Lexus RC 350 Luxury Review 2014

Lexus has learned a lot about sports coupes since the god awful SC430 from a decade or so back.

The good stuff took a while to happen and only really started with the IS250 Coupe. Then came the sensational LFA, a real game changer for the luxury Japanese brand.

Now there's the RC 350 Coupe, a gorgeous, affordable GT car that channels the LFA's styling encompassing the current Lexus design language called 'Lfinesse'.

THE COMPETITION

RC 350 Coupe is in against a swag of sharp competitors including BMW's 4-Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class Coupes as well as the Audi A5 Coupe. They are all real glamours, and all priced higher than the RC350 Coupe which kicks off at $66,000.

The big difference here is that the entry-level competition is four-cylinder powered and 2.0-litres or less, whereas the RC 350 has a sweet singing 3.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol V6 driving the rear wheels through an eight speed auto transmission.

LINEUP

Three models are offered: Luxury, F-Sport and Sports Luxury, with the top tier spanning up to $86,000.

But they're all pretty much the same underneath with the more expensive versions gaining more kit - all-wheel steer and variable gear ratio steering in the F-Sport.

Sports Luxury takes a different tack with adaptive variable suspension and a heavy hitting Mark Levinson audio system.

Two colours, Infrared and Cobalt Mica (blue), adopt a five-layer paint system from American hot rod scene. Talk about a mirror finish.

ENGINE

The 3.5-litre V6 engine sees duty in a number of other Lexus models including the GS, RX and IS.

It's a direct injection unit with fully variable valve timing that's good for 233kW/378Nm on 95RON petrol.

In the F-Sport, this translates into a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.1 seconds with combined fuel consumption at a claimed 9.4L/100km.

UNDERNEATH

Because the RC 350 Coupe is well equipped and a medium-large sized four-seat two door it weighs in at around 1700kg.

But that doesn't affect its dynamics which rate highly providing a striking level of cornering ability, braking and chassis control even on the base Luxury. Three drive modes are provided, Eco, Normal and Sport.

Step up to one of the others and things get even better particularly with the F-Sport scoring rear steer.

The car feels like a luxury sports sedan when you turn up the wick and there's even a growl from the exhaust to stir your soul – most un-Lexus-like. The chassis is a new construct owing nothing to any other Lexus model.

Suspension is by double wishbones up front and a multi-link rear – as it should be. The brakes are large diameter with four piston calipers up front, sitting in 18 or 19-inch wheels depending on the model.

KIT

The base Luxury gets LED headlights and fog lights, leather trim, electric steering adjust, electric adjust front seats with heating and ventilation, smart entry and start, satnav, reverse camera, multimedia screen, Lexus Remote Touch controller, premium audio, front and rear parking sensors, self-tint mirrors inside and outside, 60/40 folding rear seat.

A range of driver assist features are fitted or optional in packs, with the higher spec models gaining more of these high tech goodies. Available is lane departure warning, auto high beam, rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert, blind spot monitor, active cruise control, pre-collision safety system. Lexus Vehicle Dynamic management is on all models.

In luxury terms the RC 350 Coupe is well credentialed with the latest digital multimedia system called Enform and paddle shift.

DRIVING

It came as something of a shock to find that the RC 350 is a real sharp tool in the turns. We were expecting a slush mobile but nothing could have been further from the truth. 

It was a ball to drive this car with verve, to feel the brakes bite hard, the hook around tight corners, to use its power to precisely position the car.

And all this in the lap of Lexus luxury in a car that really stands out from the crowd.