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Ben Barry from CAR Magazine was ready to write off the RC F in his recent comparison article but disliking the Lexus was harder than he originally thought. Sure the RC F Carbon Edition costs £8k more than the £60k RC F for that 10kg in weight savings, thus putting it £11k above the BMW M4 and £34k Mustang but it makes up for it in other areas.
The luxurious alacantra and leather bolster seats will hold you in place while you maneuver the coupe around bends with its small and tactile steering wheel. The driver’s seating position could be lower but its current seating height is sufficient. Where the RCF really shines is with its V8 and drive feel.
Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 5.0 litre V8 engine that “emits a silky, restrained hum.” While the sound may be restrained, the power is anything but. With an engine output of 471bhp at 7100rpm and 391lb ft of torque at 4800-5600rpm, the RC F is generally leading the bunch, only coming in second to the BMW M4 in terms or torque by a meager 15lb ft. Following behind is the Mustang and while it is a great deal cheaper than both the Lexus and BMW, its power and chassis was made to feel like a starter Mustang as a compromise.

As for the RC F’s gearbox, it is not as light as the M4’s and it could be a smidge cheaper but Ben still found it engaging especially in Sport S or Sport S+ mode. The increased throttle response and quick acceleration will bring “an enhanced sense of connectivity” to the driver.
When given the option to drive home in one, the Lexus RC F was chosen without hesitation.