A Closer Look at the Limited 2021 Lexus RC-F Fuji Speedway
The hefty RC-F sheds some weight.
Car Front
The Lexus RC-F is a well established muscle car with an excellent reputation for performance and quality. Last year they offered a special edition called the "Track Package". That name did not go over very well since this is really a heavy street machine. So this year the same basic offering is now called the "Fuji Speedway" edition. It is not likely to matter which name is better, as only 50 examples were made last year, and the production number will be a whopping 60 for 2021. They will all be sold soon enough. Let's see what we are getting for our money.
Text and photos by Chad Haire
Brakes/Wheels
Let's start with the brakes, which are the coveted (and very expensive) carbon-ceramic type. The front rotors are 14.9 inch with six-piston red calipers and high friction pads. The rear is the same size with a four-piston setup. These are designed to be driven hard, and the hotter they get, the better they perform. For racing on the track, or whizzing through tight mountain roads, these are what we need. The only drawback is in slow city commuting, the rotors don't heat up as much, and those pads can make groaning or squeaking sounds that can be annoying. This is not really a big deal. It is just a trait of many ceramic/pad designs. This system usually adds about $10-$15K to the car's price tag, so great stopping ability isn't cheap! Michelin sport performance tires are mounted on 19-inch ultra-light forged alloy wheels, to save weight.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Fiber Trim
But wait there's more! The RC-F has always been a heavy beast. To trim more weight, there is plenty of carbon fiber tacked on. The hood, roof, rear diffuser, and lower front air spoiler are constructed of this light modern material. The latter rides close to the ground, so caution must be used when racing over speed bumps, or driving up to curbs. The total weight is listed at 3,781 lbs compared to a stock RC-F at 3,902. My calculator lists that difference at only 121 lbs.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Rear Wing
What would a performance car be without a rear wing tacked on the rear hatch? It is made of carbon fiber as well. It’s intended to increase stability at its claimed speed of 170mph, which we did not attempt.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Exhaust
The titanium exhaust system has four tips, suggesting there is some serious power under the hood. So does the sound it makes.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Price
A standard RC-F starts at about $68,000. The Fuji unit starts at $97,100. Hey, carbon fiber isn't cheap! We were shocked to see the extra fee for LED headlights and navigation/stereo. Since all 60 production cars will get there, why not just make everything standard? The total tab is $102,510. That is close to what we pay for a nice Lexus LC-500, but it would not be as exclusive as this car.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Engine
Under the hood is a proven stock RC-F V-8. It puts out 472 horsepower at 7,100 rpm. Lexus says the 0-60 mph time drops from 4.2 seconds to 3.96 with the lighter Fuji edition. I guess that sounds better than rounding it off to 4.0 seconds? While the car doesn't really feel quicker, it certainly sounds better with that loud exhaust when the gas pedal is mashed. A launch control button assists in acceleration contests.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Shifter
For choosing gears manually, paddle shifters are located on the steering wheel where they belong, not the steering column as some other brands do. Thank you Lexus for getting it correct.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Trunk
The trunk is 10 cubic feet, so there is no room for a spare tire, just an inflating air pump. The fuel tank is underneath, and that small 17-gallon capacity goes dry fast if you drive quickly!
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Controls
This control knob offers ECO, NORMAL, and SPORT/SPORT+ drive modes.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Touchpad
The info screen is controlled by a finger touch pad. It takes some practice to operate.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Info Screen
The info screen is large enough and gives a great view.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Gauges
The gauge cluster is well designed and provides lots of useful information.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
Vehicle Rear
The RC-F Fuji is not for everybody, but since only 60 units are available, or 59 since this one is spoken for, not everybody will be able to get one anyway.
>>Join the conversation about the Fuji Speedway RC-F right here in the ClubLexus forum.
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.