Following its Detroit unveiling, there's been little new to discuss on the
Lexus RC F
. The normally aspirated V8 was good news, the porky kerbweight less so then along came the
M3/M4
launch and its arrival has slipped by the wayside.
Not for much longer. Having allowed the BMW hype to subside, Lexus has begun releasing videos charting the testing progress of its latest fettled-at-Fuji flagship. And it bodes really very well for the production version.
We're planning the twin test already...
You will have to suffer an irritating American narrator and Gran Turismo-esque backing music in the below vid, but the mantra of the RC F development team is sound: "Pursuing ultimate driving enjoyment rather than just speed."
Chief Engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi does mention the N-word (no, not that one...) very early on however. He maintains that Lexus is testing at that 12.9-mile circuit for driving enjoyment purposes and not lap records though. The M3 doesn't yet have an official time.
To hear that the team 'insisted' on a naturally aspirated engine is great news, with 'excellent emotional performance' the key justification. Yaguchi promises also a feeling of 'continuous acceleration even above 7,000rpm', which is again exactly what we wanted from Lexus and will provide a fascinating alternative to the BMW's turbocharged six-cylinder. Sounds pretty good as well...
Of course there's some motorsport influence. Here Lexus are promising cornering feel akin to the IS F CCS R racer as well as 'distinctive FR cornering behaviour', which we'll take as an ability to perform huge powerslides. Marvellous.
See also Lexus's vid on the RC F's track development schedule. It all sounds very encouraging, which has only heightened our excitement around the RC F. The IS F was very good and the LFA spectacular so fingers crossed the trend for a talented fast Lexus will continue.