Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Lexus fills the gap between the production RC F coupe and GT3 racecar

Albert Khoury
By

Lexus RC F GT Concept
Image used with permission by copyright holder
For those of you who find the street-legal Lexus RC F coupe a bit tame and the RC F GT3 racecar too extreme, get ready for one that is just right. Lexus is filling that gap with its RC F GT Concept, a track car that is making an appearance on the track between races at the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach this very weekend. We’ve seen this car in its earlier stages of development at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June 2015, where it was driven to a fifth-place finish by Justin Bell.

The GT Concept was developed alongside the RC F production car by the Lexus Development Center in Japan, with support from the Lexus International Motorsports group. Weight was reduced by 800 pounds through extensive use of composite materials in the hood, roof, trunk lid, door panels, fenders, rear spoiler, interior trim, and dashboard; and the windows are composed of polycarbonate. The GT Concept employs the same 5.0 Liter DOHC V8 and 8-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic (with manual shifting mode) transmission, but has modified lubrication, cooling systems, and a performance exhaust system.

Recommended Videos

The GT Concept’s suspension has been reinforced for increased durability, and also features greater adjustability for the various conditions it will face in competition. The factory Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) control system has been modified to allow more versatility on the track.

“The GT Concept shows the opportunities of the platform and powertrain that underpins our F models,” said Lexus group vice president and general manager Jeff Bracken. “The high performance RC F coupe and GS F sedan are geared toward enthusiast drivers and make a very strong statement about Lexus’ engineering capabilities.”

The RC F GT Concept will be driven at Long Beach by Lexus pro racers Scott Pruett and Roger Yasukawa. Pruett is the most successful active driver in North American sportscar racing. He won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona four times, and has taken home championships in Trans Am, IMSA, and the Rolex Grand Am. He also boasts wins in CART, Le Mans, and IROC. He was recently signed as the Lexus factory driver for team F Performance Racing, which entered the RC F GT3 racecar in the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Roger Yasukawa grew up racing karts and formula cars in Japan, England, and the U.S., and turned pro at 21. He’s had success in Toyota-powered Formula Atlantics as well as IndyCars and IMSA GT cars. He has been a performance driver for Lexus USA since the IS F launched in 2007.

Topics
Albert Khoury
Albert Khoury
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Al started his career at a downtown Manhattan publisher, and has since worked with digital and print publications. He's…
Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations
The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more