The 2016 Lexus RC Coupe is now in Australia, and it brings with it a budget-friendly price tag and a new turbo petrol engine.
The Lexus RC200t brings the starting price of the Lexus coupe down to a new level, starting from $64,000 plus on-road costs. That price slots the 200t Luxury model below the existing RC350 Luxury, which has seen a price jump to $67,000 from $65,610. See below for a full breakdown on pricing.
The Japanese brand’s competitor to the likes of the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series now follows the same lead as its European rivals with its forced-induction 2.0-litre engine forming the basis of its offering.
The new turbo engine – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo unit that has seen a mild power bump over the existing outputs in the NX200t. It has 180kW of power and 350Nm of torque, which sees it run a little short of the V6 (233kW/378Nm). Fuel use, though, is a sight lower: 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres versus the V6’s claim of 9.4L/100km.
The rear-drive RC200t Coupe has an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard, with paddleshifters on all variants.
Lexus Australia chief Sean Hanley said the new entry-level model will offer buyers who are “coming up to luxury” a sporty option – and the brand predicts that 40 per cent of all RC models sold from next year will be turbo versions.
“The RC200t is positioned as an entry-level coupe alongside 350 and indeed the RC F. It comes with a high level of standard performance and luxury features,” Hanley said.
The brand has made some amendments to the RC350 range, too, with the addition of active cruise control, pre-collision safety, and a system called “Acceleration Sound Control” that pumps engine noise in to the cabin.
The V6-powered F Sport model also has a limited slip differential, as well as the addition of variable gear ratio steering and rear-wheel steering. The F Sport V6 model – and all three versions of the 200t turbo version – have a “front performance damper” system that stiffens the front end and, in the turbo models, is designed to also aid the refinement.
2016 Lexus RC Coupe pricing (plus on-road costs):
RC200t Luxury – $64,000
RC200t F Sport – $73,000
RC200t Sports Luxury – $83,500
RC350 Luxury – $67,000 (was $65,610)
RC350 F Sport – $76,000 (was $73,610)
RC350 Sports Luxury – $86,500 (was $85,610)
Standard equipment levels:
RC200t and RC350 Luxury:
18-inch alloy wheels
LED headlamps
LED foglamps
Leather-accented trim
Heated and ventilated front seats
Electric steering column adjustment
Electric adjustment for front seats
Keyless entry and push-button start
Satellite navigation
10-speaker audio system
Reverse-view camera
Front and rear parking sensors
Pre-Collision Safety System with autonomous emergency braking
Adaptive cruise control
Eight airbags
Options for RC200t Luxury:
Moonroof – $2500
RC200t F Sport (adds over Luxury):
19-inch F Sport alloy wheels
Adaptive variable suspension
17-speaker Mark Levinson audio
F Sport steering wheel
Sports power front seats with memory function
LED high grade headlamps
Blind Sport Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Limited slip differential
Acceleration Sound Control (ACS) sound generation system
RC350 F Sport (differs to RC200t F Sport):
Variable gear ratio steering
Rear-wheel steering
Options for RC200t F Sport and RC350 F Sport:
Enhancement pack one: moonroof – $2500
Enhancement pack two: moonroof, lane departure warning, automatic high beam, smart key card – $3500.
RC200t Sports Luxury and RC350 Sports Luxury (differs to F Sport):
Uniquely designed 19-inch wheels
Semi-aniline leather seats
Shimamoku ornamentation (polished wood finishes)
Automatic high beam
Lane departure warning
Moonroof
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