In a Downsized Turbocharged World, the Lexus RC-F Is the V8 Beast We Need - Popular Mechanics
And Lexus finally smartened up and swapped the IS250's 2. 5-liter V6 for a 2. 0-liter turbo four that's way more powerful. And here, bucking the trend, we have the Lexus RC-F. This is the two-door coupe evolution of the IS-F sedan, which was an old-school hot rod of the Pontiac GTO ilk—Lexus' biggest engine stuffed into its smallest sedan. But instead of jettisoning the IS-F's 5. 0-liter V8 and building the new car around a turbocharged V6, Lexus doubled down on naturally aspirated goodness. Plus, the exhaust pipes now go all the way to the tips, something the couldn't be said of the IS-F, which had exhaust portals in the rear bumper even though the exhaust system itself ended about six inches shy of that. Maybe 467 horses doesn't sound like a lot in this crazy Hellcat world, but it's enough to make the RC-F feel like a serious sports coupe. Under throttle, V8 barking, this car feels more like the old M3 than the new M3 does. And while I never got a chance to drive the Lexus LF-A supercar, I will note that this Lexus coupe is within 100 horsepower of the LF-A for, what, an eighth the price. Yes, Lexus probably should've just bought ZF's eight-speed transmission like everyone else (the Aisin AA80E eight-speed feels. Source: www.popularmechanics.com
