[Joaquin Ruhi]

I'm pleasantly surprised that they released it this early. I thought we wouldn't see it until the Paris Motor Show press conferences on October 2.

I like it. This is the rare midlife facelift that improves upon the original, instead of just being change for change's sake. Very curious to see how that Blue Vortex Metallic looks in person, and how it compares to the 2 versions of Ultrasonic Blue.

 

[Faisal Sheikh]

I like the changes. All changes are very positive. Lexus really got the styling right. Glad they got rid of those fake vents on the rear. Interesting to see if they are getting significantly more power out of the RC350 or not? I am really looking forward to seeing the updated RCF. That will be interesting.

Also, I hope that can address the atrociously painful front fender gap on the AWD RC350.

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

This is a perfect example of throwing the baby with the bathwater. Mirrors, front and rear end styling; great, but the headlights... It's a no for me...

 

[Faisal Sheikh]

I really like the headlights. They are inspired by the LC headlights. The new RCF mule was sporting the same headlights. My RCF has the older style, but I like the new one's too. Not sure which one will age better.

 

[joepac]

Very tempting. Should I wait for the newer IS or get this RC? My 2010 IS350 is long in the tooth and I need(want) a new ride soon.

 

[OlFius]

A good mid-cycle update, may I say as an RC owner.
The daylights are a bit small, too short, resembling a V instead of an L-shape.
But the grille front looks better.

 

[Joe]

Herewith some other pictures, taken from the Lexus Europe newsroom. This is the luxury version. Note the previous series' F Sport wheels painted in silver and the standard grille in LC-style. This restyling clearly positions the RC as a 'baby-LC'.

 

[spwolf]

nice upgrade... Euro press release mentions how 2.0t has been upgraded to deliver sharper throttle response.

 

[GSCT]

Herewith some other pictures, taken from the Lexus Europe newsroom. This is the luxury version. Note the previous series' F Sport wheels painted in silver and the standard grille in LC-style. This restyling clearly positions the RC as a 'baby-LC'.

]
I was liking this refresh a lot until I saw this lumpy, convoluted back end. What a mess!

 

[spwolf]

I like the changes. All changes are very positive. Lexus really got the styling right. Glad they got rid of those fake vents on the rear. Interesting to see if they are getting significantly more power out of the RC350 or not? I am really looking forward to seeing the updated RCF. That will be interesting.

Also, I hope that can address the atrociously painful front fender gap on the AWD RC350.

how would they get significantly more power than 350? I dont think there are any power changes, but there might be changes in throttle response and similar.

 

[krew]

Updated the original post with photos of the standard RC refresh.

 

[gecko]

Front end of the F Sport model is a disaster, but the standard car looks nicer and far more mature, IMO. Power upgrades would be nice - and are badly needed - but I doubt they're coming. Interior updates also look nice.

 

[Joaquin Ruhi]

Front end of the F Sport model is a disaster, but the standard car looks nicer and far more mature, IMO.

I wouldn't go as far as calling the new RC F Sport grille a disaster, but this is the rare Lexus model whose standard grille looks better than its F Sport counterpart. I'm pleasantly surprised.

As to the new headlights, they're also a marked improvement. I've always hated for the "Nike swoosh" daytime running lights to be a separate floating element (as on the current IS). I much prefer to have them as a single unit, as on this RC facelift and the UX. Glad to see Lexus moving in this direction.

 

[Enthusiast88]

I am curious about the new driving dynamics with the bushing and shock change on the RC 350 as that's one area I feel my 2017 could be improved (other than the tech of course).
The rest of this refresh I can do without (though I kind of like the mirrors). The back end is now a mess (why must lexus always have some drooping point on the tail lights?). I I don't feel the headlights are LC inspired at all. I think they look terrible. I really liked the DRLs being separate from the main headlight! It was very distinctive. Anyway, I will not be getting this RC when my lease is up. I'll probably buy mine as I have been pretty happy with it, and think it looks MUCH better than this update.

 

[gecko]

I wouldn't go as far as calling the new RC F Sport grille a disaster, but this is the rare Lexus model whose standard grille looks better than its F Sport counterpart. I'm pleasantly surprised.

As to the new headlights, they're also a marked improvement. I've always hated for the "Nike swoosh" daytime running lights to be a separate floating element (as on the current IS). I much prefer to have them as a single unit, as on this RC facelift and the UX. Glad to see Lexus moving in this direction.

Unfortunately, it's not just the grille. Look at the number of hard lines, textures and materials just in this section alone:

Every single part of the front end is unnecessarily busy and overstyled. The mesh in the grill should just go all the way across without stopping to give the appearance of air inlets - it makes no aerodynamic difference. Partial mesh in the center portion with horizontal bars on the sides - which don't seem to be functional? The lip under the grill folds under, creating yet another line. Headlights have three distinct elements - LED check, small LEDs for turn signals and stacked LED projectors for high/low beams. One or two "busy" elements is cool and creates a focal point, but with this, I literally don't know where to look first.

 

[bogglo]

i prefer the UX headlight. But, it might look better in person

 

[Ian Schmidt]

I think the front end will "simplify" in lighter colors; the RC's IMO always looked better in light colors, much as the LS looks better in dark ones. Overall I like it; it creates a visual lineage with the LC (and to a lesser extent the ES and LS), which is exactly what they needed to do. Now bring on the LC C and LC F to top off the coupe line!

 

[gecko]

 

[mediumhot]

Not a fan of neither headlights or taillights. I don't think they flow right like the previous. That V drl strip is at some weird angle that doesn't stack right with angle of LED clusters. Bottom addition to tails is very unnecessary and looks like an afterthought in design process, kind of like we are going to make these trendy, smooth and skinny taillights.. oh damn it we forgot to add turn signal light!

 

[spwolf]

Not a fan of neither headlights or taillights. I don't think they flow right like the previous. That V drl strip is at some weird angle that doesn't stack right with angle of LED clusters. Bottom addition to tails is very unnecessary and looks like an afterthought in design process, kind of like we are going to make these trendy, smooth and skinny taillights.. oh damn it we forgot to add turn signal light!

i thought old rear lights looked too much like Toyota.