At minimum this car or truck looks great.
Kyle Hyatt/Roadshow
The thought of spending a week with a hyper-minimal, monitor-centered, distinctive-version motor vehicle with a large, superior-revving, the natural way aspirated V8 is rather damn remarkable. That’s the things that car or truck fanatics dream about, proper? Regretably, truth almost never lives up to our goals, and that is unquestionably the situation with the 2021 Lexus RC F Fuji Speedway Edition.
On paper, the RC F Fuji version looks good. It is really acquired tons of carbon fiber, carbon-ceramic brakes and the five.-liter 2UR-GSE V8 you will uncover in functionality cars like the Lexus LC 500, the beloved IS F and the new IS 500. That motor creates a respectable 472 horsepower at 7,one hundred rpm and 395 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm, but it can be here that the RC F’s bummers start out.
This motor unquestionably does scream in its upper registers, as evidenced by the revs at which it can make peak energy. It is really here exactly where the V8 is remarkable and responsive and alive. Regretably, in the reduce section of its rev range, the five.-liter V8 operates on the Atkinson cycle, the similar effectiveness-centered cycle that Toyota utilizes in its hybrids. This suggests the valve timing variations to emphasis on gasoline effectiveness at the price of energy, torque and responsiveness.
2021 Lexus RC F Fuji Speedway Edition: At minimum it appears fantastic
On paper, owning a much more economical car or truck at close to-town speeds appears fantastic, but in truth, it can make a monitor-centered beast like the RC F truly feel useless and unexciting. If this had been nearly anything but a flagship sports activities model, I would be less vital, but in a car or truck like this, with a large carbon wing, hyper-aggressive styling and a sizable value tag, it feels like a substantial misstep. I want my large, the natural way aspirated V8 to kick ass all the time, and this 1 isn’t going to.
That V8 is paired with an eight-velocity automatic transmission. Not like the motor, the transmission operates very well in town but lets the driver down on fantastic canyon roads. It shifts slower than some of the ZF eight-velocity ‘boxes I have seasoned and, once again, in a monitor-centered car or truck, it shouldn’t be this way. At minimum this transmission is paired with a locking rear differential that operates as advertised and is a welcome addition in the RC F.
You will uncover this five.-liter V8 in the LC 500 and IS 500.
Kyle Hyatt/Roadshow
The RC F Fuji’s suspension is a different location that need to be impressive purely centered on its specs but isn’t going to reside up to the hoopla. The entrance double-wishbone suspension capabilities adaptive Sachs dampers and a hollow entrance sway bar. The rear utilizes a multi-connection style and design. The whole setup is particularly stiff and uncomfortable close to town yet it isn’t going to do a brilliant occupation of managing the RC F in superior-velocity driving. Further, I uncover it tough to trust the car or truck to stay planted as it moves close to on quick canyon roads for the reason that it hardly ever feels genuinely settled. The RC F’s obscure digital energy steering also does a lousy occupation of giving driver feedback, introducing to that in general deficiency of self esteem on the road.
Arguably the most effective factor about the Fuji is its set of 14.nine-inch Brembo carbon ceramic brakes. The RC F is a heavy car or truck with a control weight of 3,781 lbs . (121 lbs . lighter than the regular RC F), and with practically 500 hp on tap, these unflappable brakes are a welcome addition for repeatable, self esteem-inspiring halting. Coupled with the moderately sticky Michelin Pilot Activity 4S tires, the RC F’s in general grip is fantastic, irrespective of the problems I have with the suspension.
The RC F’s cabin is a sea of leather-based, Alcantara, carbon fiber and buttons. At 6 feet, 4 inches, I’m admittedly taller than most drivers, but I struggle to get comfy in any posture. The seats are gorgeous and possible very supportive for smaller drivers, but immediately after an hour in the canyons, I truly feel like they have been boxing my kidneys, and it can be not pleasurable. Headroom also could be much better, thinking of the deficiency of a moonroof in the carbon-roof-outfitted Fuji. The BMW M4 delivers much more room for heads (and helmets), but at minimum the RC F has a good deal of legroom. The whole cabin is exquisitely crafted with good supplies, at minimum — a hallmark of Lexus goods.
The inside is nicely appointed, but the infotainment tech is actually bad.
Kyle Hyatt/Roadshow
The RC F lacks blind-location monitoring (many thanks to its carbon fiber side mirrors) and rear cross-site visitors warn, but at minimum will come with adaptive cruise management, automatic crisis braking, automatic superior beams, lane-departure warning and the like. But whilst the basic safety suite is only Alright, the infotainment process is rather bad. The RC F isn’t going to have a touchscreen, but thankfully Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile are regular, and my test motor vehicle is outfitted with the optional Mark Levinson audio package — a necessary add for any Lexus, as much as I’m involved. The Lexus Enform process is problematic due to its clunky interface and laggy response, not to point out the finicky trackpad which is really hard to use whilst driving.
The RC F Fuji Speedway Edition has a setting up value of $ninety eight,275, such as Lexus’ $one,075 location cost. That’s a much more-than-$30,000 premium above the regular RC F, so what, other than exclusivity and carbon ceramic brakes, is Lexus giving prospective buyers for that income? The large aesthetic discrepancies are the carbon fiber hood, rear wing, roof, entrance lip and side skirts, as very well as pink leather-based and Alcantara inside with carbon trim. There’s also a titanium exhaust process, solid BBS wheels and the aforementioned torque-vectoring rear close.
Not lots of of these will be offered.
Kyle Hyatt/Roadshow
But is it well worth it? In brief, no. The RC F Fuji Speedway Edition is not a very fantastic car or truck on general public roads and it can be not entertaining on winding stretches of canyon roads, both. It may be fantastic on a race monitor as its identify would imply (although I are not able to confirm that), but with its punishing experience, cramped inside and disappointing drivetrain, I are not able to imagine buying this above any other sports activities car or truck at this value. For the $102,510 as-examined value of this RC F, I would fairly have a base Porsche 911, which is both equally a much better sports activities car or truck and a significantly much more livable day by day driver.
For 2022, Lexus resolved to prolong the Fuji Speedway Edition by an extra 50 models. The enterprise also additional a new colour — a pretty blue referred to as Electric Surge — and gave the Fuji a new set of 19-inch wheels. Regretably, these updates do nothing to increase the charm of this tremendous really hard market.