Lexus has announced a series of updates for its RC sports coupe in Australia, which cover a whole bunch of stuff, from the upgraded powertrain to new features and two additional paint finishes. One such novelty is the new adaptive control software for the eight-speed auto ‘box. The transmission, which is standard on both the RC 300 and the RC 350 models, offers improved gear changes, selecting a higher gear in normal driving modes to improve the fuel efficiency, and chooses and holds lower gears if sporty driving is detected.
The revised RC lineup also features a new
stabilizer bar at the rear, with an increased diameter and reduced wall
thickness. There is also a new high-strength aluminum upper arm, which reduces
weight and improves rigidity. The final hardware improvement comes in the shape
of an electric parking brake, which has replaced the old foot-operated pedal.
The engine options are unchanged, with the
RC 300 packing a turbocharged 2.0-liter petrol pumping out 245 PS and 350 Nm of torque, and returning 7.3 l/100 km (32.2 mpg US)
on average. The RC 350 uses a 3.5-liter V6 petrol, with 315 PS and 380 Nm, and has a combined fuel consumption of 9.1 l/100 km
(25.9 mpg US). The car’s safety has been improved with the addition of the new
Radar Active Cruise Control, which is standard across the range. Other tech
includes Pre-Collision Safety, Pre-Collision Braking with Pedestrian Detection,
Lane Departure Warning with Steering Assist, Blind Spot Monitor with Lane
Change Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, reversing camera and automatic high
beams.
Features such as the heated and ventilated
power-operated front seats, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control,
10.3-inch infotainment system with sat-nav, digital radio and smartphone
integration, and Pioneer premium audio are still on deck. Pricing for the 2021
RC starts at AU$ 67,990 (US$ 49,712) Down Under, while the cheapest V6-powered
model is available from AU$ 70,736 (US$ 51,720), a AU$ 100 (US$ 73) premium over
the outgoing iteration.
