Being that the RC-F is the highest trim level, why do the other models have more features/options? Top three are the sliding bezel from the LFA, rear steering, and AWD. An AWD RCF would be interesting.

 

Actually, they are not missing. There is an official justification for all of the items you described above

1 - Sliding Bezels is standard on the base RC and IS gauge. It is actually been around since 2013 in the IS. RCF's gauge cluster actually is wider so it has more functions available with the fixed screens. Moving bezel might look cool to some, but ultimately is pointless when there are wide enough screens. I recently played with the moving bezel in IS500 and it was pretty basic compared to what the RCF has in terms of screen paging/functions and customizability. Simply does not have the "real estate" for all of the functions Lexus put in the RCF/GSF gauge.

2 - Rear steering (RWS) is again found on the base RC350. RCF did not need it because Lexus developed a more superior/dynamic system for the RCF, which is torque vectoring differential. It essentially does the same thing except it is more dynamic/natural in the sense it can apply infinite combinations of forward/reverse torque split as well as calculate in only 1/1000th of a second. It can apply reverse torque for late braking and split torque side to side depending on how the corner balance of the car is even variable in reverse direction during the initial turn-in.

3 - RWD is more fun, challenging and balanced, but now even M cars going AWD. Maybe, Lexus might change their minds and do an AWD F-car in the future.

My own gripe was the OEM exhaust system. It should have been a valved system opening at around 4000 rpm. My RCF had an MSRP of $96K CAD so I would expect it in such an expensive car. Invidia fixed it to a great degree, but I would have expected exhaust to sound aggressive out-of-the-box.

Rest of the world RCF with carbon/TVD got a carbon fiber hood, but in the US and Canada, only the track edition comes with the carbon fiber hood.

19 inch wheels are a bit small for the size of the fenders, but 20 inch wheels are a double-edged sword as they add weight/rotational mass so both goods and bads.

My RX450h has power folding mirrors while my higher-end RCF does not. Apparently, they are in the Euro/JDM market RCFs, but not in the NA spec RCF.

 

Different animals have different features.

One is an F car and the other is not. While one of the cats below can drink milk out of a saucer the other does other things much much better. There’s a focus to each car.

 

If we're talking gripes, my own gripe is the lack of customizability of the instrument panels. As a daily driver who is an "older fellow" I want things large enough to actually see them. Outside air temp on the top left in tiny digits doesn't cut it (where I live it is always of note to wife and I). An analogue speedo in the bottom right doesn't cut it. Since most of the instruments are not direct readout (ie, electronic screen), you ought to be able to SEE what you WANT not what some idiot engineer thinks you OUGHT to be interested in.

 

Agreed abou the gauge cluster info. It's really stupid how you can't customize what or how things should read out in menus.

IE: Previous gen RCFs had a nice menu showing tire pressure and the wing position on one screen. That's nice. On the face lfited versions I have a separate screen for the wing position and a separate screen for tire pressure readings. THEN, I have a entire screen just to change from MPH/KPH.. .when that should be a setting inside the infotainment to change, NOT the gauge cluster. It's really quite stupid on some of the layouts that they did and in what order they did it in. I love toyota/lexus but sometimes they do some really stupid crap that doesn't seem like a "normal" person got in the car and said "why is it like this? it would make more sense like this"...etc.

We also didn't get power folding mirrors for some idiotic reason here in the states. $80k MSRP of a car with no power folding mirrors... really lexus?!?! I'm working on that for the face lifted version so it would be awesome to be the first person to retro fit the power folding mirrors. I'll update with that when the time comes in a few weeks hopefully. But certain things just seem like they weren't paying attention.

-Nigel

 

AWD would probably be a bit hard to integrate in the RC F, though Dodge did fit AWD and a 5.7 Hemi in the Charger Police Package. That said, there is a lot less space in the engine bay of most Lexus cars (It's hard enough to change the spark plugs on the RC F, imagine trying to fit an AWD system in there)

 

Had I gotten the 350 Fsport, I would have wanted the AWD. I like feeling connected to the road. That being said, with the TVD, even though the rear end feels like it is going to try to overtake the front seats in a turn, it doesn't do so most of the time. The times it has let loose, it was mostly on wet pavement and was pretty easily controlled by taking the foot from the accelerator. In fact, I've been playing on dry pavement in turns to see when it does, in fact, lose grip. So far, hasn't done it with Tvd in slalom.

 

Pretty much boils down to economics, physical room/engineering, and differentiating the models.

The accountants and marketing dept have to sell the cars in the markets and they compete against the other manufacturers.

They could add every feature under the sun but at what cost to the consumer? The car would eventually be priced even higher then it’s competition which buyers do consider. They gamble on people willing to give up certain features and still buy the car.

The RCF is a performance car and having AWD and rear steer and any other options just add weight to an already very heavy car and they add very little in terms of benefit. The RCF is a completely misunderstood car in terms of why it comes with certain features like a TVD. It really is a drivers car but people don’t know how to truly drive it.

As for the sliding bezel, that is a gimicky thing that will end up being stupid expensive to replace when it breaks. That being said, the tiny little speedo to the right lower of the Center display is also pointless. The gauges could use a better layout IMO and agreed a little more customization ability could go a long way. Setting up the gauges is very confusing and reading the manual is useless.

Having some of the info pop up on the infotainment is not a bad idea either. The gauges should be focused on key relevant info IMO.

Myself I am not one to pine for folding mirrors and other electronic gizmos. IN my mind the less the better as they all break eventually and aren’t cheap to repair. I’d rather not deal with the hassle.