{"id":404711,"date":"2024-01-09T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=404711"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"The-2024-Lexus-RC-350-a-classic-grand-touring-coupe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/The-2024-Lexus-RC-350-a-classic-grand-touring-coupe\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2024 Lexus RC 350: a classic grand touring coupe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, isn\u2019t this the throwback?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not often that you get into a new car, let alone a sports coupe, and are confronted with a Compact Disc player. I admire Toyota\u2019s willingness to still offer a car with one, and my guess is that many Lexus buyers still own a stack of CDs. I once did, and digitized them all, a job that took some time, given that I had hundreds. But do I miss having a CD player? No more than I miss radio stations, with their idiotic verbose morning drive DJs interrupted by endless streams of commercials and an occasional song here or there.<\/p>\n

But I do miss cars like 2024 Lexus RC 350 F-Sport, a gorgeously built, reasonably priced grand touring luxury sports coupe. Such cars are increasingly rare, with its only competition being the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5.<\/p>\n

Despite wearing a nine-year-old design, it remains fresh, aggressive and classic in appearance. Actually, classic best describes the interior, which boasts an 8-inch or optional 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display. The controls seem dated, but let\u2019s consider them classic. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa are standard; a Wi-Fi hotspot is optional, as is a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.<\/p>\n

The front seats are comfortable and supportive, while rear seats are afterthoughts; consider them a place to punish someone you loathe or as a padded parcel shelf. They\u2019re covered in ridiculously indulgent leather, and fit and finish is first rate. There\u2019re the expected luxuries, such as dual climate control, and a cabin that\u2019s seriously silent at speed. That is, except for your ABBA\u2019s greatest hits CD that you have cranked to 11.<\/p>\n

If there is some noise at speed, it comes courtesy of the engine you\u2019re most likely to find at dealers: a 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 311-horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is standard is on the rear-wheel-drive RC 300, generating a respectable 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Regardless of which engine you choose, rear-wheel-drive models get an eight-speed transmission; all-wheel drive models make do with a six-speed automatic.<\/p>\n

The turbo four comes only with rear-wheel drive on the RC 300; other models get the V-6, which feels much more appropriate given this car\u2019s mission. There\u2019s also a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 producing 472 horsepower on the RC F, which reduces 0-60 mph times to 4.2 seconds from 6 seconds.<\/p>\n

The test vehicle, a 2024 Lexus RC 350 F-Sport, proved to be the consummate Lexus. It\u2019s not the fastest in its segment, nor does have the sharp, hard-edged performance you\u2019d expect of a sports coupe. This is, as stated, a grand tourer. It\u2019s a car that\u2019s as interested in comfort as it is in speed. There\u2019s a refinement to its nature that\u2019s not always present in its competitors. This is a gentleman\u2019s car, not a boy racer\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Prices start at $45,920, including destination charge for the RC 300. The 2024 Lexus RC 350 F-Sport test vehicle started at a little over $52,000 for a luxury-laden bubble. It proves to be a comfortably accommodating coupe with which to make an escape in classic Lexus luxury.<\/p>\n

Yet it\u2019s a rare gem that\u2019s soon to be replaced.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand the importance of performance and having a performance halo for the brand,\u201d Vinay Shahani, vice president of Lexus marketing, told me in October 2023. \u201cWe have the LC 500 and we have the RC. Those are both vehicles that I think are uniquely tuned and kind of aimed toward the enthusiast. But we understand that there\u2019s probably the need to even be more aggressive in that in that arena. So stay tuned for more.\u201d<\/p>\n

As ABBA might sing, thank you for the music, Lexus RC.<\/p>\n

NUTS & BOLTS<\/p>\n

Base price<\/strong>: $52,320<\/p>\n

Engine<\/strong>: 3.5-liter V6<\/p>\n

Horsepower\/Torque<\/strong>: 311\/280 pound-feet<\/p>\n

EPA fuel economy (city\/highway<\/strong>): 16\/24 mpg<\/p>\n

Fuel required<\/strong>: 91 Octane<\/p>\n

Length\/Width\/Height<\/strong>: 184\/72.4\/54.9 inches<\/p>\n

Ground clearance<\/strong>: 5.1 inches<\/p>\n

Cargo capacity<\/strong>: 10.4 cubic feet<\/p>\n

Payload<\/strong>: 1,080 pounds<\/p>\n

Towing capacity<\/strong>: Not rated<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Lexus RC and RC F see minor changes for the 2024 model year. The 2024 RC adds Cloudburst Gray as an exterior color option, and 19-inch Enkei wheels are available for F SPORT models. Ultra White, Cloudburst Gray, and Caviar are also now available as exterior colors for the 2024 RC F Track Edition.<\/p>\n

-Lexus Newsroom\/TNS
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

The Lexus RC and RC F see minor changes for the 2024 model year. The 2024 RC adds Cloudburst Gray as an exterior color option, and 19-inch Enkei wheels are available for F SPORT models. Ultra White, Cloudburst Gray, and Caviar are also now available as exterior colors for the 2024 RC F Track Edition.<\/p>\n

-Lexus Newsroom\/TNS
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