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Lexus RC F
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Lexus RC F coupe released
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2nd April, 2015
Lexus Australia has grown its F performance brand and added a new model to
its range with the launch of the RC F coupe earlier this year.
The Lexus RC F coupe is the third Lexus to wear the F badge, following the launch of the IS F in Australia in 2008 and
the LFA super car.
F models are built for drivers to immerse themselves in pure driving pleasure and satisfying performance when driving
on public roads.
The RC F achieves this with a V8 engine producing 351kW and 530Nm, stiff chassis, racetrack-developed suspension and
brakes, and power delivery via an eight-speed transmission and unique torque vectoring differential.
RC F provides visual drama through its stunning styling and cockpit-like cabin ambience.
Lexus RC F is available in a Carbon variant, which applies carbon fibre technology developed for the Lexus LFA super
car to its bonnet, roof, active rear wing and interior trim for weight saving and added visual appeal.
The development of the RC F - which happened alongside the RC Coupe Line - was overseen by the chief engineer of the F
brand, Yukihiko Yaguchi.
Mr Yaguchi developed the IS F and contributed much to the LFA after his work on staples of the Lexus line-up - LS and
GS models.
Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley said the RC F is one of the most important vehicles to join the Lexus line
up.
"Lexus has been making a concerted effort to display the passion that exists within the brand through the release
of exciting cars that go well beyond the quality and luxury that we're known for," Mr Hanley said.
"The RC F is now the performance and image flagship of Lexus, and its development at the Fuji and Nürburgring
circuits means that it is more than capable at the track, in the hands of both experienced and novice drivers."
"RC F has a lot of depth to its talents - it's a vehicle that is very comfortable to drive in traffic or
interstate, in complete luxury."
The comfort and safety levels of the Lexus RC F are enhanced through high specification levels that include heated
and ventilated front seats with semi aniline leather accents, smart key card entry, 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio,
moonroof, clearance and rear parking sensor, blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert, eight airbags and lane
departure warning.
The RC F Carbon adds Alcantara seat fabric along with its carbon fibre panels.
Lexus RC F also uses a unique paint application technique recently introduced to road vehicles by Lexus to enhance the
depth of its Cobalt Mica, Lava Mica, Infrared and Steel Mica colours.
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From the Chief Engineer
Our goals when developing the RC F didn't only involve making a car that is excellent to drive - this project was
about creating the next performance flagship for the Lexus brand.
The RC F coupe is the next step in the Lexus F programme, of which I was one of the founders and still hold
responsibility.
The F programme invokes both F for flagship and the spirit of driving at the Fuji Speedway circuit, where IS F was
largely developed.
The programme began with IS F and then the limited-edition LFA.
F models allow drivers to immerse themselves in pure driving pleasure and also deliver satisfying performance when
driving on public roads.
With the LFA no longer in production, the RC F will become the new F image leader.
It will do so through the emotional design of the coupe body and through the authenticity of its performance.
I am also responsible for the Lexus Motor Racing division, and we make no secret that this car will be the basis of
our entry in the world FIA GT3 championship and in the Japan GT championship.
While RC F is a line descendant of the IS F sports sedan, it has not been benchmarked on the IS.
It was not enough to build the RC F as an improved coupe version of the IS F: the opportunity existed for a
clean-sheet generational change.
The nearest benchmark was the Lexus CCS-R circuit car, which was designed to provide maximum performance potential to
amateur racers. Its development goals were traction, handling and power.
With RC F, only the most basic parameters came from the IS F. The V8 engine remains at 5.0-litres, but it is
essentially new. So is the drivetrain, the suspension - even the platform on which RC F is based.
The RC F is intended to enable drivers of all skill levels to enjoy fun-to-drive performance.
It can be used as a sporting daily drive or kept as a track car. Many durability features of the car are designed for
continuous circuit driving.
We have sought to go a step beyond IS F in all performance areas.
The V8 engine's power has been boosted by 13 per cent to 351kW and torque to 530Nm.
Forged connecting rods and titanium valves allowed us to increase maximum engine revolutions to 7,300rpm.
The direct-injection technology in the Lexus D-4S dual-injection system has been further improved, with higher
injection pressure and new injectors.
At the same time we have thought of
useability, economy and minimising emissions.
The new engine employs the high-efficiency Atkinson cycle to bolster fuel economy without any effect on
performance.
The eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission can be used as a smart and smooth Lexus automatic in daily driving,
or for 'clutchless' manual shifting on the road or track.
Our quest for leading-edge driving dynamics saw RC F designed for optimum grip and handling agility, taking full
advantage of front engine/rear wheel drive vehicle characteristics.
All aspects were considered, from the vehicle's footprint on the road and body rigidity, to aerodynamics, suspension
hardware, brakes, the electric power-assisted steering calibration and chassis electronics.
RC F has an active rear wing and the breakthrough inclusion of a torque vectoring differential.
My development concept was "blast through S-bends under any conditions".
We therefore evaluated the car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife from platform-prototype stage, including endurance
driving in the Nürburgring VLN Endurance Cup events.
Feedback from IS F drivers and CCS-R track cars in Japan also contributed to RC F chassis development.
As a direct result of the testing regime at the Nürburgring, the ABS brake system in the RC F includes a vertical
G-sensor, to optimise braking after the car has been airborne.
The Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management system or VDIM has an EXPERT mode for circuit driving.
The Lexus RC F is lower, wider and longer than the RC coupe with which it was simultaneously
developed. They share the same wheelbase.
However, the RC F stands on larger and wider tyres and its body enhancements are all linked to functional performance,
while creating an image befitting a premium sports coupe.
RC F is 4,705mm long on a 2,730mm wheelbase. It is 1,390mm tall and 1,845mm wide.
In standard form, RC F is 5mm wider than the RC 350 Coupe thanks to its distinctive flared and laser-brazed wheel
arches, 10mm longer due to the packaging of its rear aerodynamic devices and 5mm lower because of its aggressive
suspension and tyre combination.
The fulcrum of Lexus' exterior design - the signature spindle grille - flows to a unique aerodynamic treatment across
the bonnet.
Every styling design feature of the RC F has a positive aerodynamic benefit.
In conclusion, the RC F inherits without compromise our policy that F models must be fully capable of running on a
circuit as a venue for pursuing driving pleasure freely and safely.
But it is also a road car with characteristic Lexus quality and refinement.
Yukihiko Yaguchi
Chief Engineer, RC F
Lexus International
Lexus RC F Pricing*
Lexus has launched its latest high performance F vehicle with highly competitive levels of performance, equipment,
innovative features and driving appeal at a price that significantly undercuts its nearest competitors.
The Lexus RC F coupe is now on sale at a recommended manufacturer's list price of $133,500*.
RC F is also available as the RC F Carbon model, which adds a lightweight carbon-fibre active rear wing, bonnet, roof
panel and interior trim as well as alcantara seat fabric, for $147,500*.
RC F's value equation is further enhanced by high levels of standard features, many of which are only available as
extra cost options on competitor brand vehicles.
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Accommodation in
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RC F's specifications include the following:
• 5.0-litre 351kW V8 engine
• torque vectoring differential
• 19-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels
• high grade LED headlamps with automatic high beam
• moon roof (not available on RC F Carbon models)
• smart key card entry
• semi-aniline leather accented trim (not available on RC F Carbon models)
• heated and ventilated front seats (not available on RC F Carbon models)
• navigation system (limited coverage as is usual for this driver's aid)
• 17-speaker Mark Levinson Audio
• clearance and rear parking sensor
• Blind Spot Monitor with rear cross traffic alert and lane change assist
• Pre Collision Safety System
• active cruise control
• lane departure warning, and
• eight airbags.
Two 19-inch, 20-spoke forged alloy wheel options are available for RC F.
RC F Carbon adds carbon fibre bonnet, roof, active rear wing, interior trim and alcantara seat trim (without
ventilation on front seats).
Options for RC F Carbon include two types of 19-inch, 20-spoke forged alloy wheels.
Packages are also available which include 19-inch, 20-spoke wheel options and ventilated seats with semi-aniline
leather accented trim.
New 5-Litre V8 Engine
The new RC F coupe uses Lexus' most powerful quad cam V8 engine that develops 40kW more power than the IS F 2UR-FSE
engine on which it is based.
The Lexus 2UR-GSE engine's all-new cylinder heads, a new-generation Lexus D-4S dual-injection system, lighter moving
parts, new camshaft profiles, and new intake and exhaust manifolds have boosted maximum power by 13 per cent.
The engine has forged connecting rods and titanium valves to safely boost maximum engine revolutions by 500rpm to
7,300rpm.
The compression ratio has been raised to 12.3:1 to boost torque across the entire revolution range.
The new engine delivers 351kW of power at 7,100rpm and 530Nm of torque from 4,800 to 5,600rpm.
Fuel economy has been improved in comparison with the IS F engine and is capable of meeting strict Euro 6 emission
requirements.
The 2UR-GSE engine uses a number of strategies to deliver ADR 81/02 combined cycle fuel consumption rating of 10.9
litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 253g/km.
The engine and transmission oil-cooling systems have been improved to increase track-day suitability.
The new engine is matched to an evolved eight-speed Sports Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission, with a more linear
response to accelerator-pedal operation.
Lexus RC F has a breakthrough torque vectoring differential as standard.
The new engine makes greater use of motor cycle engine technology and was designed to provide instantaneous torque as
found in the Lexus LFA V10, where the driver can feel the torque output increasing during acceleration.
Like LFA, meticulous attention has been paid to tuning the engine sound. Active Sound Control helps provide a deep
tone up to 3,000rpm, a higher-pitched tone as revolutions rise and the sensation of the engine soaring freely above
6,000rpm.
Special features of the RC F engine include titanium valves, forged connecting rods, an optimised exhaust lay out to
more effectively harness exhaust pulses, and an air-cooled oil cooler for optimum durability.
Internal engine parts have been redesigned to reduce reciprocating weight and increase engine response and
revolutions.
The majority of the engine parts are new, including the intake manifold and throttle body, intake and exhaust
valvetrain, electric motor-driven VVT, cylinder head and cylinder-head cover, Lexus D-4S dual injection system, spark
plugs, piston and piston rings, connecting rods, crankshaft, crank main bearing and cap, exhaust manifold and heat
insulator, oil pan and baffle plate, alternator clutch system, and engine and transmission oil coolers.
The 2UR-GSE engine's breathing has been improved thanks to new cylinder heads with improved porting and a
high-flow/high tumble ratio.
The water jackets in the cylinder head have been redesigned to enhance cooling performance and accommodate the higher
heat build-up due to increased power output.
In addition, intake surge-tank capacity has been optimised, as have the intake manifold runner length and
diameter.
The intake manifold ports for the eight cylinders are painted blue where they show through the engine cover, to give
the look of a dynamic sports engine.
The throttle-body diameter has been increased from 76 to 83mm to boost power.
New four-into-two exhaust headers reduce interference and further improve engine breathing.
A new intake camshaft profile increases valve lift for greater power. Increased range in the electrically operated
VVT system for the inlet camshafts provides greater working range for the Atkinson cycle.
Titanium inlet and exhaust valves allow for higher engine revolutions.
The Lexus D-4S dual-injection system has been redesigned, with direct-injection pressure increased to 18MPa and an
improved injector spray shape to optimise power and fuel economy while minimising emissions.
Crank pin diameter, crank counter-weight size and big-end bearing size have all been reduced for lower reciprocating
weight and increased engine response and fuel economy.
New high-strength forged connecting rods have been adopted while new main-bearing materials allow for higher engine
revolutions.
Breakthrough metal-overlay bearings have been adopted to suit the engine's higher revolutions.
A revised oil pan baffle shape reduces agitation and friction, while new air-to-oil coolers for the engine oil and
transmission fluid increase circuit driveability.
As a final touch, the 2UR-GSE engine has a one-way clutch on the alternator pulley.
RC F has Eight-Speed Sports Direct Shift Transmission
Lexus RC F uses an improved eight-speed Sports Programme Direct Shift transmission.
The Lexus AA80 transmission control programme has been refined to suit the higher engine speeds of RC F's new engine
and deliver a more linear response to accelerator pedal action and a more dynamic driving experience.
The eight internal ratios have been chosen to balance the needs of sports driving and fuel economy: with a low first
gear ratio for initial acceleration, closely spaced ratios in the intermediate gears for performance and urban-driving
economy, and a tall eighth-gear ratio for motorway economy.
The RC F transmission is multi-faceted, with a wide range of sophisticated and driver-selectable electronic-control
features.
It can provide smooth shift feel and optimum fuel economy in urban areas, use information from the vehicle's two
G-sensors and artificial intelligence software to provide the ideal ratio at any moment for sports driving on winding
roads, and adopt full converter lock-up from second to eighth gears for 'clutchless' manual shifting in M Mode.
Manual shifts can be made in M Mode either with the gear lever or paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
M Mode up-shifts are made in 0.3 of a second and down changes in just 0.2 of a second, with the transmission's
throttle blipping control matching the engine speed to the gear.
The gear selected is displayed inside the RC F tachometer.
The transmission is linked to RC F's Lexus Drive Mode Select function, with its ECO, NORMAL, SPORT S and SPORT S+
settings.
NORMAL mode provides the fuel economy and seamless acceleration traditionally associated with a Lexus
electronically-controlled transmission.
It uses the eight ratios for optimum fuel economy while coordinating control with the throttle to provide smooth
acceleration while minimising the feeling of gear changes.
SPORT S and SPORT S+ modes include G-sensor AI-Shift Control, which uses information from the G-sensors on vehicle
status and driver input, including accelerator pedal angle, to provide the optimal gear ratio for sporty driving.
In SPORT S mode the transmission will automatically downshift during hard braking for a corner, hold the lower gear
through the corner for greater control, and then monitor the degree of throttle opening to provide the appropriate gear
for the desired response on exit.
This may involve a quick response up-shift to maintain momentum.
RC F's transmission has driver-selectable Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management settings and a menu of three
settings for the torque vectoring differential.
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Exterior Dimensions |
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Overall length (mm) |
4,705 |
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Overall width (mm) |
1,845 (mirrors folded) |
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Overall height (mm) |
1,390 |
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Wheelbase (mm) |
2,730 |
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Track front (mm) |
1,555 |
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Track rear (mm) |
1,560 |
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Weights/Loads |
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Kerb weight (kg) |
1,780-1,860 |
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Gross vehicle weight (kg) |
2,250 |
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Capacities |
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Fuel tank (Litres) |
66 |
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Seating |
4 |
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Boot (Litres) |
366 |
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NOTE:
* Manufacturer's List Price (MLP) excludes dealer delivery fees and the numerous statutory charges (commonly known as
on-road costs). Additionally, please note that all prices, fees and charges are subject to change without notice, as are
the specifications.
E&OE.
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