Lexus RC F Track Edition & LC Convertible Concept

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Published on March 7, 2019 12:25:28 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jODreTwzRz0

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The new Lexus RC F coupe has undergone a series of changes to boost its performance and freshen its appearance. One of the engineers’ first targets was to reduce weight without compromising the car’s sense of refinement and solidity. At the rear, hollow half-shafts replace the previous solid components, while a pared-down intake manifold and a smaller air conditioning compressor reduce weight at the front of the car. Using aluminium for the toe control brackets and the upper suspension support brackets also reduces weight while maintaining stiffness.

To further refine the feel of the RC F, stiffer bushings have been introduced for the rear suspension arms and steering rack mounts. More rigid engine mounts are used to better harness the power of the RC F’s normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, one of the very few of its kind available in a luxury coupe. The engine maintains its maximum power output of 464 DIN hp/341 kW and maximum torque of 520 Nm at 4,800 rpm, with a revised intake routing and lower rpm trigger point for the second intake opening (2,800 rpm vs 3,600 rpm). The established eight-speed automatic transmission is retained, but with a higher final drive ratio (3.13 vs 2.93) for improved off-the-line response.

For the sharpest standing start acceleration, the RC is equipped with electronic launch control as standard, a system which automatically adjusts the traction and throttle control for maximum take-off from standstill. All the driver has to do is press and hold the brake pedal, engage the system by pressing a button on the console, floor the accelerator to bring the engine up to speed and then release the brake. Using the system results in a nought to 100 km/h time of just 4.3 seconds.

Additional performance gains are delivered by new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres designed specifically for the RC F. Compared to the standard Michelin specifications, the RC F’s tyres have a unique profile, tread pattern and rubber compound. The changes are designed to reduce understeer, improve overall lateral grip and increase durability under extreme conditions.

There are subtle but substantive changes to the RC F’s styling that add familial traits and further refine its powerful overall shape. The headlights have been updated to a design featuring stacked LEDs and integrated daytime running lights. The shape of the signature spindle grille has been altered by adding a lower lip opening that stretches across the bottom to create a visually shorter front facia. At the rear, new tail lights are neatly integrated into a reshaped bumper, giving a cleaner, more chiselled appearance.



Lexus caused a sensation with the debut of the LC coupe at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit three years ago, a car that was a testament to the brand’s new sense of creative ambition. Since then, its design team has been exploring how the brand can evolve, leading to the creation of the new Lexus LC Convertible Concept, a powerful and dramatic rendition of an open-top roadster that makes its first European appearance at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show on 5 March.

The design goal for the concept, a skilful development of the LC coupe’s award-winning styling, was ‘ultimate beauty’. From the rake of the windscreen to the smooth contours of the rear deck lid that houses the retractable top, every line was drawn to evoke an emotional response. The result is an aspirational, halo vehicle for the entire Lexus brand.

“This concept takes the unmistakeable design of the LC coupe and reimagines it as a future convertible,” said Tadao Mori, Chief Designer of the LC Convertible Concept. “It blends all the best aspects of the original coupe with the dynamic design of an open-air convertible.”

Long, low and lean, the LC Convertible Concept retains the LC coupe’s athletic proportions. The shape evolved naturally from the original LC design, yet it has its own, distinct identity. It combines Japanese aesthetics with the promise of the kind of driving experience that only a convertible can provide. More than just a grand tourer, the concept has a performance pedigree, its potential expressed in its short overhangs, 22-inch wheels and wide stance.

Beyond the visual appeal of the sheet metal, the cabin is an attractive space for driver and passengers alike. The tailored seats are upholstered in crisp white leather with yellow accents providing a splash of colour without disrupting the subtle elegance of the overall design.

The Lexus LC Convertible Concept measures 4,770mm long, 1,920mm wide and 1,340mm high, and has a 2,870mm wheelbase.

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