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By Motoring Reporter

Journalist


New tech in Lexus for 2018

RC models provide a luxury coupé and efficiencies of a smaller capacity powerplant.


The Lexus RC 300 EX and 350 F Sport coupes benefit from new equipment and technology features for 2018, perhaps the most important of these being in the safety department via the the addition of selected Lexus Safety System+ features.

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Both variants now come standard with an Air Bag Error Indicator.

On top of this, the RC 350 F Sport model boasts a new stateof-the-art Pre-Collision System as well as Adaptive Cruise Control.

With a sleek coupe body style design that boasts sculpted lines and a wide, low stance, the RC was designed from the ground up to seamlessly blend eye-catching design with exhilarating performance.

The driver’s cockpit is divided into operational and display zones.

The upper zone houses the instrument panel and a 10.3 inch navigation screen, while a layered centre console integrates harmoniously with Lexus’ unique Remote Touch Interface.

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The seats utilise an integrated foaming construction method – much like racing seat moulding – to ensure optimum occupant comfort and support.

Now standard in the RC model range is the Air Bag Error Indicator.

This feature has been added to both models which detects any error that may cause the Lexus RC airbag not to deploy, and displays a warning light on the driving meter as a precaution.

The Lexus Pre-Crash System now standard on RC 350 F Sport. The conventional Pre-Crash System uses alerts, braking assist and pre-collision braking to prevent or reduce impact damage.

The Active Steering Assist function additionally initiates automatic steering control to assist in avoiding a collision where brake control alone is not sufficient.

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Standard on the V8-powered RC 350 F Sport coupe is the Adaptive Cruise Control which is able to detect a preceding vehicle as well as maintain a suitable vehicle-to-vehicle following distance with a choice of three cruise gap distances.

Furthermore, this feature helps keep the Lexus RC 350 F Sport a safe distance from the car in front, adjusting to even very low speeds in busy traffic.

The RC is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine.

Its turbocharged engine delivers 180kW of power at 5 800rpm and 350Nm of torque, which is available from a low 1 650 rpm to 4 400 rpm, to offer the driver great flexibility and endowing the RC 300 EX with a 7.5 seconds sprint time in the obligatory 0-100km/h dash – top speed is pegged at 230km/h.

The RC 350 F Sport achieves 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds.

The RC 300 EX has a combined-cycle fuel economy of eight litres/100km and carbon dioxide emissions of 186g/km, and for the RC 350 F Sport it’s 9.1 litres/100km and carbon dioxide emissions of 212g/km.

The RC models provide an accessible point of entry for lifestyle buyers who want the statement of a luxury coupé and the efficiencies of a smaller capacity powerplant.

The exterior colours are White Quartz, Mercury Grey, White Nova, Graphite Black, Platinum Silver, Solar Storm Red, Poseidon Blue and Sonic Titanium.

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The interior comes in two options of smooth leather: Black and Dark Rose.

The Lexus RC 300 EX is priced at R764 500 (including VAT) and the RC 350 F Sport is R897 800 (including VAT). Both models come standard with a four-year/100 000km warranty.

 

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