the very ragged edge. No, it pays to keep in mind the philosophy
of this car’s creator, which we are told about between sessions.
Yuuichi Tsurumoto, chief engineer, likes throttle-steer, is big on
playfulness, a classic-feeling mechanical limited slip diff, old-
school passive dampers and in creating a car for someone who is
new to track work. And the RC F Track Edition fits that bill easily.
This is one of those cars that works hard to please you, and you
end up liking it, even though you know it’s not objectively the
best gadget around. It’s fast, but it doesn’t turn the knuckles white
under acceleration like a BMW M4 or AMG C63, nor does it fry
its rear tyres as easily as these cars. In fact, on anything but a flat,
or downhill corner, you will need to work fairly hard to overcome
the grip of those Michelins to get the RC F Track Edition sliding,
where a C63 will do it not even with full throttle. Undoubtedly,
though, it’s a fun car, indeed playful, and it says much that we did
not turn down a single opportunity to get another go in the RC F
TrackEditionaroundWillow Springs.
Anotherremarkworth making is a sacrifice you may have to
makeinordertoaccess the enhanced circuit ability of the Track
Edition– ridequality. It seems Japanese engineers can still be
a bitoldschoolinapproach, when it comes to increasing the
sportinessoftheirsports cars, in that they aren’t shy to simply
crankupthespringrates. Until we drive it on the road we can’t
sayforsure,but thisseems true of the Track Edition, to the
pointthatwealmost– guiltily – enjoyed more a base RC F that
Lexusalsoletusdriveon track. Its adaptive dampers worked the
bumpyWillowSprings surface more confidently, even though
its portliness was more obvious and the stock brakes were
completelynot upto the task. Undoubtedly, the RC F Track
Editionwouldprefera smoother track like Phillip Island.
IstheRCF justa sumo trying to be a ninja? No. It has proper
track credentials, but it bespeaks the car’s actual intended
purposethatthesuspension is not a bit adjustable – a la other
track-marketedcars– and Lexus does not offer something like a
MichelinPilotSportCup 2 as an option. Your mates in M4s and
C63smightgiveyoua hard time about buying an RC F Track
Edition,butwithless than 10 coming to Australia, the usual
twin-turboGermancoupes may as well be invisible parked
nexttotheangriestLexus since the LFA. And for some, that’s
allthatmatters.ABOVE
2UR-GSE 5.0-litre
V8 getting on a bit
but frankly we aren’t
complaining. Long live
the Japanese atmo V8!BELOW
Staggered quad pipes
hark back to IS F and
not to everyone’s
taste, unlike the
gorgeous titanium
discolourationABOVE
Incredible attention to
detail obvious when
checking out the new
headlights and tail-
lights as part of the
general facelift➜
52 may 2019 whichcar.com.au/motorThe Specs
AtmoV8samuraiLEXUS RC F TRACK EDITION
BODY 2-door, 2-plus-2 seat coupe
DRIVE rear-wheel
ENGINE 4969cc V8, DOHC, 32v
BORE/STROKE 94 x 89.5mm
COMPRESSION 12.3:1
POWER 351kW @ 7100rpm
TORQUE 530Nm @ 4800-5600rpm
POWER/WEIGHT 204kW/tonne
TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic
WEIGHT 1715kg
SUSPENSION double wishbone, dampers, coil-springs anti-roll bar
(f); multi-link, dampers, coil springs, anti-roll bar (r)
L/ W/H 4710/2050/1390mm
WHEELBASE 2730mm
STEERING electrically assisted rack-and-pinion
BRAKES 380mm carbon ceramic discs, 6-piston calipers (f);
380mm carbon ceramic discs, 4-piston calipers (r)
WHEELS 19.0 x 9.0-inch (f); 19.0 x 10.0-inch (r)
TYRE SIZES 255/35 ZR19 (f); 275/35 ZR19 (r)
TYRE Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
PRICE AS TESTED $165,690
PROS Fun; noise; response; durability; cool design details
CONS Still feels heavy and a bit old; turbo rivals are quicker
STAR R ATI N G 11113