Review and Test Drive: 2017 Lexus RC 350 F Sport

By Jonathan Spira on 11 December 2017

When the striking Ultrasonic Blue Mica Lexus RC 350 F Sport coupe showed up at the Frequent Business Traveler driveway, it got more than the usual share of attention a new car in the press fleet typically garners.

First unveiled at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, the RC was introduced to the U.S. market at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. For 2017, it comes with standard performance dampers in the rear-wheel drive RC 350 and triple-beam LED headlights are an option.

It shares its powertrain choices with the IS and GS sedans and is actually an amalgam of the GS sedan (front subframe), the IS sedan (rear end), and the now discontinued IS C convertible (the midship section of the vehicle).

But back to the RC 350 in the drive. Despite being three years into its lifecycle, it’s still a looker, although some wags here contend the design remains as polarizing now as it was in 2013.

DRIVING THE 2017 LEXUS RC 350

Step into the RC’s cabin and soft, luxurious materials envelop you. The RC met everyone’s expectations here with respect to fit and finish as well as overall quality. Soft leather was everywhere we expected, and in a few places we didn’t, including the sides of the center console. Adjust the seat (heated and cooled on the F Sport), adjust the power tilting and telescoping steering wheel, press the start button, and enjoy the music of the Lexus V-6.