Lexus Celebrates a Decade of Performance Engineering With the New RC F 10th Anniversary
- Limited edition version of the RC F coupe marks 10 years of Lexus’s “F” performance model designation
- RC F 10th Anniversary features exclusive Mercury Grey matt paint finish, gloss black exterior detailing and Blue Carbon interior upholstery
- New model’s launch coincides with RC F GT3 delivering race-winning performances in international competition
- On sale from 1 July, price £69,995 on the road
It is 10 years since Lexus first introduced the concept of its “F” models – cars that are designed and engineered specifically to deliver exhilarating performance. To celebrate this landmark it has produced a special, limited edition of the RC F coupe, the RC F 10th Anniversary.
Fittingly, this exclusive newcomer arrives at the same time as the RC F GT3 race car is achieving victories in international competition around the world, including victories in the Blancpain GT series in Europe and IMSA sportscar racing in the USA.
The RC F 10th Anniversary is an exclusive version of the performance coupe and a worthy addition to a stable of driver-focused, F-designated cars that have included the IS F, the LFA supercar and the GS F saloon.
The car’s powerful lines and sculpted surfaces have been given extra impact with a new matt paint finish in Mercury Grey, featured on a Lexus for the first time. The matt theme is also picked up in exterior elements such as the door handles, mirror housings, side skirts and shark fin antenna. This strikes a strong contrast with the highly polished black finish of the 19-inch multi-spoke forged alloy wheels.
The Brembo braking system’s large callipers are visible through the wheel spokes, painted blue and bearing the evocative F logo. The same blue shade is used to edge the discreet F badging on the car’s front wings.
The interior displays an even bolder application of the colour, with an exclusive Blue Carbon theme. The highly supportive front sports seats are finished in vivid blue semi-aniline leather with white accents and the F symbol embossed in the integrated head restraints. They also incorporate heating and ventilation functions.
The same blue leather can be found on the gear shift knob, the steering wheel and the instrument panel hood, and the seatbelts are coloured to match. The steering wheel has a white band to mark the centre line and has an integrated heater. The detailing extends to the surrounds for the window controls on the door armrests having a striking carbon weave finish in blue, black and silver.
The rear seats are wrapped in black leather and a black headlining, embossed with the F symbol, adds to the focused, sporting ambience. Each model is fitted with a discreet metal plaque recording the car’s Special Edition status, affixed to the driver’s door arm rest.
Other features include the RC F Carbon Pack, equipping the car with a carbon fibre bonnet, roof and active rear spoiler, together with a Torque Vectoring Differential for superior handling through corners, Adaptive Variable Suspension and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management with Sport and Expert modes. The safety provisions are equally impressive, including Lexus Safety System +, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and a Blind Spot Monitor.
The coupe is fitted with the highest-specification audio and multimedia package, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson Surround System and Lexus Premium Navigation with a 10.3-inch display and Remote Touch touchpad control.
The RC F is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that produces 457bhp and maximum torque of 520Nm, coupled to an eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission. Acceleration from rest to 62mph can be achieved in 4.5 seconds; top speed – electronically limited – is 168mph.
The new Lexus RC F 10th Anniversary is on sale from 1 July, price £69,995 on the road.
Lexus F – the first 10 years
The exclusive F designation was first introduced on the IS F in 2008. The F reputation was further enhanced with the limited edition LFA supercar, of which just 500 were manufactured between 2010 and 2012.
The F designation was subsequently applied to the performance-focused RC F coupe and GS F saloon, both models reflecting the technological skills gained during the development and production of the LFA – particularly the manufacturing know-how for carbon fibre reinforced plastic parts – as well as the car’s design philosophy for realising exhilarating and stimulating driving performance.
By using the letter F to signify its most potent models, Lexus pays tribute to the Fuji Speedway and the Higashi Fuji Technical Centre at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, which have been the cradle of the cars’ development.
Lexus original intentions for the F line were to produce cars with muscular, athletic designs and authentic sports performance, and that are fun and rewarding to drive. At the same time, they would maintain the established Lexus values of sophisticated technologies, advanced safety, cutting-edge engineering and unmatched refinement and efficiency.
The essential quality of the cars is expressed by the Lexus F-model engineer, who said: “There’s a perception that many performance cars are hard to drive. In fact, they’re easy in the right hands, because they’ve been purpose-built for the skill level of their drivers. It’s the same with the F cars which I have built to be enjoyed by all enthusiasts, no matter what their level of expertise. Electronics can be modified instantly on board to provide levels of performance and protection appropriate to each driver’s abilities. But even in their basic settings, they are a blast.”
Lexus F models are developed with extensive testing on some of the world’s most famous and demanding race tracks, including the Fuji Speedway and the Nürburgring, to achieve the best possible dynamic performance, handling, responsiveness, power and even the quality of the engine note. The result is cars that deliver direct response, communicating a strong feeling of the driver being in control, no matter what the speed, the driving conditions, or the level of ability of the person at the wheel.
ENDS
