The new Lexus RC F coupe has been officially unveiled at the Detroit motor show – the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the Lexus brand. The automobile will also relaunch the Lexus ‘F’ performance brand by becoming the first F-badged Lexus considering that the IS F saloon was discontinued in 2012.
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The RC F is due on sale early in 2015. It’s based on the RC Coupe revealed at the Tokyo motor show last year, and is a two-door version of the latest-generation IS compact executive model.
The conventional RC Coupe is available as a fuel-sipping hybrid, or with a V6 petrol engine, but this F model comes fitted with a new 32-valve 5.0-litre V8.
The final figure isn’t fixed but Lexus says the RC F will be the most powerful V8-powered road automobile it has ever made, boasting well over 450bhp and 519Nm of torque.
The engine uses two cycles – the Otto cycle at higher revs for maximum power, and the Atkinson cycle to minimize power and fuel consumption at lower revs or when cruising, just like the engine in Lexus’ hybrids.
How does the RC F engine stack up against its crucial rivals? It looks excellent next to the 425bhp BMW M4 and 444bhp Audi RS5, and must help make sure all three automobiles boast similar performance figures – that indicates 0-62mph in just over four seconds. Lexus has confirmed a limited top speed of 168mph.