Video: Lexus RC F Track Edition at Laguna Seca

God damn it you beat me to it.

Also..... my heart is beating. See you stupid Lexus haters? Lexus has emotion!

#waitforit :)

Toyota is getting serious with their coupes. and I like it. LC, Supra, RC, GT86. all unique in their own way. And with the air blowing I think Lexus is cooking something and the aroma promises some with a great taste.

mikeavelli

#waitforit :)

You've been following this car for a while!

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2016/04...ept-debuts-at-toyota-grand-prix-this-weekend/

The car appearing at Long Beach is a further development of the RC F GT Concept that Justin Bell drove to 5th place in the Time Attack class at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June 2015.

Lexus Enthusiast forum administrator Mike Forsythe attended this weekend’s events, and snapped some photos of the RC F GT Concept.

This is really exciting. Even if it's special order only, this would be a great way to turn around all of the negative press the RC has had since launch.

Lexus Prepares Track-Focused RC F GT Production Model

A major step forward for Lexus performance.

View the original article post

14 out of 17 all-new models, concepts, anniversary and special editions Lexus promised for 2018 have been unveiled at this point. That leaves 3 more to be introduced by the end of 2018. Could a production RC F GT be one of them?

2:43.2 is incredibly fast! just the Ford GT and Porsche 918 spider are faster, and only by .2 and .1 secs. I am really impressed. The estimated price tag is high ($250,000), but actually is very very competitive (cheaper) than the top competition. Lexus will have to overcome the negative biases, but the data speak for themselves. WOW!!!!

It was not street legal so it did not have much of the safety equipment on it. The spyshot RCF I think, is a standard RCF (has full interior) with some suspension mods and from pictures it is clear, it has more aggressive MPS4S tires (than the stock MPSS tires my RCF has). It could possibly have more power up to 490 - 500 HP since it can be extracted very easily from this engine while complying with the emissions etc.

PeterF

2:43.2 is incredibly fast! just the Ford GT and Porsche 918 spider are faster, and only by .2 and .1 secs. I am really impressed. The estimated price tag is high ($250,000), but actually is very very competitive (cheaper) than the top competition. Lexus will have to overcome the negative biases, but the data speak for themselves. WOW!!!!

Is it my imagination? Or can I already hear the haters;

- Doesn't matter how much it weighs or how well it handles, the v8 is still over 10 years old!
- Lexus is too fast and too performance oriented! Should stick to what they do best.
- Stop trying to copy the sporty germans!
- We don't need track focused cars, we need bigger back seats and trunk space!
- Spindle is fugly, fix that before losing 800lbs!

Toyota finally is doing what the Germans are doing from long time ago, honestly what all the world was doing except them

Very exciting times at lexus!!!! Things are definitely on the up and up. Better engines and engineering!!! Everybody been making a noise about the the LS and stuff and while some may be true I feel it’s better than the old.

Very exciting news! Though it probably won't be as extreme as the RC F GT Concept.

I hope this revives the RC!!!

krew

You've been following this car for a while!

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2016/04...ept-debuts-at-toyota-grand-prix-this-weekend/

KREW I'm really excited for this one. I think it's going to really nail the handling bit that some reviews complain about, add a coolness factor and have some surprising hardware. What is fantastic is to also see the progress the Lexus Racing USA team is making and the RC F GT3 being raced overseas. With wins in SuperGT and Toyota in Lemans this is some great momentum!

Don't really expect it to be at supercar level performance. The weight reduction and grip gains should be much more modest than the concept.

BTW what is the best road-legal semi slicks today?

ssun30

Don't really expect it to be at supercar level performance. The weight reduction and grip gains should be much more modest than the concept.

BTW what is the best road-legal semi slicks today?

I don't think anyone is saying that. It will be more of a black series or the GTS equivalent of F sports cars. For the RCF, the racing slick available is Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires. This RCF is wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, which are more aggressive than the stock Super Sport my RCF came with, but less so than the Cup series tires. Overall, the stickiest barely street legal slick tires are Michelin Pilot Cup 2 R or Pirelli Corsa Trofeo R.

Faisal Sheikh

I don't think anyone is saying that. It will be more of a black series or the GTS equivalent of F sports cars. For the RCF, the racing slick available is Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires. This RCF is wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, which are more aggressive than the stock Super Sport my RCF came with, but less so than the Cup series tires. Overall, the stickiest barely street legal slick tires are Michelin Pilot Cup 2 R or Pirelli Corsa Trofeo R.

Yeah... you do not want Trofeos on your car unless you have the trailer waiting for you to take the car back home once it starts raining. You really have to nurse the throttle once road becomes wet, I've ended up in another lane by just pressing the throttle like if it was dry pavement and I was uphill to make matters even worse. I've craped my pants cause I've never thought something like this could happen.

mediumhot

Yeah... you do not want Trofeos on your car unless you have the trailer waiting for you to take the car back home once it starts raining. You really have to nurse the throttle once road becomes wet, I've ended up in another lane by just pressing the throttle like if it was dry pavement and I was uphill to make matters even worse. I've craped my pants cause I've never thought something like this could happen.

I won't get the Pilot Cup 2 on my RCF since they are too extreme for mostly street driving. I have seen amazing reviews of the Pilot Sport 4S. They are the best street tires. I hate my stock RCF Super Sport as Lexus fitted it with touring version (softer version for daily drivability). Pilot Sport 4S only are available in XL version with reinforced sidewalls so cannot wait to put those on.

I am glad they're not giving up on this car. But when you think about all the spy shots for the XC10 facelift coupe facelift since August, it shows you this has been in development for a very long time and signed off in early 2017, give or take.

The URS10 GS-F was first spotted testing in early 2013, then we saw more shots of it in late summer 2013. It wasn't until fall 2014, they were seen testing with the final design (using old headlights). It went on sale around November 2015. So it took from February 2012 launch to November 2015, to offer an F model and facelift the GS line.

Why are 10th anniversary edition RCF being called 2019MY, when it is relatively unchanged? Is this planned for MY 2020 now or what?

Carmaker1

I am glad they're not giving up on this car. But when you think about all the spy shots for the XC10 facelift coupe facelift since August, it shows you this has been in development for a very long time and signed off in early 2017, give or take.

The URS10 GS-F was first spotted testing in early 2013, then we saw more shots of it in late summer 2013. It wasn't until fall 2014, they were seen testing with the final design (using old headlights). It went on sale around November 2015. So it took from February 2012 launch to November 2015, to offer an F model and facelift the GS line.

Why are 10th anniversary edition RCF being called 2019MY, when it is relatively unchanged? Is this planned for MY 2020 now or what?

Ofcourse, this is staying for a very very long time. It is an incredible masterpiece. That is why I purchased it. It has to be understood and learned over time to be truly appreciated. No complaints. It is faster than what I could ever use on city streets. I get complements everywhere all the time where people come up to me to talk about the car.

There are a limited number of 2019 anniversary editions. They have some exterior changes, a special color and some interior treatments. Mechanically, it is the same. It has special design wheels etc. Aesthetic stuff and a special matte color.

Anyone notice the subtle differences of the headlights and taillights between this and the other RC spyshots?

Airplane

Anyone notice the subtle differences of the headlights and taillights between this and the other RC spyshots?

I assume this is because one is an RC and one is an RC F, though it's possible the RC F GT will styled differently than the standard RC F as well.

Faisal Sheikh

Ofcourse, this is staying for a very very long time. It is an incredible masterpiece. That is why I purchased it. It has to be understood and learned over time to be truly appreciated. No complaints. It is faster than what I could ever use on city streets. I get complements everywhere all the time where people come up to me to talk about the car.

This is exactly my experience -- for all its power, there's a lot of subtlety to the RC F. I still believe the weight that everyone complains about is one of the reasons I felt so comfortable being more aggressive on the track. In ways I don't quite understand, it smoothes out my inputs and makes corners more predictable.

krew

This is exactly my experience -- for all its power, there's a lot of subtlety to the RC F. I still believe the weight that everyone complains about is one of the reasons I felt so comfortable being more aggressive on the track. In ways I don't quite understand, it smoothes out my inputs and makes corners more predictable.

Very true. I have learned to expect it has two different personalities. I am perfectly fine with it feeling sort of "muted" when I drive in traffic or while staying under 60 km/h etc. knowing that it has a completely different side, which I can enjoy anytime at the right place. Once you push it over 5500 rpm in sport+/manual mode and track TVD mode, everything including steering speed and direct feel, throttle response, transmission shifts etc. change. The chassis/suspension are well tuned for a balance between street and track. It shrinks around the driver when you push it hard through a series of esses at high revs. Especially with the TVD in track mode, it is hyper-responsive when it engine is kept in high revs through tight turns.

I also enjoy coasting in it with wife and daughter since it still reminds you all the time (especially with the engine noise) that there is another side to it.

Faisal Sheikh

I don't think anyone is saying that. It will be more of a black series or the GTS equivalent of F sports cars. For the RCF, the racing slick available is Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires. This RCF is wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, which are more aggressive than the stock Super Sport my RCF came with, but less so than the Cup series tires. Overall, the stickiest barely street legal slick tires are Michelin Pilot Cup 2 R or Pirelli Corsa Trofeo R.

this makes sense. I think I jumped to conclusions without thinking that the concept would be a production car. That lightening lap was in 2016. Nevertheless, the RCF GT looks great and I think its a fantastic idea. Any idea when it might get to production?

BTW: I think you mean Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, rather than Pilot Cup 2.

PeterF

Any idea when it might get to production?

This doesn't answer your question, but I would expect it to debut alongside the updated RC. Would imagine it some time in the upcoming auto show season.

krew

This is exactly my experience -- for all its power, there's a lot of subtlety to the RC F. I still believe the weight that everyone complains about is one of the reasons I felt so comfortable being more aggressive on the track. In ways I don't quite understand, it smoothes out my inputs and makes corners more predictable.

In the Garage section I posted an article explaining how weight affects handling and ride quality. It kind of explains why the RC-F and R35 GT-R can be so competitive on tracks despite their weight.

https://lexusenthusiast.com/forums/...ehicle-weight-ride-quality-and-handling.4393/

A lot of people don't realize, some of the extra weight is to achieve more chassis rigidity as it came from the IS-C middle section, which had additional reinforcements for the convertible. Almost all of the mass is close to the middle of the car because the roof line is very low, which gives it a near perfectly chassis balanced 53/47 weight balance.

Besides, almost all of the cars besides the M4, weigh between 3880 - 4000 lbs. RS5, C63, Giulia, Mustang GT and even cars in a different class like the Q60 red sport, C43 AMG or the Stinger GT2 both weigh similar to RCF.

ssun30

In the Garage section I posted an article explaining how weight affects handling and ride quality. It kind of explains why the RC-F and R35 GT-R can be so competitive on tracks despite their weight.

https://lexusenthusiast.com/forums/...ehicle-weight-ride-quality-and-handling.4393/

Faisal Sheikh

A lot of people don't realize, some of the extra weight is to achieve more chassis rigidity as it came from the IS-C middle section, which had additional reinforcements for the convertible. Almost all of the mass is close to the middle of the car because the roof line is very low, which gives it a near perfectly chassis balanced 53/47 weight balance.

Besides, almost all of the cars besides the M4, weigh between 3880 - 4000 lbs. RS5, C63, Giulia, Mustang GT and even cars in a different class like the Q60 red sport, C43 AMG or the Stinger GT2 both weigh similar to RCF.

Yes, but TMC should give consumers more choices as well, and this GT is a sign they are on the right track.
Regarding weight balance, a 47/53 ratio would be better than 53/47 for the RCF, but for a frankenstein of a car the RCF is well engineered.