals will never be loved, and that only means one thing. Soul and Passion in the Lexus RC-F
are new cars tend to be ugly or just I can't keep up with design ?
Guess you are geting old now..
From japan, yes.
only some are getting ugly. not lexus tho, they were always ugly...
Ty Kara no their all ugly too you're wrong
your getting old......
i'd have one over an m4. i'm sure the m4 is sharper to drive, but the fact that this car comes with a high-tech, high-revving, amazing sounding v8 makes it a winner in day-to-day driving. the fact is that you can't always take turns at 100 mph in the real world, nor can you drag race (without getting in trouble with the law, on both accounts). what you can do is downshift-pass on the highway, and occasionally rev it out at traffic lights. it's unfortunate but true. because of that, you want a car that makes you feel special in those moments, in the real world. that's why this car shines.
Sounds like you want an E90 M3
n9athan He does, but with more comfort, and RELIABILITY. Did you ever experience M-car reliability? Cuz I know I haven't...
I think for the average customer who might go to track once with their sporty coupe, this Lexus is the better choice. Factor in the reliability and it's not that easy for me to discount the Lexus. A large majority of people are going to choose the Germans for brand identity alone, so no amount of logic is going to sway their decision.
BYSMA4th True that, but don't forget we're talking about Lexus here, not Hyundai, and Lexus still IS in fact, a luxury car, and many people would consider it equally against the german counterparts. You do have a point though, people who haven't experienced Lexus cars won't change their mind so easily... until they see how gorgeous this thing is at least hahaha
The RCF was badazz from birth, I’m keeping mines 💯
I'm sayin and it does 0-60 with proper grip in 4.2 he said 4.5 in the videos which isn't true
The biggest difference I see with the rc-f and the m4 is that you will hardly ever see a rc-f around uk roads, m3 m4's around every corner nowadays
Steve Sutcliffe's best review so far, interesting to hear after he bashed the M3, 7:22 and 10:27 says it all for me
From the beginning Lexus was saying the RCF wasn't going to be built on speed or paper numbers but for pure enjoyment and obviously mission accomplished by the smiles on this guys face and the massive controllable power slides he was doing. Plus the sound of that thing also adds soul and enjoyment to the driving experience, it actually makes you wanna floor it!
I find it funny how alot of reviewers a actually TRY not to like Lexus. This is a phenomenal car hands down and this guy knows it- yet every positive statement he made, he quickly had to turn around with a "but..."
1840kg is crazy for a 2 door sports car, especially considering an M4 weighs 1612kg with DCT. What's even more peculiar about the RC-F's 1840kg curb weight is that the IS-F has a curb weight of 1715kg even considering that car has two more doors and near identical dimensions to the RC-F.
Lexus are known for their high quality and heavy duty products that's why it's heavy
Abdulraheem Al-Kurdi its more due to that its made from 3 different chassis' welded together and not a bespoke one.
and two turbos... m4 if it was my money
Macus Thomas so agree with you mate.
Is it though? The C-coupe AMG and RS5 weigh roughly as much. I'm pretty sure the RC-F is based on the GS limousine, not the compact IS and it's bigger than the M4, hence more weight. I wish it was lighter and smaler, kinda GT86 size, that would make it a monster.
Talk about reliability, too. BMW is rubbish is terms of reliability, but Lexus is the best. Buyers with brains do take reliability into consideration.
Run the RCF on the track like you see M3s and then see what happens, of course you will not get more than a couple laps out of it before the brake peddle sags to the floor. I haven't seen a Lexus at the track yet.
n9athan Let's be real, no Lexus customer in their right mind would take this to the track regularly. Why? Because it's not a track car. It's a fun car, but not a track car. Why? Well, being a Lexus, it has all the creature comforts you could ask for and more. You might be thinking "wait a second, so does the M4", but that's where you're wrong. You see, the M4 isn't anywhere near as comfortable to drive, nor is it as nice to actually sit in. Have you seen this car's interior? It's a masterpiece. BMW interiors are pretty rubbish, they look good in magazines, but not in real life, and I'm saying that from experience. The V8 in this car is, to my eyes, the selling point - if we overlook the LOOKS for a second... The M4 isn't a standalone model, it's the top-of-the-range 3-Series. This, on the other hand, is a standalone coupe. The RC comes in other trims, but it's still a dedicated coupe on its own. It's not an IS Coupe, it's not a coupe of a cheaper, entry-level Lexus. I'll have to go back to the looks now. This thing looks fantastic. Even if you know nothing about cars, you'll love to look at this thing. Coming back from a drive and exiting the vehicle, you would turn back and look at how stunning this car looks in person; Lexus brought a concept car into production without ruining its looks. I would compare this car to the Maserati GranTurismo, so yes the RC F is sort of a GT car instead of a super-coupe. This car is BIG just like the Maserati, it has a great sounding engine, and it's beautiful to look at. But it's also faster, more refined, more sporting, and much more reliable. In conclusion, I think Lexus shouldn't go head-to-head with BMW when it comes to sportiness and straight-out performance, but try to sell the car's design, refinement, power, and elegance. Oh and the sound, don't forget that...
n9athan Add some perspective. People spend 95% of their so called sporty cars on regular roads and 5% on tracks. If you want a true track car for around 60K, even BMW M3/4 isn't the right choice. You would go with Porsche Cayman or even Corvette.
***** That's very true indeed.
I have had 3 x M3's in a row, kept the last two to 100,000 miles nearly and absolutely hammered them and had pretty much zero go wrong. Currently have a low mileage last of the E92 M3's and i intend to do the same. Think that i even prefer my current car to this new car.
finally a review with a good driver and not some guy pretending he's tracking. good review. cheers
Got a 2015 rc f in Dec and I adore her my fav ever so unique and gorgeous can’t help but smile while listening to that v8 worth every cent constantly turning heads
Finally been waiting for somebody to review this car so I could see what it can do, leave it to AutoCar you guys get the job done
I'm most impressed with the cars magic ability to change from righthand to lefthanddrive midcorner !!!!!!!!
Everyone else who tested this car praised the brakes. I believe you guys tested one that had already been abused badly.
Love the 10min bids. Steve is always amazing and his critiques are so engaging
I mean vids
Seriously, you call that a track review? All you did was drift the car!
FINALLY I BELIEVE IN HUMAN AGAIN!
Finally Lexus is back on the game
I've seen this car in person. It has some really bad angles. Other angles look nice. I blame pedestrian crash regs, but it's one of those things that once you see, you can't unsee. Still glad to see them trying and doing their own thing.
Am I the only one who honestly loves the new Lexus design language? Sharp lines, Aggressive front grille, creative head/fog lights integration, an Avant-garde design. Something that's quite extraordinary. Most cars today have started to look like each other unlike this one. This, stands out from the crowd.
Stellar review.
Now it sounds to me that the Audi RS5 is more of a competitor to this than the M4. That car has been criticized as being a bit dull on the track relative to a BMW M, but quite a pleasant experience on the street. I hear the same sort things in this video about this Lexus.
In any event, when you guys get an opportunity the might be some merit in running this against the usual suspects from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. Just to see where it lies.
Did anyone else notice its two cars?
In cockpit video is from a right hand drive car, while the track video is of a left hand drive?
Otherwize, if youre not using the car on track a lot, this would be a nice option for the M3/M4, witch is a bit to comon in thease parts.
Then the +400kg wont mater that much.
They could easily release a lightened version of the RCF and call it the RCF GT make it about 1650kgs or 1750kgs at least and get about 490hp it would be a killer.
This thing looks fantastic in slow motion. I prefer this to the European competition just because it is so different.
This dude is nuts. Randy Pbrost of Motor Trend loved this car on the track only losing to the M4 by .3 seconds and said the brakes and transmission were superior.
Does the car have the ability to change from LHD to RHD on the dot?
We are forever being told we need to get used to smaller capacity turbo charged engines to meet emission. Then Lexus come out with this.Maybe a better comparison is the C63 AMG
And gets the same mpg as the m4.
Wow lol... Germans have been beaten this time I think.
Yea and watch it not sell.
this maybe one of the last great NA V8s, the next gen Fs may not be NA V8 anymore. Get one while you can
fxnytroxtx Lmfaooo good one.
So, the RCF ran a 3.9 0-60 and beat the M4 and RS5 in certified AMCI testing on a closed circuit track. The testing was done with the soon to be released carbon fiber TVD.
he does give them good credit, this review perfectly showcases how sporty they have become and there are more model rumoured to come
Does the steering wheel changes side between road and track??? Awsome!!!
m3s are so common...these are less common...so if it loses a second or 2 to the bmer...who cares...on the road going to work..sunday drives....that's where 88% of people will use it..looks great..i like this lexus..think it looks twice as good as the bmer...the bmer looks like a standard 3 series with larger arches
3:43 they used an rc350
Couldn't get enough of the hard right then hard left turn drift.
I don't remember a car's looks polarising petrolheads this much. I, personally, quite like the looks. The headlights look a bit small with the main bulbs and LEDs being separate, but otherwise, I think it looks pretty cool.
10:26 his European bias shows in favor of the BMW, 10:33 the car itself tells him otherwise.
Brilliant.
Bravo Lexus, what a machine.
It even looks like it's heavy going around a track. And, the styling of it (profile and rear) reminds me of a Mazda 6. One thing it will have over an M4, though, is reliability.
I love this Lexus,have a nice design and a good perfomances.Also has nothing to envy to other premium cars and above is turbocharged.
Who needs arrogant Harris when you got Sutcliffe? Great reviews.
Great review and great car. I like the styling, the sound can be improved even more (if you can buy this car, you can buy an aftermarket exhaust). I would take this over BMW and perhaps even over Audi.
You must buy a bicycle because you definitely don't know how to drive a car.
To me this feels like a really well-built TVR. "TVR" at least as far as how its looks make me feel. If it were just based on looks, this thing is definitely in the "exotic" category. It's not a beautiful car by any means; but something that WILL get attention. It is enticing. Sure this may not beat M3 / M4 as far as performance / dynamics go, but heck... I see so many M3 / M4's nowadays and M3 / M4's sorta look like 3 / 4 series with a bit of factory body kit on it, while RC-F looks otherworldly.
This definitely is a car that will have a very clear divide between lovers and haters. I like that.
...were you guys using two different RC Fs in this video? I see a left hand drive, California-plated RC F throughout the video for the exterior shots, but Steve is driving a RHD RC F. I don't think the video is mirrored either, since the license plate isn't mirrored, and the RHD interior shot with Steve in it isn't mirrored either since I can clearly see the "F" logo in its regular, unmirrored state. Just curious.
Great video, i love this guy, he makes very clever comments, which you can't say about every car journalist on yt!
I'd have RC-FC cabriolet!
this car is really good design!!
Funny that you mention brakes Steve, because the ISF was known for its great brakes. What went wrong with the RCF then? Or maybe it will have optional carbon-ceramics later on?
I think the styling is quite busy. The engine seems a gem, and If it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility I'd simply pluck it from under the bonnet and drop it into an FT-86 or early 70's era Celica. That's just me.
How much heavier is it compared to a Audi S5, Mercedes C63 AMG or Jaguar F-type V8? I think they are in the same range.
Once again another successful video ! U make us feel like were right there riding with you quality work. The nose is growing on me. As much as i love german cars I would hv this one over a BMW. Good job Steve....
Im sorry but does this guy not understand that this car is not a drift car,im pretty sure when lexus says "track car" they are referring to handling,acceleration and those sorts not how sideways it can get.I know if I owned this car I wouldnt be swinging it around like that.Overall beautiful machine they just need to shave some weight off this thing
i'm a fan of the LFA and a bit of a fan of the IS-F and i agree with him, they need to lower the weight and fit carbon ceramic brakes
maybe they should've given the job to tanahashi (LFA chief engineer)
the front end is a bit cumber some and the dirt down the dirt road just cause some damage to the boot
I like the way it looks and I love the sound it makes, so I'd seriously consider this over an M3/M4.
Sounds incredible.
Shed some weight and add carbon ceramic brakes as standard. 2 or 4 doors doesn't really matter too much to me. I think it's rather striking looking and a change from the BMW/Merc/Audi styling we are accustomed to.
If Steve thinks it looks better in the flesh than I'll have to wait and see. I'm happy you can now get Lexus cars with a little bit of personality.
If Lexus launch a stripped down 1650kg RC F, with a more powerful 480hp V8 down the line it should be the best sports coupe to date.
Really hope they do.
I have the pleasure of owning one of the total ~6K IS-Fs imported to the US, a 2011, and I will have a RC F. This guy sure was smiling and laughing a lot on the track to say "Don't bother taking it to the track because to won't enjoy it". That said, no car in this class is a good track toy, unless you can afford to beat up a car this expensive. For occasional track use, I know it would be a hoot. It will be great on road, where it will be driven 99.9% of the time, and I'm sure the extra weight has advantages in stiffness and crash-worthiness. The press love to beat on Lexus and praise BMW...that's why you seldom hear them mention reliability, resale and cost to own.
The M4 would go 20 laps of the Nürburgring and then break down. The RCF would do 1,000,000 laps of the Nürburgring and would KEEP GOING!
Top Gear has a lot to answer for. Everyone who gets onto a track these days seems to think that if a road car can't go sideways it's a minus.
Also, when you are out on a public road, see if you can go around a bend and stay on your side of the road.
Why is the car right-hand drive when the camera is inside, and left-hand drive when the camera is outside? Does that feature cost extra?
Like the Big Bro of the GT86. I love it.
Beautiful car. Though centre console does look a little dated and 1.8 ton is too much weight for a track car.
As long as it makes you smile its a keeper
it looks really nice, but it heavier than a gtr. i think a some decent brakes and a better suspension setup to hide its weight it could be ok.
with its n/a V8 5.0 and kerb weight putting together, for what else could you ask for:-) it will blend so easy on the streets of London.....yup, must do 60 large ones now.
I just love this car especially in blue !
The sound and looks is all I really care about tbh. Anyway nice review autocar
The back looks awesome but they messed up with the front grill and the lights disappointment😞😞😞😞😒
Love that car!!! Hope Infiniti put in production Q50 Eau Rouge!!!
This looks so special. I love it!
I admire Lexus for maintaining NA engines. Bigger engine with more power than the turbo'd M4, inside a much heavier car overall, and it still matches the BMW in fuel economy.
Agreed, 1840kg is too much. I still think it would be a great car to own and use on a daily basis, just not just for track work.
I bet all people buying this car do not want to drift it or race it on a track. most people want a nice sounding, muscular, V8 like the AMGs. another point to be added to the Lexus that you forgot is reliability... there is no way in hell the BMW can come near Lexus in reliability or customer satisfaction. it is the all round winner for the normal person IMO.
cheers
They haven't quite caught up to BMW and AMG yet ... but this is definitely an extremely cool car ... maybe the next gen will get it right
The car is great but it has 2 problems: A) it's badly positioned (it's based on a hybrid platform mixed with the GS and the IS,making it bigger and heavier than it's supossed rivals,it should be positioned with the 6 series and the E class coupe) and B)The M3/4 they are so fucking fast that one will care about it.
At least with Lex' you get a better car for the same or less money than a RS4/M3/C63,with a beautiful trans and high revving NA V8.
I'm pretty sure it will be faster than the RS4 B8 (apart from the engine and trans it has a lot of understeer and the steering is lifelees)
I'm kind of conflicted about this car. It seems like it's pretty great as a car, and I do like Lexus, but what the hell were they thinking with the styling? The thing is, it actually has a really nice silhouette to it, but then they had to ruin it with fussy little details, like those headlights, and those creases on the rear bumper. It's so sad, because pretty much all Lexuses are like this now, after they hit pretty much perfect styling with the LFA. That looked great, but then they just went and overdesigned everything after that.
Actually, it's a similar kind of problem that I've had with a lot of new cars recently. Lexus are probably the worst offenders, but there are so many cars now which could be so much better than they are if they just didn't do certain small details in the way they did. I don't feel like I'm being too picky, because surely these cars are supposedly designed by people with a good aesthetic sense, so why the hell do they add on these pointless jarring details that I just can't take my eye off?
Like the M4. Overall, it's a great looking car. But then they have those weird headlights connected to the kidneys, and that ugly bonnet seam. Why the hell couldn't they do the lights like the ones the 2 series? And there's the new MX-5 as well. Why couldn't they have made those front lights just a little bit bigger, and smooth out the ugly undersides, and get rid of that pointless bend in front of the rear wheels? These are such small details on otherwise great looking cars, but they just ruin the whole thing for no reason. They could have easily taken them out, yet for some reason they didn't. It just makes no sense to me.
Lovely car! Something you'd buy precisely because it isn't an Audi, BMW or Mercedes.
I'm sure it isn't the most dynamic but in all honesty despite what everything thinks about their own abilities behind the wheel, few will notice!
The only challenge from the others is the noise the AMG Merc makes.
Why does the steering wheel keep switching sides!
Thumbs up for the V8!
how did they make it so heavy?!
You can seriously hear the brakes thumping under heavy braking, I'm pretty sure they're warped after a good thrashing.
Dear god, this car is a stunner! Gorgeous! I'm in love!
Hello Autocar. I can explain to you why the car is heavier. When you make a car, you can make it strong and reliable, or making it lighter... but there is no way around physics. If you want to make a giant dimension car and make it light in the same time, you are going to play with the thickness of the metals you will put in this car, and this will affect reliability and strongness of the components. You can go around this problem with carbon fiber and composite materials, but this will explode the budget and makes the car going in the hypercar segment.
This Lexus was designed to beeing track ready and realiable. I'm a user of one of those, and I know other users of this that I met on the pitlanes or around the tracks. They all have zero issues with that. Even the brakes are aging well withtout needing replacement after every track day. Go and track your Audi or BMW on a regular basics, and report us how it will behave after a time.
i notice that it is left and right hand drive in some shots??what happen there??
one question remains...where do you put the front license plate with that huge front grill in the way?
Good god this car is beautiful. Definitely get this car over an M3 or a Jag
very impressive design
y r ppl calling it ugly? personally i think its attractive
in the dtm next year pls?
at 3:00.... the LHD turns into a RHD mid-slide. New feature???
Take the back seat out, lighter wheels. Pair of PPE headers / high flow cats, mid intake pipe and air cleaner.
:)
Lexus, make it out of aluminium and fiberglass, give it a manual 6-speed gearbox and remove the electronic driving frills. It'll just ROCK!
I like the looks, its got some LFA DNA in there.
people said the same exact thing about the LFA before it came out, and after a FAIR reviews, Top Gear's first video about it was Richard Hammond's over the top production to spend the budget, I think, and he loved the car. The stig said it was one of the best cars, if not the best car he ever drove and Jeremy loved it too.
I believe in lexus, just mark my sentence, the RCF will beat the M4. and its really funny how they did review the RCF before lexus released it and the BMW M4 already released but not reviewed. people just hate Japanese cars, I guarantee It could weigh only 500KG and do 0-60 in 1.0 sec and they would still say its no good because of something else lol, compare it ON track with M4, few days left and we will see a lot of videos comparing between both of them. remark my words
*sorry for my bad english
I luv the M4, but this is going to beat the hell out of it or the MB-C63 in the long run for cost of ownership. I think it's the best car for $60k right now. I want one.
it looks mental
i love it!
I really liked this car i had lots of expectations and i thought it gonna beat M4 badly as drivers car, but when i saw weight i said no way it can, i didn't want to judge early so i waited for so long to find review now its here and i can finally see it weight makes difference no matter how perfect car is
At some angle the front end looks a lot more striking than even some supercars does. Just an opinion.
Every manufacturer in this segment claims to have track bred models but AMGs over heat, RS models understeer plus the launch control doesn't always work, and the Lexus is under braked and too heavy. M cars and Porsches are really the only track bred cars in this segment. The new M4 lost weight, a novel idea from a large manufacturer it seems.
I'm not a fan of the new M3/M4, mainly because I think they're becoming a touch too ordinary. But then again, seeing the review of RC F I kind of start to appreciate the M3 again ;)
cartoony looks ftw!