2022 Lexus RC Redesign
2022 Lexus RC Redesign– The Japanese website, Best Car, reports that a potential Mazda & Toyota platform sharing partnership could feature a second-generation Lexus RC coupe built on the Mazda platform and powered by Mazda engines.
Turning around, it finds a rare and bizarre automotive announcement buried in Mazda’s March 2019 financial results, which states that new rear-wheel-drive architecture, the petrol and diesel-powered Skyactiv-X inline 6 – partner Skyactiv-D is under development.
Using a literal translation, the fourth-generation Lexus IS will launch in 2020 as a TNGA platform vehicle powered by a Toyota / Lexus V6 (fortunately, there’s no mention of the BMW inline 6-powered IS). Following this, the fifth-generation successor will launch sometime in 2026 and use the upcoming Mazda RWD Large Architecture and offer the Mazda Skyactiv-X inline 6.
Best Car takes it one step further, showing that the next generation RC coupe in 2022 will be the first Mazda / Lexus collaboration. This will put a stop to the idea that the coupe will be scrapped, even though there are so many moving parts of this rumor that it’s hard to see the truth.
However, until today there has been no accurate information regarding the 2022 Lexus RC, so to fulfill the information for our readers we will share the 2021 Lexus RC as a comparison.
The Lexus RC Coupe receives a number of minor updates for the 2021MY, which are highlighted by the new limited Black Line Special Edition.
Lexus will offer the RC Coupe 2021 with Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert as standard throughout its lineup while the exterior color palette now includes a new Grecian Water paint option in addition to eight more colors.
The two-door Lexus will be offered with the same engine range, which means the base model RC 300 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 241 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Customers who choose the RC 300 AWD 2021 will get a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine with 260 HP power and 236 lb-ft of torque with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Lexus RC 350 and Lexus RC RC 350 AWD models are powered by a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 311 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque. The rear-wheel-drive RC 350 uses an eight-speed automatic transmission while the all-wheel-drive variant gets a six-speed automatic.
Lexus will continue to offer the RC 350 in the form of a more dynamic F Sport, which is equipped with the optional Torsen limited-slip differential. 0-60 mph (96 km / h) comes in 5.8 seconds while the RC 350 AWD takes 6 seconds flat for the same procedure.
New Lexus RC Black Line
The Japanese automaker will only offer 350 units of the 2021 RC Black Line, which will be available as both the RC 300 and the RC 350. This new special edition is based on the F Sport trim level and is equipped with Premium Triple-Beam LED headlights. Black F Sport 19 inch chrome rims, and dark exhaust tip.
Customers can choose between the all-new Ultra White or Cloudburst Gray color options for the exterior while the limited-edition Lexus RC interior comes standard with silver stitching, Ash Wood trim, and Black Nuluxe accents.
In addition, all 2021 Lexus Black Line Special Edition models will come with a set of travel bags ordered from Zero Halliburton.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Lexus RC 300 is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 241 horsepower and is mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the only setup. We found that the automatic was suitable for a turbo-four, but the engine was not capable of pulling the RC in a fast manner. Lexus offers two versions of the V-6 to overcome the lack of power. Under the hood of the all-wheel-drive RC300, the V-6 produces 255 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed automatic.
The top-range Lexus RC 350 gets a 306-hp V-6 which works the same as eight-speed automatic (RWD only) or six-speed (AWD only). In our tests, we found this machine to be very smooth with linear power delivery, but still not as bold as its competitors. While it managed to run 5.7 seconds from zero to 60 mph, the BMW 440i coupe we tested did its thing in 4.4 seconds. Ride comfort is where RC works – and it does it’s very well. Upgrading to bigger wheels with lower-profile tires, as shown on the RC350 F Sport we tested, does provide a sharper edge when driving, but never rough. RC isn’t quite as scattered as the faster coupe when it comes to enthusiastic driving, but there’s still room to play. The steering wheel gives off a good sense of the road, and there’s enough feedback to let you know when the front tire loses grip on the curb.
Real-World Fuel Economy and MPG
The fuel economy ratings for all available Lexus RC engines are not outstanding and outperform most competitors. The real-world performance of a four-cylinder turbocharger on our road fuel-efficient test route turned out to be a disappointing 29 mpg; in our tests, many high-powered rivals matched or exceeded their road estimates. In fact, the more powerful RC350 F Sport we tested was exactly the same as the turbo-four result.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The well-made RC interior is stylish, comfortable, and spacious, but only for the front seat passengers. Its wild exterior styling also comes with an interior flaw: a big blind spot. The front seats on our RC350 F Sport test vehicle were supportive, well-cushioned, and wrapped in resilient leather. All RC models come with dual-zone automatic climate control that is adjusted with a touch-sensitive slider control that is surprisingly intuitive and easy to use.
Cargo space is limited on RC, so if you want to travel long distances it is best if you bring a light item with you. While the RC luggage swallowed up four of our carry-on bags, it only managed to add five with the two rear seats folded. Storing small items throughout the cabin isn’t that much, but Lexus’ rivals also don’t offer much.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All RC models come with a 7.0-inch infotainment display that is arranged inside a multi-level dashboard. The system is controlled by knobs and a series of buttons on the center console. When equipped with one of the two optional navigation packages, the system swaps the rotary knob for a laptop-style touchpad which is frustrating to use due to its imprecision. Onboard Wi-Fi with 4G LTE, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa integration are all standard, but you can’t get Android Auto.
Safety Features and Driver Assistance
RC has not been evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and did not get a Top Safety Pick the last time it was tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Otherwise, the RC 2021 has a stretch of standard driver-assist technology. Key security features include:
- Standard front collision warning and automatic emergency braking
- Maintenance of standard lane and lane departure warnings
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Protection
Lexus provides a longer powertrain warranty than most of its competitors, but other RC coverage is average. A year of free scheduled maintenance is great, but the
- The limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
- Free scheduled maintenance covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles