Like many of you here on Club Lexus, forum member Carnevino is a big fan of the RC F. He said, “I bought the car this past January and have really enjoyed it so far. I applaud Lexus for designing a car like this.” You deserve some applause yourself, Carnevino. You had your own designs for improving your car’s looks and performance and made them into a rolling reality.
Carnevino started with the wheels, swapping the stock units out for a set of strong yet lightweight forged 20-inch six-spokers in an unusual grayish blue finish.
The underside of the F’s curvy white body now features sturdy upgraded front lower arm bushings, as well as “some camber arms along with better linkage bits” and rear camber and upper link kits. The exhaust Carnevino had installed emits such a satisfyingly deep rumble (to both Carnevino and his girlfriend) that it made him reconsider getting headers. However, he doesn’t think twice about flooring the loud pedal at low speeds just to hear the flame-blued tips of his car’s pipes let out a growl.
In the cabin, the steering wheel and rear center console received a low-key but high-class re-wrapping in Alcantara. The handsome exterior kit Carnevino‘s F now wears is equally tasteful.
Kudos to you, Carnevino. You’ve made quite the improvements to your car. We look forward to seeing more of them.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
