Coupes have always been an expression of special automotive preferences. Dispensing with two doors in the rear promotes creative freedom and can give the body shape the special impetus that warms the heart. Lexus has put a particularly expressive representative of this class on the wheels with the RC, now there is the elegantly sporty coupé with a new turbo engine and also as a hybrid variant with reduced petrol consumption.
The front part of the RC is dynamic, almost aggressive. The triangular headlights indicate the sporty genes of the 4,7-meter four-seater, the interior is adorned with chrome and stainless steel inlays. Above all, the seats have a great fit, they are comfortable on the one hand and give support to the hips and shoulders in curves. The space also fits, even in the rear two passengers are still reasonably acceptable.
Lexus has two drive variants on offer. The RC 200t with its 180 kW / 245 hp two-liter turbo gasoline engine, which can handle a massive 350 Nm torque peak and accelerate the 1.800 kilogram RC from 7,5 to 0 km / h in 100 seconds will be a volume model for us. Agility is, however, slowed down by the eight-step automatic hiking system from Aisin, which takes a second to reflect on the correct gear selection when the performance is called up spontaneously. Nevertheless, the RC sprints cheerfully out of the bends, the revised chassis remains tight on course and still dispenses with an excessively hard suspension.
The second motorization is in the price list around 1.500 euros above the 200t and costs as RC 300h 47.050 euros. This is where the tried-and-tested hybrid duo comes into play, formed by the 2,5-liter petrol engine and a 105 kW / 143 hp electric machine. In the ensemble, the duo produces 164 kW / 223 hp and allows acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 8,6 seconds, unlike the 230 km / h fast RC 200t, the top speed is electronically limited to 190 km / h. With a consumption of 4,9 liters of petrol per 100 kilometers, the Hybrid RC achieves efficiency class A.
There are four driving modes to choose from, the Snow, Eco, Normal and Sport settings influence the switching characteristics of the automatic system, the power assistance of the steering and the way the air conditioning works. The F-Sport version offers the additional Sport + level, which also affects damper tuning and makes driving behavior even more dynamic. The variant is also equipped as standard with a Torsen differential, which prevents a single drive wheel from slipping.
On board are the relevant assistance systems as well as the premium navigation system and high-quality audio systems from Pioneer or Mark-Levinson with up to 17 loudspeakers and 835 watts output power. The operation of the air conditioning system is a novelty. The temperature is not selected here using a turntable or touchscreen, but an electrostatic selection bar. The Lexus RC can bring its extensive equipment and expressive design rather than pure sportiness into the field. This applies particularly to the hybrid version, which does not quite succeed in squaring the circle. Anyone who appreciates dynamic driving characteristics should therefore opt for the somewhat crisper turbo variant.
Author: Michael Kirchberger / SP-X