After having a good run, Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the original co-stars of the Men in Black were retired in the 4th film for a younger pair of actors. This time around, when earth was met with fresh hell in the 4th movie, new blood in the form of Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson was called upon to man the situation. It wasn’t a great film.
Despite the Men in Black International movie flopping a little harder than the directors could have seen coming, it did indeed get some things right. One of them was bringing in a new set of wheels for the co-stars, The Lexus RC F. Saving humanity from total devastation by some particularly nefarious personalities would need more than your every day clunker on the road. Power, speed, precision, strength; these are all qualities that the Lexus RC F has in spades. It doesn’t hurt either that the vehicle is such a beauty to look at, that they decided to showcase it in a blockbuster film. With some alien-tech built added for dramatic effect, the car was a much-needed addition to the movie.
Packing the most powerful Lexus V8 to-date with an output of 472 horsepower, the Lexus RC F guarantees the best power-to-weight ratio for a coupe. Let’s go over the body works, check under the hood, and peer into the windows of this machine.
6 Years of Rich History
In 2013, during the Tokyo Motor Show dubbed “Compete! And shape a new future”, the public was given the first glance at the Lexus RC (‘RC’ stands for Radical Coupe by the way). It was the result of a concept birthed by Pansoo Kwoon, whose inspiration came from the Lexus LC. The RC was to be the company’s first fixed-roof production coupe since the SC 400 from the year 2000.
With Japanese sales set for the second half of 2014 and the US sales premiering in November that year, 3 engine choices were available for buyers of the car; a 2.5l 2AR-FSE V6 in the RC 300h, 3.5l 2GR-FSE V6 in the RC 350h, and the 5l 2UR-GSE V8 in the RC F.
The RC F was unveiled for the first time at the 2014 North America International Auto Show, with the vehicle slated for sale as a 2015 model year vehicle. It was to continue the line of the ‘F’ line of Lexus vehicles, the luxury brand’s sports series that has been in production within Toyota since the Circle F project was launched in 1983.
Exterior Build Details
Being a 2-door luxury performance vehicle, the RC F was built with strong driving dynamics. It has a wider, longer, and lower body than the RC version. The vehicle is outfitted with a front spoiler that adds to its grip and an active rear spoiler that is speed-activated. The spoiler duo is a perfect combination for enhancing the car’s aerodynamics.
The vehicle features 19-inch split-seven-spoke forged alloy wheels by BBS. In the front grilles are intakes and front fender vents, which together with aero stabilizing fins further enhance the aerodynamics.
An optional Carbon Exterior Package is available which includes a carbon-fiber roof, hood, front spoiler, rocker-panel splitters, rear diffuser, and a fixed rear wing. This optional package is demonstrated in the RC F Fuji Speedway Edition. The package makes the vehicle 80 kg (180lbs) lighter than the stock RC F
Cockpit and Lexus Tech
The RC F is equipped with a racing-inspired cockpit. The striking digital display and the aggressive instrumentation on the cockpit, packing G-force display, and a lap timer are designed to enhance the driver’s situational awareness. All versions of the vehicle include paddle shifters.
A handful of software integrations are baked into the car. The digital displays are controlled using New Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which connect seamlessly with the vehicle’s Mark Levinson surround sound.
The car also features Lexus’ proprietary Lexus Enform service which lets you perform a variety of actions remotely: engine start and stop, door lock and unlock, checking the vehicle’s fuel gauge, coupled with a range of other remote actions. Amazon Alexa provides the familiar voice commands for Alexa, and it is also integrated with the Lexus App, available for both Android and iOS.
Interior Threading Variants And Detailing
All versions of the RC F feature a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and an eight-way front passenger’s sport seat, with the standard version including driver seat memory. A Circuit Red Alcantara®* interior trim is available, but only in the RC Fuji Speedway Edition (Race Track Edition). The Red Carbon Fiber interior trim is also exclusive to the Race Track Edition.
Package opt-in features for the interior include some desirable styles such as a leather-trimmed interior, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a black carbon fiber interior trim.
Engineering
The RC F is powered by a 5l V-8 engine that generates 395lb of torque and 472 hp, channeled through an 8-speed Sport Direct Shift transmission. This power pushes the car from 0- 60 mph in 4.2 seconds in the standard edition, and 3.96 seconds in the Race Track Edition. All variants of the RC F have a top speed of 168mph.
The rear TVD (Torque Vectoring Differential) built into the vehicle offers 3 operating modes; Standard, Slalom, or Track. Featured on both the front and back suspensions is F-Adaptive Variable Suspension with monotube gas-filled SACHS shock absorbers. Steering is enabled via a lock-to-lock, 2-turn Electronic Power Steering System.
For the bulk of car enthusiasts who love the sound of a good rev, the car features an active sound control system that simulates engine sounds for the occupants, without interfering with the audio equipment built into the car.