Unveiled at the Tokyo show this month, the IS coupé variant will be called the Lexus RC, and as it's a debut for the brand, there's nothing better than making some impact with a style leaning towards the dramatic.
Lexus' global ambitions go a long way towards being the alternative to German automatic options. The Lexus RC wants to expand the brand's appeal to new customers, or as Lexus puts it, explore new frontiers for the brand.
The rivals of the Lexus RC are naturally the German reference trio starring the BMW 4 series, the Audi A5 and the Mercedes C-Class Coupé. It is the first Lexus Coupé in this segment and the inspiration for the exotic and rare LF-A, as well as the 2012 LF-LC concept, is all too evident.
The Lexus RC sets itself apart from its rivals clearly, in style. Lexus may call its visual language L-Finesse, but “finesse” seems to have less and less.
Where its rivals reveal a more controlled and restrained dynamic aesthetic, even conveying some elegance, the Lexus RC reveals itself much more expressive. All elements are bolder and more aggressive, with sharp lines, sharp cuts and dynamic surfaces. And nothing exemplifies it better than the most imposing and aggressive interpretation of the “spindle grille” on a production Lexus to date. Lower and wider than in other iterations, it imposes the emphasis on aggressiveness found in the rest of the bodywork.
Like it or not, at least you don't suffer from indifference. The question that arises is whether the visual boldness will attract more than it will repel, or whether it will be enough to divert potential customers from the standard and more established options of the segment.
To conclude with some facts, the Lexus RC, based on the IS, also has rear wheel drive, front engine in longitudinal position and 4 seats. At the Tokyo salon, we will see the first two engines. The Lexus RC 350 features a 3.5 liter petrol v6, while the Lexus RC 300h is a hybrid, where it combines a 2.5 liter inline 4 cylinder and an electric motor like the IS 300h. It is expected that both engines will have the same number of horses as the IS, so the RC 350 should have 310hp and the RC 300h a total of 223hp.
Relative to the IS, the Lexus RC is longer and wider by 3cm (4.69m by 1.84cm), shorter by 4cm (1.39m) and has a shorter wheelbase of around 7cm (2.73m). As a reference, it is a few centimeters larger than a BMW 4 series in all dimensions, except for the wheelbase, where the BMW has more than 8cm, reaching 2.81m.
