Yahoo Autos 2015 Lexus RC: It Takes Two (Doors) to Tango
Lexus didn’t go to any great lengths to disguise its high-performance RC F coupe while conducting a testing program at the Nürburgring this summer. Save for the requisite curlicue-camouflage vinyl wrap, Lexus’s two-door IS bared all for anyone who was interested. So it’s not much of a surprise to see the RC without its Magic Eye–like cloak, nor are we shocked to discover the car will make its in-the-metal debut at the Tokyo auto show later this month. What does come as a surprise, however, is just how much more seductive the RC looks than the IS on which it’s based.
The IS DNA is undeniable, but nearly every surface has been slightly massaged for a more sensuous appearance. The A-pillar appears to be more raked, and the coupe’s shape allows for a larger backlight. Lexus’s trademark spindle grille is widened and positioned lower down on the fascia than on any other model. Positioned between the aggressively shaped air intakes, it works very nicely. Triangular headlamps are set deep into form-fitting body creases and feature a three-lamp LED arrangement that channels the spirit of the LF-LC concept. The rear fascia features a pair of vertically stacked vents at either side, bracketing a pair of squared-off exhaust finishers. More-geometric and aggressive taillamp shapes further differentiate the RC from the IS, forgoing the dramatic downward stretch of the latter. Despite a wheelbase down 2.7 inches from that of its four-door sibling, the RC is stretched by 1.1 inches in both length and width compared to the IS.
Lexus is discussing just two powertrains right now, although only in the most high-level overviews imaginable. All that the brand will say is that there will be an RC350, which will be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6, as well as an RC300h hybrid motivated by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor. U.S.-spec IS350s produce 306 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, so we expect those numbers won’t change with the loss of two doors. The IS300h doesn’t make the trip stateside, and we have some doubt the situation will be any different for the RC300h.
Lexus says that the RC’s interior takes a number of cues from its LF-badged sport concepts of the past few years, which also inspired the IS’s cabin, too. Contrasting colors and upward-reflecting lighting are said to give the interior a “sense of occasion.” Meanwhile, the dash utilizes the brand’s emphasis on upper and lower control zones: The upper zone houses the instrument panel and a seven-inch infotainment screen, while the lower zone integrates a new Remote Touch Interface.
Lexus tells us that the new RC brings to life the luxury marque’s focus on emotional appeal, and if the comparo-winning IS is any indication, the brand isn’t playing around. Now, when can we see that RC F?
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