2022 Lexus RC F

In the dwindling two-door coupe segment, the Lexus RC F is at least an interesting alternative. Instead of going the now widely accepted turbocharged route, this Lexus relies on an old-fashioned 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine delivering 472 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque. Since it doesn't have forced induction to help it along, it lags slightly behind the BMW M4 Competition when it comes to straight-line speed, but it has loads of character and comes packed with a long list of standard luxury features. The RC F is more of a grand tourer than a fiercely sporty, precise coupe, but we think it's all the better for it.

Although it has been around for a while, the Lexus RC F is still quite a looker with its large spindle grille and sharp lines. Both models come with bi-LED headlamps, illuminated door handles, and 19-inch wheels. At the back, the stacked quad-exit tailpipes emit a wonderful V8 burble. You can tell the Fuji Speedway Edition apart by its numerous carbon fiber body panels, including the roof, hood, and fixed rear wing. It also has unique ultra-lightweight forged BBS alloy wheels.

The 2022 Lexus RC F is a beautifully compact design with an overall length of 185.4 inches. It's just 54.7 inches tall and is 72.6 inches wide with the mirrors folded. All of this sits neatly on a 107.5-inch wheelbase. As standard, the RC F weighs 3,902 pounds. The Fuji Speedway Edition is lighter thanks to the use of lightweight materials. According to Lexus, this year's limited edition model weighs 3,781 lbs.

The Fuji Speedway Edition is only available in Electric Surge, a striking blue hue with a semi-matte finish. This color contrasts exquisitely with the black hood, roof, oversized grille, alloys, and fixed carbon-fiber rear wing. This color automatically adds $595 to the cost of the Fuji Speedway Edition. Lexus also adds a touch of red on the Brembo brake calipers. On the standard RC F coupe, there is only one no-cost option and that is Caviar. For another $500, you can select Ultra White. Infrared and Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 require fitment of the Premium Package, adding a total of $6,970 to the overall price. Flare Yellow can only be coupled with both the Carbon Package, raising the price by a massive $18,370.

Lexus's RC F is not nearly the fastest car in its class. It already struggled against the previous incarnation of the BMW M4, and the latest M4 is even quicker. The Fuji Speedway Edition boasts a claimed 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 3.96 seconds, while Lexus claims the standard car can do it in 4.2 seconds. Both have a top speed of 168 mph. The new BMW M4 isn't dramatically quicker and takes 3.8 seconds to hit 60 in Competition guise. With AWD, the M4 Competition needs just 3.4 seconds. The base M4 does come with a manual gearbox which the Lexus doesn't have though. There are also no AWD configurations of the Lexus.

Thanks to the improvements, the Fuji Speedway Edition joins the exclusive club of cars that can sprint to 60 mph in less than four seconds. You pay a premium for the bragging rights, however. The standard car's performance is still blunted by weight. Still, one can't help but be charmed by the engine and rear-wheel-drive layout. Lexus still relies on a high-revving naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 sending power to the rear wheels. Peak torque is delivered at 4,800 rpm, while all the horses only come out to play at 7,100 rpm. The future is turbocharged, but forced induction robs an engine of so much character, and cars like the RC F remind us of everything great about the pre-turbo era: linear power delivery, induction noise, and immediate throttle response. You'll forget all about sprint times once you start chasing the V8's redline through the gears.

Lexus takes a no-replacement-for-displacement approach to performance. The RC F is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 with an aluminum block and cylinder heads. The power is sent to the rear wheels exclusively via an eight-speed automatic transmission with manual override via paddle shifters.

The pragmatic powertrain packs a 472-hp punch, and you have to chase the tachometer all the way to 7,100 rpm to get the most out of it. The 395 lb-ft of torque is slightly underwhelming compared to more modern turbocharged engines' torque specs, and it only arrives at 4,800 rpm. At least the torque curve from peak torque delivery is linear, and the engine makes a lovely noise when you rev it out.

Thankfully, Lexus bolted the engine to an eight-speed automatic transmission that has a proper dual personality. You can either use it in relaxed boulevard cruiser mode, in which case it will effortlessly shift through the gears, or it will hold onto a gear until your ears start bleeding. In the sportier driving modes, the automatic gearbox does a grand job of keeping the engine on the boil. This is also one of those cars where you actually might want to use the paddles. Not to feel engaged with the car, but rather to just gear back and hear that magnificent engine crackling and howling. Gear matching is standard, making downshifts even sweeter.

Lexus sells the RC F with an optional Carbon Package. It consists of several carbon fiber bits, including the roof. The coupe also gets Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires as standard. To be honest, the RC F needs way more than a few lightweight bits and racy tires.

The suspension setup is variable, but it remains compliant and composed even in the firmest setting. We quite like the neutral handling and steering feel. You can easily induce power oversteer, but the default setting is understeer, especially with those sticky Michelin tires. Since this is more of a road than a track car, it makes complete sense. The Lexus is at its best when you treat it like a grand tourer. It handles bumps with ease and the grunt is more than enough to get past slower moving traffic. Thanks to those superb seats in the front row, long journeys are an absolute joy. This means it's not as engaging or frantic as some other RWD sports cars, however. While it offers a semi-engaging driving experience, it's the kind of car you're more likely to enjoy on a spirited jaunt through the countryside. There are better cars suited to track work but the Lexus is a unique proposition in this segment.

High-performance cars are rarely frugal, even though turbocharging has helped to improve things slightly over the years. That being said, the Lexus is competitive with its rivals and returns 16/24/19 mpg city/highway/combined. That gives the RC F a usable - albeit not fantastic - driving range of about 330 miles from its 17.4-gallon tank.

By comparison, the BMW M4 achieves a similar 16/23/19 mpg despite its smaller-capacity turbocharged engine. With both xDrive and the automatic gearbox, the M4 Competition is actually less economical, achieving 18 mpg combined.

The new Lexus RC F sports car is a model of refinement and class from behind the steering wheel, but it's not especially racy if that's what you're into. The only real hint of performance in the cabin is the centrally located tachometer. Lexus lets you spice it up a bit with some Circuit Red inserts, but that's about as racy as it gets. Typically, this would be slightly disappointing, but we think it's an excellent reflection of the RC F's dual character. Even this go-faster version of the RC is still very much a luxury cruising machine, so the soft, perfectly bolstered leatherette seats and all of the comfort toys remain. It's an ergonomic masterpiece, apart from the silly touchpad interface Lexus is slowly removing from its cars. Unfortunately, the RC F has not yet received the vastly superior touchscreen upgrade.

The Fuji Speedway Edition adds an interior to match the exuberant exterior. Black Alcantara and blue carbon fiber give the space a welcome lift. As standard, the RC F comes with luxuries like power-adjustable front seats, push-button ignition, and dual-zone climate control.

The Lexus RC F coupe comes standard with a 2+2 seating arrangement. The center spot on the rear bench is raised to offer a more body-hugging seating position for rear passengers. In the front, it's equipped with two beautifully crafted and supportive bucket seats. Front legroom and headroom are adequate, measuring in at 45.4 and 37.8 inches respectively. The latter figure applies to models without the moonroof. Things are a lot less accommodating in the rear of the two-door coupe, with only 27.3 inches of legroom and up to 36.5 inches of headroom in the standard model. You can fit adults back there, but the RC works best when you treat it as a two-seater. Getting to the back seats is the biggest problem, made worse by the fact that the RC is a low-slung sports car.

There's only one no-cost interior option available: Black NuLuxe leatherette with Silver Fiber trim. Once you add the $6,375 Premium Package, you're granted access to more options. These include black leather, white/black leather, and Circuit Red/black leather, all also with Silver Fiber trim. With both the Carbon Package ($17,775) selected, carbon fiber trim becomes available with the same upholstery color choices.

The Fuji Speedway Edition is available exclusively with black Alcantara and carbon fiber trim in blue, neatly matching the exterior.. This blue trim extends to the steering wheel and a segment of the upper dash above the instrument cluster.

Lexus lags far behind its main rivals here, but cargo capacity is hardly a main selling point in the 2-door coupe segment. The RC F only has 10.1 cubic feet of trunk space, but the load area is wide and flat. The rear seats don't fold at all, but there is an available small pass-through for longer items. There's enough space for two small suitcases, which is perfect considering the lack of rear legroom.

Interior storage is limited to narrow door pockets, two cupholders, and a small storage space underneath the center armrest. A rear-seat console with cupholders is optional. Aluminum pedals are standard on both models, and both can be equipped with machined-aluminum audio control knobs with the upgraded sound system.

Both models have a similar basic specification, with the Fuji Speedway Edition adding the cosmetic and performance upgrades already mentioned. As standard, the RC F comes with keyless entry with push-button start, selectable driving modes, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, launch control, dual-zone climate control, an LFA-inspired instrument cluster, a ten-way power driver's seat with memory, and an eight-way power front passenger seat. In terms of safety, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist are standard fitments. They join the wider driver assistance suite, consisting of pre-collision with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Of course, the obligatory rearview camera is standard too.

The base RC F can be further specified with a power moonroof, a power tilt/telescoping steering column, a heated steering wheel, and heated/ventilated front seats.

Both RC F models are equipped with a seven-inch high-resolution split-screen display. A 10.3-inch infotainment screen with navigation is available. The infotainment unit is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A ten-speaker sound system is standard, but a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system is available. Unlike other Lexus models which now come with a touchscreen, the RC F still requires you to interact with the screen via a silly remote touchpad. We already believe touchscreens force drivers to take their eyes off the road for too long, and this system adds even more time to the most basic operations. If ever there was a singular feature that comes close to ruining an entire car, this is it. Thankfully, the large NA engine makes up for it.

Lexus is Toyota's luxury sub-brand and, by association, is dependable and reliable. The RC F has been remarkably reliable, with only one recall issued in the US in recent years, and only as part of a much wider recall of Lexus and Toyota products. It concerned 2016 to 2018 models and was for a possibly faulty fuel pump. The RC F has never received a J.D. Power Ownership Survey score, most likely due to low sales volumes. As a brand, Lexus tends to score well and has received numerous awards related to reliability.

The RC F is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

No safety review of the Lexus RC F has been conducted by the NHTSA or IIHS. The IIHS does have crash test results for the standard RC, and since the two models share the same basic architecture, they should be similarly safe. The RC scored a Good rating in all crash, crash avoidance and mitigation, and child anchor tests.

Lexus includes pre-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, high-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams as standard. The dynamic cruise control doesn't work below 30 mph, which means the German rivals are a bit ahead in that department. The more traditional fare consists of eight airbags, traction and stability control, ABS brakes, and a reverse camera. Both blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were added recently.

Up until recently, we would have easily recommended the RC F to anyone looking for a comfortable grand tourer with a large engine. While it may not be as dynamic as a BMW M4 or an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, there are certain driving conditions in which it absolutely shines. We love how you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the thunderous soundtrack provided by the naturally aspirated V8. It's the perfect car for the discerning gentleman who has grown past the boy racer phase.

But now there is competition from within Lexus's own ranks. The recently launched IS 500 F Sport may not be a true full-fat Lexus F model, but it uses the same 5.0L V8 engine and looks even better than the RC F. It's also considerably cheaper if you go for the base model, while the top-spec IS F Sport Premium retails for around the same amount as the RC F. The IS 500 also has four doors and a touchscreen interface. It is basically a better, more practical version of the RC F, and we'd rather pay less for more.

The price of the Lexus RC F begins at $65,870. At that price, it undercuts its main rivals, but not by a significant chunk. Considering the tiny increase in performance, we're not entirely convinced that the Fuji Speedway Edition is worth its staggering sticker price of $101,095, and that's before the $595 charge for the Electric Surge paint that you have no choice in speccing. That takes it out of BMW M4 territory and means it's actually pricier than a base Porsche 911 Carrera. These prices exclude the destination charge of $1,075 in the USA.

There are two models in the RC F range: the standard RC F and the limited Fuji Speedway Edition, of which only 50 will be built for the 2022 model year. A 5.0-liter V8 is the only engine option. It produces 472 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, all of which is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Both share the same basic features list: LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable bucket sports seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a seven-inch infotainment screen with a ten-speaker sound system. The list of driver assistance features on the base RC F includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, pre-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, high-speed active cruise control, and automatic high beams.

The Fuji Speedway Edition is limited to just 50 models. It adds Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, a titanium exhaust, extensive carbon fiber accents, and a fixed carbon-fiber rear wing. On the inside, black Alcantara and blue carbon-fiber trim come as standard.

The standard RC F can be ordered with either a Premium Package ($6,375) or a Carbon Package ($17,775). Both packages are considerably more expensive than they were last year. The Premium Package adds a heated steering wheel, parking assist, a leather interior, heated and ventilated front seats, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, 19-inch hand-polished forged alloy wheels, and a rear center console with cupholders.

The Carbon Package adds a carbon-fiber roof, front spoiler, rear diffuser, rear wing, and black carbon fiber interior trim. It also gets unique wheels and the contents of the Premium Package. A Navigation/Mark Levinson Audio Package is available for both models, and it includes three years of dynamic navigation, voice command, machined aluminum knobs, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. It retails for $2,725. On the base model, a power moonroof is a standalone option at $1,100.

The Premium and Carbon Packages are not available for the Fuji Speedway Edition. Then again, this model already comes with all the carbon fiber exterior panels.

Priced at over $100k, the Fuji Speedway Edition is horribly overpriced. Yes, it comes with some carbon fiber trinkets, Alcantara trim, and exclusivity, but the competition is extremely stiff in that price range. You can get a base Porsche 911 Carrera, for example.

The standard RC F makes a lot more sense. You need to accept that the RC F is not a track weapon, but rather a grand tourer. There aren't many of those left in this price bracket. Sure, you could get a Mustang or Charger for a lot cheaper, but neither offers the same premium, serene experience as the Lexus. Still, we maintain the IS 500 F Performance sedan is an even better buy.

The standard RC F competes directly with the new BMW M4, which is problematic. Lexus failed against the old M4, so how does it stack up against the new model? Well, the new M4 is more driver-focused and is available with a manual gearbox. Few people are likely to go for that option, however. A more likely rival is the M4 Competition, which can sprint to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 180 mph in RWD guise. The BMW M4 Competition costs nearly $10,000 more than the RC F, but the new technology is mind-boggling. BMW has a new launch control system that consistently posts times that match the claimed figures. You also get a drift meter that awards you a rating out of five stars. It may be gimmicky, but since this segment is supposed to be about fun, we'll give it a stamp of approval. The new M4 is undoubtedly worth the additional $10,000. It's the latest performance coupe to come out of Germany, which usually means it's the best.

Lexus charges $101,095 for the RC F Fuji Speedway Edition. We can't help but think that the money would be better spent on the $93,050 LC 500 Coupe. Sure, the RC F is faster, but the LC 500 is not exactly a slouch. It has the same 5.0-liter engine that can help it get it to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The RC F is a slightly wieldier car, thanks to its tinier dimensions. It's also more practical, not that it matters much in this segment. While there are similarities between these two cars, it's worth remembering that the LC is punted as a grand tourer. That means it's more comfort and luxury biased than the track-focused Fuji Speedway Edition. Still, if you're looking for a track car, you can do much better than this particular special edition of the RC F. Our money would be spent on the gorgeously trimmed LC 500 instead.