DRIVEN: Lexus RC F - Does It Have What It Takes To Hang With The Big Boys?

Say what you will about Lexus, but I must admit they are one the most persistent automakers out there.

After they take consistent beatings from AMG, M, or the Benz SL class which defeated 3 attempts by Lexus's SC roadster, they refuse to give up.

Hats off

Hats off for what? building an almost 2-ton 2-door "sports" car? That's not the way to be competitive, unless, like Benz, you put 500+ hp in a car. Not to mention hideous exterior styling that's trying waaaay to hard to say, "look at me, I'm different". Yuh, no thanks.

No, hats off to the fact that despite having a racing heritage and being birth from your parent company Toyota, they have the balls to keep trying no matter how hard they stumble.

Hats off that a few years after the Tsunami nearly knocked them out, they are back to outselling the Getmans in the states and lighting a fire under BMW and Mercedes U.S headquarters. You think Bimmer execs aren't pissed that the LS is outselling the 7 series, not to mention the A8.

I'm no Lexus fan but I've said it before and will again, Lexus forces my favorite European brands to stay competitive when it comes to standard features, added value, and overall reliability which I appreciate it.

I'm no fan of the styling but hey, Bimmer had their bangle phase and Audi is looking to exit their sleepy design scheme soon so yea nobody's perfect. Lexus is going for it and I can't be mad at them for trying

*no racing heritage

Meh, we'll agree to disagree on this one. Let's face it, they may be "going for it", but overall, it seems to really be missing the mark, still. The most successful sedan in their lineup really doesn't have a direct competitor from the Germans, and that's the ES. The IS, GS, and LS trail all of, or most of, their German counterparts still, and some by a substantial margin. This RC is likely not going to change that. I wonder if Lexus is questioning their decision to "go for it" since the sedan that "goes for it" the least in their lineup, the ES, is its most successful. Granted, the RX is their true bread-and-butter.

The main reason they've had such great sales numbers the past few months are due to the ridiculous pricing incentives, specifically, leases, they are offering. Examples: 535i leases for $549/month while the GS350 is $409/month, 328i is $409/month while the IS250 is $299/month, X3 xdrive is $549/month while the RX is $399/month, X5 xdrive is $749/month while the RX is $399/month, 750Li is $1159/month while the LS460 is $799/month. I used to criticize BMW for offering a deal on almost every one of their models, but I think Lexus has just gotten ridiculous. Let's not forget that they decreased the price of the GX, despite it getting an update this year and you can lease it for $499/month.

Lol wrong the IS and LS have been outselling the A4, A6, A8, and 7 series, and as much as I love my Germans u have to admit once fall and winter comes around, the Germans chop prices with the best of them @cidfkekken.

Visit any dealer, right now this is truly a consumer's market. These guys are putting dealer discounts ontop of factory to keep the machines moving

Not sure what you're laughing at.
Look at the YTD numbers and you'll eat your words. And I combined the A4 and A5 numbers since the IS numbers include the convertible in addition to the 4-door, same as the C and 3/4 combine their numbers. The only category Lexus beats any of the Germans in YTD numbers is with the LS besting the A8. Otherwise, no.

And I was talking NOW for the available offers. Not to mention ALL brands throw holiday season offers on the table for year-end, not just the Germans.

Last I checked we still have 4 months left in this year and last month the entire Lexus send line was outpacing Audi's, sure you can look at ytd, but my friend, as we both know many things change in the 3rd/4th qtr.

And you can compare lease offers all you want, the real data lies where the average transaction was collected at the dealer level for each class....those numbers are the ones that will surprise u.

Manufacturer is one thing, dealer is a whoooole other beast

It's funny how you only use Audi to bolster your "arguments". Of course Lexus should be outselling Audi, but they are not based on YTD numbers. Sure, they may catch up, but wouldn't that be expected of the German brand that hasn't competed for the top spot, ever.
If you noticed, I stated that Lexus was trailing "MOST" of their German counterparts. See what I did there? Yet, you are using Audi as the sole example to help yourself sleep better at night.

The reality is that Lexus isn't anywhere close to BMW or Mercedes with their "go for it" products. The IS isn't anywhere close to the C or 3/4 and the new C is out now so that will just make the gap that much greater. The GS isn't anywhere close to the E or 5. The LS isn't anywhere close to the S-Class, and barely neck and neck with the 7. The GX isn't anywhere close the ML or X5 even after its update and price decrease.

As I stated before, Lexus' two most successful products aren't of the "go for it" birthing process. The RX, is indeed killing its direct competition in the X3/GLK/Q5, I'll give you that. And the ES doesn't truly have any true direct competition from the Germans.

Lol I don't have to use Audi to bolster arguments for Lexus, the sales figured speak for themselves. And it explain to me how it's possible for the LS to "barely be neck and neck" with the 7 series. That statements a little off, it either is or it isn't lol. And hey Lexis does not need anyone to argue for them, they went from being nearly shut out of the race after BMW and Mercedes defeated them 2 consecutive years, to taking the crown for two consecutive months with thousands of units to spare.

Lexus is a hustler and you just can't deny that lol!

Hideous performance.... Nasty for your money... not for me... hideous!

Front end reminds me of Randall from Monster's Inc.

Lexus trying too hard to be cool. I don't have a problem with the spindle grille but the rest is way too Fast & Furious.

Yes Europe automakers are terrified of a slower, heavier car, that doesn't handle as well as the competition.

Lexus RC-F = The Europe worshippers' worst nightmare

I have to agree. All of the performance without any of the reliability/durability issues of the Germans.

I think I will see if I can get allotment on an RCF

Right now I am saving some cash to buy either one of them. Lexus RC-F or the new Corvette.

I have access to the new Corvette and am looking forward to seeing the RC and to you haters...when JSMUSMuscle and MattDarringer are on the same page, you know your shit is WRONg. "JDM" and I never agree and we spar...so if we are on the same page, you're "flocked"

Look at all these angry deboosts

we the best

It's clear that the mere mention of Lexus some people minds loose all control. Either you like the car or you don't. But why knock any brand without good reason. People might recall the up roar that Bangle caused when he came out the e90 and sown said it will be the death of the 3 series. Some many comments based on no facts.

At the end of the day, the styling is overwrought and it's a porker. Yes, the current C63 is only about 100lbs lighter, but it also can be had with 507 hp. And the next C63, following the new C-Class trend, should be even lighter. And the RS5 is about the same weight but it has quattro which helps is launch and grip better. Though still a bit garish, specifically the rear, the RC350 F-Sport, IMO, looks so much better, more refined.

The Lexless is 80% front grill. Ugh!

I'm really curious to see how this car does. Every review I've read has basically implied, it's a really good car but not a great car. It's less sporty than the IS-F it replaces. Performance is a step or two below the M4 and man is this thing heavy. Looks are controversial at best. I' real curious to see how well it sales.

I was impressed by the pretty big jump in power but it looks to be not as impressive as the numbers make you think. Plus the extra weight. Still it's more than enough and I want to see how this looks on the road.

Hang with them yes. Beat them no. The RC-F is 400 lbs heavier the M4 but where the M4 really wins is with torque. I personally like the RC-F interior a lot more than the German counterparts. Plus the bulletproof N/A V-8 engine that will go forever and sound a lot better. I am curious to hear about other reviews on this car...

i had an is-f and didnt like it compared to my m3's, overall i applaud lexus' attempt but this is disappointing yet again... seriously 400lbs heavier than an m4 ! thats a step in the wrong direction, and 46 more hp than the last is-f isnt going to help.
this car will have to be priced like an m2 ( top out at 60k) to be a great deal, because at m4 pricing, its a no brainer.

There are a lot of great new cars coming along this year, and plans for 2016 look even better. I have always owned Japanese cars for the last 30 years. I have looked at and am still considering maybe a German brand next...but Lexus has me thinking twice. I just do not want to spend $60k on an unreliable vehicle, and this is what scares me about the Germans. I just don't understand why they cannot engineer reliability into all the OTHER engineering...was watching an interview with a MB 300C tester on Velocity TV...and he said that the Benz is most reliable of the Germans, with BMW next and Audi 3rd. I know some Benz owners though who had vehicles with less than stellar reliability.