In the world of premium sports coupes, the BMW M3 has reigned supreme since, well, forever. This meant fencing off some serious challengers from its competitors.

Merc, Audi etc all have tried to beat it and, even though some came close, their best just weren’t good enough to convince motoring journalists as well as enthusiasts that they could best the icon from Munich.

The thing is, this time BMW’s M Division has decided to stir things a bit instead of sticking with the old, time-tested formula. For one, they ditched the naturally-aspirated V8 in favor of a twin-turbocharged straight six. They also decided to rename it (horror of horrors for the M3 lovers) the M4, keeping the M3 designation for the four-door version only.

Lexus, though, didn’t follow the trend of downsizing for its brand new top-of-the-line sports coupe. The RC F is powered by a V8 that shuns forced induction in the name of throttle response, high revs and a howling sound.

Its predecessor, the IS F, didn’t manage to upstage its main rival. That’s a mission Lexus hopes its latest coupe will accomplish. Motor Trend’s Carlos Lago has put the two rivals through their paces and he sure didn’t spare their rear tires or mince his words.

So, how does the RC F fare against the M4? Let’s find out by watching the video right after the jump.

By Andrew Tsaousis

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