Photo: Lexus
Toyota used to have a 2-liter turbo engine back in the 2000s, but nobody can remember which car it was used in because they mainly sold in Japan. That's why the Lexus 200t models are making headlines, and today we present the first coupé. No, it's not the Toyota GT 86 with 300 hp we've all been hoping for, it's the Lexus RC 200t.
We've known it was coming ever since the 2-liter turbo made its debut in the NX crossover. But we now have the first photos of the RC 200t, and it looks just like any other RC model.
Under the skin is the same engine we talked about before, rated at 245 PS (180 kW) at 5,800rpm and 350 Nm of torque available from 1,650rpm. The power is delivered to the rear wheels via an 8-speed SPDS automatic gearbox.
In the official press release, Lexus says that thanks to direct fuel injection, it is possible to get most of the power from low revs, resulting in a positive and direct feel of acceleration. And thanks to standard performance dampers, it is possible to sharpen or soften the driving experience.
The white RC coupe is in standard specification, but you can also get the RC 200t F SPORT. This comes with a Torsen limited slip differential that improves the handling, but the power output remains the same. The body kit is also changed to mirror the RCF true performance coupe without having to deal with the thirsty V8 engine. Options include orange brake calipers and red leather seats.
Lexus claims that the sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill takes 7.5 seconds, and the coupé can reach a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). Surprisingly, the Lexus NX 200t crossover, equipped with the same engine, goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.1 seconds.
Looking at the competition, we can see that the RC's weight is a huge penalty. For example, the BMW 428i, which has the exact same power and torque output, takes only 5.8 seconds to reach 100 km/h.
Fuel efficiency-wise, the engine drinks 7.2 liters of fuel per every 100 km on average (25 mpg US) and emits 166 g/km of CO2.
Pricing is all in yen, so it's not relevant if you don't live in Japan. But we can tell you that the RC 200t is the cheapest model in the range. However, it only costs about 7% less than the 300h and 10% less than the RC 350. Is it worth the performance downgrade?
Under the skin is the same engine we talked about before, rated at 245 PS (180 kW) at 5,800rpm and 350 Nm of torque available from 1,650rpm. The power is delivered to the rear wheels via an 8-speed SPDS automatic gearbox.
In the official press release, Lexus says that thanks to direct fuel injection, it is possible to get most of the power from low revs, resulting in a positive and direct feel of acceleration. And thanks to standard performance dampers, it is possible to sharpen or soften the driving experience.
The white RC coupe is in standard specification, but you can also get the RC 200t F SPORT. This comes with a Torsen limited slip differential that improves the handling, but the power output remains the same. The body kit is also changed to mirror the RCF true performance coupe without having to deal with the thirsty V8 engine. Options include orange brake calipers and red leather seats.
Lexus claims that the sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill takes 7.5 seconds, and the coupé can reach a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). Surprisingly, the Lexus NX 200t crossover, equipped with the same engine, goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.1 seconds.
Looking at the competition, we can see that the RC's weight is a huge penalty. For example, the BMW 428i, which has the exact same power and torque output, takes only 5.8 seconds to reach 100 km/h.
Fuel efficiency-wise, the engine drinks 7.2 liters of fuel per every 100 km on average (25 mpg US) and emits 166 g/km of CO2.
Pricing is all in yen, so it's not relevant if you don't live in Japan. But we can tell you that the RC 200t is the cheapest model in the range. However, it only costs about 7% less than the 300h and 10% less than the RC 350. Is it worth the performance downgrade?
Google News