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Japanese Lexus buyers offered 50 special RC Fs with carbon hoods, bespoke badges but no extra power
by Chris Chilton
October 5, 2023 at 09:30
The Lexus RC F turns 10 next year, and though a lack of earth-shattering updates since its launch means it’s comprehensively outgunned by rivals like the BMW M4 Competition, its naturally aspirated V8 means the F still holds plenty of appeal for real enthusiasts.
And to appeal to those enthusiasts Lexus Japan has come up with a pair of new special limited edition RC Fs, each with a subtly different look, but the same focus on improving the driving and ownership experience for fans of the characterful V8 coupe. They’ve both also got terrible English names, which probably sound okay to Japanese ears but sound awful to the rest of us, almost as if they were selected by AI. Meet the RC F Enthusiast and RC F Emotional Touring.
The new special edition models are based on an RC F equipped with the existing Performance Package and both feature a tweaked limited-slip differential and a special cover for the 5.0-liter, blower-free V8 bearing the words “Assembled by Lexus.” There’s another similar badge next to the window switches on the door card, as well as an F-logo puddle light.
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Where they differ markedly is in how they present themselves on the street. While the Enthusiast model has a relatively large bolt-on rear spoiler and a carbon hood with visible weave, the more genteel Emotional Touring variant hides its carbon hood under a coat of paint and has an active rear spoiler that thrusts into the airflow when speeds rise above 50 mph (80 km/h).
There are no changes to the engine, which appears to be the same one fitted to the Performance Package RC F. That means it’s modified to reduce internal friction, compared with the V8 in a regular RC F, though Lexus claims an identical 474 bhp (481 PS) for both versions.
You’ll pay the same ¥15,000,000 ($100,650) whichever one of the special edition cars you go for, but actually getting hold of one is the tricky part. Lexus is only building 25 of each, and as is often the case with limited-run cars in Japan, buyers will be selected by lottery after dealers have logged the details of all interested parties.
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