It has been a couple of years since Lexus first introduced the RC F Track Edition and the guys at Throttle House have now had their first chance to put the car through its paces.
Like the standard RC F, the Track Edition features a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 that incorporates a revised intake routing and a lower trigger point for the secondary intake opening than previous iterations of this engine. As such, it pumps out 472 hp and 395 lb-ft (536 Nm) of torque and while that is less than forced-induction rivals like the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe, the screaming V8 sounds much better.
Read Also: Lightweight Lexus RC F Drifter Rocks A Toyota 2JZ Engine With 1,200 HP!
Various weight-saving measures were made with the RC F Track Edition. For example, it features carbon fiber across the hood, roof, and rear wing and comes standard with a titanium exhaust and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes as well as 19-inch forged BBS wheels that reduce unsprung weight. All up, it weighs 80 kg (176 lbs) less than a standard model and the extra aero bits provide 58 lbs (26.3 kg) of additional downforce.
The reviewers were obviously very fond of the engine and found that until nine-tenths, the car is loads of fun to drive. However, for a Track Edition, it doesn’t handle as well as you would expect. It is also very difficult to drift and doesn’t feel at home on the edge of grip.