This Is The Hardcore RC F We Desperately Want Lexus To Build

With a heavy kerb weight, lifeless steering and weak brakes, the RC F has never been a true M4 rival. This hardcore version could change that, however...
This Is The Hardcore RC F We Desperately Want Lexus To Build

We have a soft spot for the Lexus RC F. It looks phenomenal, features a naturally-aspirated 471bhp V8 engine and has brilliant on-road dynamics. But it’s never been able to hold a candle to the class-leading BMW M4 on track. Held back by soft suspension, vague steering and a kerb weight of 1765kg, it almost feels wrong to drive it hard. And as a result, we’ve never fully gelled with the quirky Japanese machine.

This Is The Hardcore RC F We Desperately Want Lexus To Build

What we wanted was a stiffer, track-orientated version, something to take on the might of the Porsche 911 GT3RS and BMW GTS. Unfortunately, there are no plans to put such a car into production, so we’ll have to be make do with this RC F GT Concept instead. Produced by Lexus as a demonstration car, the GT is heavily based on the RC F GT that Justin Bell drove to 5th place at last year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

This Is The Hardcore RC F We Desperately Want Lexus To Build

Lexus describes the GT as a mix between a street-legal RC F production car and the full-bore IMSA RC F GT3 race car. It features composite panels (resulting in a weight loss of 363kg/800lbs), adjustable suspension, and a re-worked traction control system. Surprisingly, the 4969cc, 32-valve V8 remains pretty stock, with a modified cooling system and performance exhaust being the two stand out modifications. We hope that Lexus at least considers releasing a ‘performance pack’, because we need that wing in our lives!

If you want to see this car in action, it will be on track between races at the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (CA) this weekend.

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Comments

Dat Boi

OEM entrant to the big wang gang

04/14/2016 - 15:55 |
2 | 2
04/14/2016 - 17:21 |
6 | 4
Fin Jimbo

Too big spoiler and too fast.

04/14/2016 - 17:32 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Looks like it belongs in a fast and furious film…which i like

04/14/2016 - 18:41 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

:O

04/14/2016 - 18:59 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Well, the m4 is also quite heavy and has lifeless steering, so…

04/14/2016 - 23:24 |
6 | 0
THEmajicCARPET

Looks very familiar oh wait thats why

04/15/2016 - 01:56 |
18 | 0
Rich F

Weight loss of 363kg/800lbs = as near as damn it 1400Kg.
That’s a massive saving that should (IMO) have been on the production car when it left the factory.

04/15/2016 - 03:25 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Rich F

and then everyone will be claiming it’s too expensive and not worth the price

04/15/2016 - 04:35 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

I’ve always liked the RC-F myself too, but the weight always perplexed me. Dimension-wise its not a very big car, so I always wondered where the fatness came from. Now if they could pull 363kg/800lbs (or approximately an entire American) out of it, I imagine the replaced panels must have been made of depleted uranium.

04/15/2016 - 08:17 |
2 | 0
Don Caven

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I’d guess it’s something to do with the frame. Toyota’s higher end cars have had a weight problem for a while now— the A70 supra may be as skinny as some generations of miata, but it still weighs close to 3800lbs full of gas, and that’s a car from 30 years ago.

04/19/2016 - 02:12 |
2 | 0