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ne of the top brands in terms of both reliability and quality, the luxury division of the Toyota Motor Corporation is bringing some excitement to this year’s coupe category. With inspiration taken from the IS C convertible as well as the latest GS and IS sedans, the RC is a whole new design. Lexus’ first pure coupe in over 15 years, the RC stands for Radical Coupe. As a latecomer to luxury coupes, Lexus made a bold statement with their first entry in the field. The RC 350 comes standard with a 306 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 and an eight-speed Sports Program Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission for rear wheel drive models, plus a six-speed automatic on all weather drive models. This allows for greater fuel economy, smoother acceleration and near instant gear changes at your fingertips. But all this power means nothing if it can’t meet the road, so the RC 350 sits on equally impressive 18-inch split five-spoke alloy
wheels or optional 19-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels for that added swagger. The exceptionally responsive handling is due to the RC’s new ultra-stiff platform, drawing inspiration from the chassis of the highly acclaimed GS series and the rear of the new-generation IS sports sedan. The RC 350 also offers drive mode select, which includes eco, normal and sport modes. With the simple turn of the dial, the car can become more responsive or more efficient. Upgrading to the RC 350 F Sport edition gives a sporty interior, including an LFA supercar inspired gauge pod with a sliding bezel like the one in the IS. The package also includes four-wheel steering, adaptive dampers, 19-inch wheels and high-friction brake pads. The RC F is a step up from the 350 in terms of looks as well as speed. Increased performance is the result of standard Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) and
WHEELS
the Lexus Handling System, including rear-wheel steering. The RC F is named for the Fuji Speedway, a motorsport racetrack in the foothills of Mount Fuji acquired by Toyota in 2000. To live up to its namesake, the RC F is equipped with a powerful 5.0 liter V8 engine that delivers an impressive 467 horsepower, and blasts from zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds. On the track, this combination allows the RC F to hit a top speed of 269 kilometres per hour (167 mph). With so much horsepower rumbling beneath your feet, you need to be confident you can safely rein it in. For high-performance braking, Lexus employs race-proven Brembo six-piston monoblock calipers mounted on 14.9inch slotted and ventilated discs up front, and 13.5-inch slotted and ventilated discs in the rear. The RC F’s cockpit features track-inspired instrumentation, including a full colour LCD multi-information display within the
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