Apparently, I’m in the minority here, but I say the RC F Fuji Speedway Edition handles phenomenally.
- Car: 2021 Lexus RC F Fuji Speedway Edition
- Location: Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA
- Photog: Peter Nelson (IG + Twitter: @16vPete)
- Camera: Canon 6D, EF 50mm 1.8 AF
One thing I’ll agree with other reviewers on, though, is that this car isn’t for everybody. Whether by way of its six-figure price tag, or its wild looks. The former isn’t too bad in my opinion — it’s the Lexus Tax, which ensures better reliability and longevity down the road.
Luckily, everyone agrees that its tuned Toyota 2UR-GSE V8 is pure brilliance.
But based on other reviews I’ve read, I feel like I’m the only one who thinks the car handles well. I had a lot of fun with it on the twisty mountain roads above Santa Clarita. Traction control nannies stepped in a bit too much, but turning those systems off (easier to do than it is in most high-performance cars) and being a bit more careful with inputs made it a tight, controllable, rear-wheel drive riot. It was so communicative, had so much grip, the steering had great weight and feel, and it rotated so nicely. Maybe people who’ve driven the Fuji, as well as the non-special-edition Track Edition, forgot to turn traction control off on track.
See, the Fuji weighs less than a new BMW M4 across all trims, and just twenty pounds more than a Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R. GT350R is a more focused, higher-power beast, but still, the RC F can squab. Nearly 500 horsepower for 3,781 pounds isn’t anything to sneeze at.
People’s handling criticisms of the Fuji and standard Track Edition are too harsh. They should give it another go sometime, and be sure to turn traction control off. Then, learn to feel for how the Fuji wants to be driven fast. That’s another discussion right there; develop solid track driving skills, but also learn what individual chassis need to be driven fast.
