It has been on everyone’s mind since Lexus brought out their RC F: could some extra hp make up for a lot of weight? That’s one hard question to answer but only one sure way to find out: going to the track.
Of course, this trip to a circuit would be rather useless if a proper competitor wasn’t there too. Therefore, the guys from Auto Express brought out both the Lexus and its main rival in the mix, the BMW M4. Now, it was all down to the driver.
For a more accurate test, the same driver and the same weather conditions had to be maintained throughout the proceedings. That’s also exactly what happened, the weather being almost perfect for such testing purposes with no dampness or wet surfaces on the track. Furthermore, the driver was the same during the trial.
Looking over the specs of the two, things seem rather balanced. The challenger has a 5-liter V8 atmospheric engine under the bonnet that makes 467 HP and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque. That’s offset by the increased weight of 1,840 kg (4,057 lbs) and the slower 8-speed automatic transmission.
On the other hand, the German came prepared with a much smaller engine that benefits from forced induction. The M4 has a 3-liter biturbo plant under the bonnet that makes 431 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque. As you can notice, 36 ponies less but it makes up for it by weighing just 1,537 kg (3,389 lbs). That’s a massive difference that, coupled with the faster 7-speed DCT gearbox, translates into some hardcore performance.
What could possibly be the outcome? Well, check out the video below and find out, no spoilers here!
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