Turbo engine added to something-different coupé choice – here is Lexus RC 200t

Lexus has combined 2 new things it recently intoduced:  the RC coupé, and the new 200t turbo engine.  This equation makes Lexus RC 200t.

V6 joined by turbo 4

The Lexus RC was introduced earlier in 2015 as the first locally-available Lexus coupé since the supercar Lexus LF-A, and the only cabriolets were the SC 430 and the later IS 250C.

When the Lexus RC arrived, it sported the new L-finesse styling… and shy it is not.  The RC was launched here as the one-model RC 350 F-Sport, with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, and only in big-bumper aggressive-looking F-Sport spec.

Now a tamer version with the same 200t 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder as found in the NX 200t and, more recently, the IS 200t, is being offered in the Lexus RC 200t.

The Lexus RC 200t uses the same 180kW engine with 350Nm torque potential as the IS 200t sedan, and both have the 8-speed automatic gears, but its 7.5 is half a second slower for the stand-to-hundred sprint than the sedan, which is just wrong for a coupé.  They are the same size down to 3 cm in length, but the coupé is heavier.  This engine’s numbers of 180 and 350 are on the dot the same as the BMW 428i’s 2.0 turbo 4 – co-incidence?

For the turbo engine only the EX spec will be available, reserving the F-Sport for the V6.  The Lexus RC 200t EX loses the aerodynamic bits, but keeps a high spec level, with items including keyless entry, LED headlamps, front seats electric adjustment with heating and cooling, navigation, reverse camera, 235/45 R18 tyres, driver and front passenger knee airbags, sunroof,

Where’s the F?

If you were waiting for the Lexus RC-F with 5.0 V8 engine, you already missed it.  A few came in, but Toyota/Lexus SA says it could not bring the car in at a competitive price.  It competes against performance coupés like the BMW M4, Audi RS5, Mercedes-AMG C63 and Jaguar F-Type.

Surely local buyers would, just as they did the IS-F sedan, appreciate a proper V8 performance engine in a Lexus… especially if it is in an macho-presence sliced-styled coupé?

Stylish coupé choices

The Lexus RC finds itself in the unenviable deep waters against established and experience coupé market players like the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series, and Mercedes E-Class, where the RC 200t EX goes up against the likes of Audi A5 coupé 2.0T quattro, BMW 428i coupé and Mercedes-Benz E250 coupé.

The price of the Lexus RC 200t EX is R 649 000, but with all the equipment like navigation and LED headlamps as standard, one cannot directly compare standard-spec prices between Lexus and the others, as the RC would seem expensive, so when factoring in equipment, it competes on price.

The turbo 4 model undercuts the RC 350 F-Sport with V6 engine by R80k.  If you don’t want any of these and want a smooth good-sounding V6 engine, Infiniti plays the same game of being the alternative luxury brand – they have the ultra-rare ultra-curvy Infiniti Q60 coupé 3.7 GT at R 618 687.

The Lexus RC with new 200t engine makes for a something-different coupé choice.