Lexus RC Turbo 2.0 (A) Review

2015 was a sad year for us car purists. It was the year, which saw Ferrari's halo 458 losing its screaming, naturally aspirated 4.5-litre V8 for a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre, and renamed as the 488.

Two other premium manufacturers announced the introduction of turbocharging into their lineup to replace displacement, namely the Porsche 911 Carrera's new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre flat-six in place of the old 3.4 and 3.8-litre units, and Lexus replacing the RC's 3.5-litre V6 unit for a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-pot.


But it seems Ferrari's and Porsche's turbo endeavours have proven our worst fears wrong, demonstrating that they too can excel with forced induced engines without compromising on driving pleasure. Question is... Can Lexus do the same?

Slower but steady

For starters, the RC Turbo shares the same engine as the IS Turbo. Its boosted four-pot churns a modest 241bhp and 350Nm of torque to the rear wheels by means of an eight-speed automatic. In comparison, the RC350 makes 312bhp and 378Nm.

The RC Turbo completes the century sprint in 7.5 seconds, 0.5 seconds slower than the IS Turbo. It's the consequence of the car's much heavier kerb weight, which measures 2,170kg. This makes the RC heavier than its BMW and Mercedes rivals.


While the RC Turbo doesn't excel in straight-line propulsion or provide the aural delight of the 350, its powertrain delivers super creamy performance. Magic from the turbocharger kicks in once you're past 2,500rpm, while gear shifts are quick, precise and unobtrusive.

For a car this heavy, the RC's returned fuel economy figure of 10.8km/L on our two-day drive is also respectable.

While not the best-in-segment in terms of driver involvement, the car does manage a sweet spot between comfort and performance handling in a way that sees it almost peerless. Steering feel is more natural than its Infiniti and Mercedes equals and it rides way more snugly than you'd presume of a flashy coupe.