Adam Davis•26 Nov 2014
NEWS
Lexus RC 350 priced below $70K
V6 coupe undercuts German prestige rivals by tens of thousandsLexus Australia has revealed its new RC 350 will be sure to delight bargain hunters in the market for a prestige V6 coupe.
As is becoming the Lexus norm, the RC 350 range comprises three levels of trim, commencing with the Luxury at $66,000 plus on-roads – only $670 more than the IS 350 sedan equivalent, and considerably less than similarly specified 4 Series, C-Class and A5 coupes. Moving up to the F Sport variant lifts the price as well – to $74,000 plus on-roads – while the range-topping Sports Luxury sits at $86,000 plus on-roads.
The Luxury variant isn't exactly ill-equipped, featuring satellite navigation via a 7.0-inch multimedia screen, reversing camera, front and rear parking sonar, keyless entry/start, powered front seats with heating and ventilation functions and leather accented trim, one-touch entry to the rear seats, 10-speaker audio with digital radio and Bluetooth capability. Externally, LED head and fog lights, electrochromatic mirrors and 18-inch wheels are standard.
A $2500 moonroof is also available on Luxury, by specifying 'Enhancement Pack 1'.
F Sport (available from $74,000 plus on-roads) adds bespoke interior and exterior styling with Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio, specific F Sport steering wheel and memory function seats, but more importantly gains adaptive damping, variable ratio steering and dynamic rear steering to aid agility. Rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring are also added, and the F Sport rides on 19-inch alloys.
Two enhancement packs are available for RC 350 F Sport. The first adds the moonroof ($2500), while the second brings a pre-collision safety system, active cruise control, lane departure warning, smart card access, auto high-beam lighting and the moonroof for an additional $7300.
The Sports Luxury ($86,000 plus on-roads) gains the smart card, active cruise, pre-collision safety, blind spot monitor with cross-traffic alert, auto-high beam lights and lane departure warning as standard. The Sports Luxury interior features semi-aniline trim and 'Shimamoku' interior ornamentation.
So that's how the RC 350 stacks up on price – a V6 for the price of a German four-cylinder. The V6 in question is the brand's familiar 3.5-litre, dual-injected petrol V6, complete with 'Lexus Active Generator', which 'uses the intake air pulse to raise the sound-pressure level at specific frequencies that are perceived to be favourable'.
Capable of producing 233kW at 6400rpm and 378Nm torque at 4800rpm, the naturally-aspirated V6 produces no more power in the two-door than it does in the IS 350 sedan. The slippery shape does however contribute to a slight improvement in fuel economy, now 9.4L/100km (down from 9.7L/100km).
An eight-speed automatic transmission, capable of locking its torque converter from second to eighth gear for 'clutchless' shifting, and rear-wheel drive complete the driveline.
The front section of the RC 350's chassis is based on the GS-line, the central section linked to the IS C convertible (for high body rigidity), with the rear inspired by the IS-line. The combination further benefits from six additional body braces designed to enhance the structure's rigidity and aid input response. For the first time in a Lexus, high rigidity glass adhesive is used to allow the window glass to be a structural member of the chassis.
According to Lexus spokesman Nigel Tunnell-Jones, the RC 350 "wholesales this Friday [28 November]".
Stay tuned for our first drive impressions.
Tags
Lexus
RC
Car News
Performance Cars
Prestige Cars
Written byAdam Davis
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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