Impressing show-goers at the recent 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the new Lexus Racing concept features incredible styling and high-performance goodness. Developed to meet Group GT3 international racing standards, Lexus Racing plans to turn RC F GT3 concept into a full-blooded race car and offer the vehicle to race teams just in time for the 2015 season. In the meantime, there’s plenty to love about the concept while it is undergoing further testing and development to prepare for race world domination.
RC F Concept Specs Show Who Lexus is Targeting
With all the recent interest in hybrid racing technology, Lexus seems to have gone “old school” and designed a race car around a good old fashioned V8 (rated at 540hp). This is good for racers, as V8s are somewhat more reliable than turbocharged V6s, and they also produce more torque.
Of course, the really exciting news is that the RC F GT3 car weighs in at about 2800 lbs…that’s about the same curb weight as a brand new Scion FR-S. The horsepower-to-weight ratio of 5.1 lbs/hp is better than that of a 2014 Corvette Stingray or 2014 911 Carrera S. Speaking of the 2014 Corvette, the RC F is dimensionally quite similar (you can see all the official specs here).
It’s no coincidence that the GT3 version of the RC F is Porsche and Corvette like in size, power, etc. Lexus is clearly gunning for these cars, and their production RC F may very well give Porsche and Chevrolet a run for their money.
You Can’t Win Races with Looks, But Lexus is Trying
Even though the RC F GT3 concept car premiered alongside a great-looking RC 350 F Sport, and despite debuting at a show filled with exciting new concepts, the RC F GT3 concept was the proverbial “show stopper.” It was hard to ignore (and yes, the tacky graphics might have played a role in that too), and most observers fell in love with the car’s mix of looks and power.
First off, the appearance is intimidating. This concept is decked out as a race car, so it’s easy to get the impression that this concept is ready to be unleashed on a proper track. The massive rear spoiler, a very heavily modified and distinct looking front bumper, and a unique vented hood all add to the concept’s allure. It’s also wearing a set of racing wheels and sitting on a lowered racing suspension. With all the aerodynamic touches, the loud graphics, and the good looks of the basic model, the RC F GT3 car looks fantastic.
Powertrain Doesn’t Disappoint
Most concepts are window dressing. They’ve got a cool look or a neat feature, but the engine is nothing more than a dressed-up version of the stock motor.
With this concept, there’s some real “meat and potatoes.” The stock 5.0L V8 has been tuned to produce 540+ horsepower. In case you were wondering, this engine is derived from the production RC-F engine that makes 455 horsepower and 383 pounds-ft of torque — power good enough for a 4.5 0-60 mph and a top speed of 168 miles per hour.
Massaging an engine to boost power 18% is no small accomplishment, and methinks it has something to do with removing the Atkinson cycle tuning from the stock engine. If so, this is fantastic news for enthusiasts, as it means that they can purchase a new RC F, re-tune the motor, and pick up a tremendous amount of power (not all 18%, but a good portion).
Finally, Lexus hasn’t been forthcoming about what drivetrain they’re matching up to the concept, but that may be because the drivetrain hasn’t been finalized. A good guess is that it will be matched with a transmission similar to the 8-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission which is currently being used in the RC 350 F.
We normally don’t get too excited about concept cars, and we really don’t get that excited about Lexus concepts, at least not traditionally. In years gone by, Lexus has made a habit of producing underwhelming sports coupes. However, in this case, we think the race-inspired RC F concept goes a long way to showing Toyota’s commitment to building a great (and attainable) Lexus sports car. If the production RC F has a 10th of the GT3 concept’s energy, it’s going to be a great car.
See Lexus RC F for sale on eBay.
