You don’t see many Lexus RC Fs cruising around the street or ripping laps at the track, and that’s a shame. I recently happened upon a massive row of them during a Long Beach Grand Prix event at Longo Lexus in El Monte, CA. It was a sort of pep rally for Lexus enthusiasts, and a bunch of customers and fans gathered for dinner, discussion, and for a meet-and-greet with Vasser Sullivan. About 20 street-driven RC Fs were in attendance, and it was quite the sight when they were all lined up.
- Car: Lexus RC F
- Location: El Monte, CA
- Photog: Peter Nelson (IG + Twitter: @16vPete)
- Camera: Canon 6D + Canon EOS 35-70mm EF Zoom
Vasser Sullivan, by the way, is Lexus Racing’s entry into International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) racing in the GTD class. The company fields two GT3-spec RC Fs in this class that have proven these big V8 coupes make excellent racecars.
They also make excellent road cars. They have double-wishbone independent suspension up front and multi-link independent suspension out back, naturally aspirated 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V8s, and they have great chassis dynamics. I’ve driven a few examples on the road and can attest to their total-riot status. They’re high-revving beasts that handle their higher curb weights very well and love to be slid around as much as possible.
The RC F is kind of a best-kept secret, especially when pitted against the much more expensive, complex, and heavy BMW F82 and G82 M4, but this small car show at Longo Lexus proved there are people who proudly sport them.
The one that’s prominently framed in the shot above is frequently driven on track by its owner, just as it should be.
