Photo: Lexus
Finally... after months of secrecy and teasing with the “over 450 hp” phrase, Lexus did the right thing and fully revealed the true capabilities of the RC F engine - it makes 467 hp.
Since we first came in contact with the “over 450 hp” approximation, we kinda imagined the final numbers won’t be too far away. 17 extra hp isn’t going to wow anyone, but let’s not forget this V8 engine is the upgraded IS F powerhouse that was producing 416 hp.
How do the engineers managed to make an already performance V8 engine pump more hp towards the rear wheels without forcing more air into it? No, they didn’t bore bigger cylinders in the block, but replaced most of the functional parts.
The list of engine mods is pretty big, including new cylinder heads that aids with the breathing, a new oil pan that reduces oil agitation and friction, redesigned D-4S dual-injection system for higher pressure, 10% larger throttle diameter, new intake camshaft, new four-into-two exhaust headers, redesigned VVT-i electric motor, new crankshaft, pistons, rods and bearings as well as a set of performance spark plugs.
And if that isn’t enough, we’ll remind you that the engineers also gifted the new 5-liter unit with the Atkinson cycle, which is used for cruising on the highway or at low speed around the town in order to reduce fuel consumption.
Don’t worry though, because if you burry the foot in that gas pedal, the engine instantly switches to normal Otto cycle to provide the same responsiveness any other atmospheric engine does.
The new unit is mated to an eight-speed SPDS (Sports Direct Shift) transmission, which is basically a carryover from the IS F, but it comes with some minor adjustments in order to make the most out of those 467 ponies. It offers four selectable modes - Normal, Sport S, Sport S+ and Manual.
In Manual mode, the automaker brags that the cogs will be switched in just 0.1 seconds and it will also do rev-matching for you. In Sport S an G-sensor AI-Shift control gets engaged to provide optimal gear ratio for dynamic driving while the Sport S+ mode not only shift faster, but also downshift for you during hard braking for a corner, hold a lower gear through it and give a greater power response when exiting the turn.
This nifty 8-speed gearbox will end with a Torsen limited slip differential which is offered as standard, but you can choose to have the optional Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) which uses precisely controlled multi-plate clutches to optimally distribute the power according to the load on each rear wheel.
The TVD will also come with three operating modes - Standard (ideal balance of agility and firmness), Slalom (offering nimble steering response and agility) and Track (offering stability during high-speed cornering).
All those systems along with the premium sound system, high-strength steel, eight airbags, 15-inch brakes, pre-collision systems and all that luxuriousness you get inside, kinda makes an excuse for the car’s weight - a bit over 1,800 kg (3,968 lb).
Still, the 467 hp / 518 Nm (383 lb-ft) powerhouse will enable the coupe sprint from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds and will keep pushing until the limited 170 mph (273 km/h) top speed is reached.
It may be a bit slower than its BMW M4 main rival, but the upside is that it’s cheaper - $62,400 which is almost 2,000 bucks less.
How do the engineers managed to make an already performance V8 engine pump more hp towards the rear wheels without forcing more air into it? No, they didn’t bore bigger cylinders in the block, but replaced most of the functional parts.
The list of engine mods is pretty big, including new cylinder heads that aids with the breathing, a new oil pan that reduces oil agitation and friction, redesigned D-4S dual-injection system for higher pressure, 10% larger throttle diameter, new intake camshaft, new four-into-two exhaust headers, redesigned VVT-i electric motor, new crankshaft, pistons, rods and bearings as well as a set of performance spark plugs.
And if that isn’t enough, we’ll remind you that the engineers also gifted the new 5-liter unit with the Atkinson cycle, which is used for cruising on the highway or at low speed around the town in order to reduce fuel consumption.
Don’t worry though, because if you burry the foot in that gas pedal, the engine instantly switches to normal Otto cycle to provide the same responsiveness any other atmospheric engine does.
The new unit is mated to an eight-speed SPDS (Sports Direct Shift) transmission, which is basically a carryover from the IS F, but it comes with some minor adjustments in order to make the most out of those 467 ponies. It offers four selectable modes - Normal, Sport S, Sport S+ and Manual.
In Manual mode, the automaker brags that the cogs will be switched in just 0.1 seconds and it will also do rev-matching for you. In Sport S an G-sensor AI-Shift control gets engaged to provide optimal gear ratio for dynamic driving while the Sport S+ mode not only shift faster, but also downshift for you during hard braking for a corner, hold a lower gear through it and give a greater power response when exiting the turn.
This nifty 8-speed gearbox will end with a Torsen limited slip differential which is offered as standard, but you can choose to have the optional Torque Vectoring Differential (TVD) which uses precisely controlled multi-plate clutches to optimally distribute the power according to the load on each rear wheel.
The TVD will also come with three operating modes - Standard (ideal balance of agility and firmness), Slalom (offering nimble steering response and agility) and Track (offering stability during high-speed cornering).
All those systems along with the premium sound system, high-strength steel, eight airbags, 15-inch brakes, pre-collision systems and all that luxuriousness you get inside, kinda makes an excuse for the car’s weight - a bit over 1,800 kg (3,968 lb).
Still, the 467 hp / 518 Nm (383 lb-ft) powerhouse will enable the coupe sprint from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds and will keep pushing until the limited 170 mph (273 km/h) top speed is reached.
It may be a bit slower than its BMW M4 main rival, but the upside is that it’s cheaper - $62,400 which is almost 2,000 bucks less.
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