Lexus RC F Exercises Power Over AMG C63 S (Fridays are for F Presented by Continental ExtremeContact DWS^{06 Plus})

Lexus proves that performance is more than just numbers, as the RC F faces AMG on a wet track. 

What best defines performance? If we could answer that definitively we’d have every automaker knocking down the door for that secret formula. It is hard to pinpoint because it varies by each person, as well as by vehicle. One important factor is how that car handles in real life. Strip away the specs and the beautifully shot photos and put rubber to the road. Ultimately, that is the best way to see, hear, and feel the power in action. This week’s Friday is for F will focus on the sporty Lexus RC F coupe on the road. The high-performance Lexus is throwing down with … a Mercedes-AMG C63 S.

Uh-oh. This might be an underdog story, or a cautionary tale.

The Contenders 

Mercedes-AMG is known for high-performance vehicles with blistering potency. And we can’t even pretend that the AMG C63 S isn’t a stunning coupe: it is breathtaking. Elegant and savage, the AMG 4.0L V8 biturbo turns out 503 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Its track-inspired chops send it from 0 to 60 in 3.7-seconds.

The Lexus RC F is coming into this race at a disadvantage, but this is no David to AMG’s Goliath. Lexus has a bombshell and a powerhouse in the RC F. Sleek and dynamic, it gets aggressive under the hood with the 5.0-liter V8 making 472 horses, 395 lb-ft of torque, and sprinting 0 to 60 in 4.2-seconds.

The Starting Line 

Motor magazine conducted the test for their YouTube channel. Host Daniel Gardner is driving the Lexus, and Andy Enright behind the wheel of the AMG. And despite the AMG’s advantages on paper, Andy is concerned. Track conditions are pretty miserable at Melbourne’s Heathcote track. However, the AMG C63 S is sporting track tires, while the RC F has more road-capable tires that are grippier on a wet track.

The Action

Lexus launches off the line with ferocity. And it just blows Gardner away.

“This Lexus!” he exclaims, coming hot off the line. “That is incredible traction!” He just keeps going faster and further from the AMG. And, well, we’ll just say it: Lexus gaps the Mercedes-AMG!

It is a great quarter-mile run, even with all the obstacles Lexus RC F rises to the occasion. While the AMG has power, torque, and velocity in excess; it was not applied to the car, not as reigned in as the Lexus. In this bout, it was all about traction, grip, the right tires, and optimizing the power on tap.

Check out the video to see the two luxe sports coupe duke it out, plus additional track action including a 0 to 62 sprint.

Lexus proves that performance is more than the sum of its numbers–it is also its responsiveness, ride quality, and adaptability. And being a pure riot to drive.

Photos: Motor

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S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.