The interior of the Lexus RC features a pleasing combination of sumptuous leather upholstery and soft touch surfaces.
Mark KennedyFAST FACTS
* Model: Lexus RC 350 coupe* Exterior color: Atomic Silver* Interior color: Playa* Engine: 3.6-liter, V-6* Horsepower: 306* Transmission: 8-speed automatic* Fuel economy: 28 mpg city, 19 mpg highway* Dealer: Lexus Chattanooga* Price (as tested): $51,978
In the automobile business, sportiness and luxury are often self-canceling virtues. In other words, it’s hard to build a sports car than has a plush ride – or, conversely, a luxury car with a wild side.
For 2015, Lexus manages to thread the needle between sportiness and luxury with its dashing new RC 350 coupe, which is built on the popular Lexus IS sport sedan platform.
David Hickman, sales manager at Lexus Chattanooga, says the RC 350 – expected to be a niche product for Lexus – has actually been responsible for robust sales right out of the box. Hickman recently flipped us the key fob to an Atomic Silver RC 350 in F-Sport performance trim with a sticker price of $51,978, including about $9,000 in options.
There’s a insanely powerful Lexus RC F model (not to be confused with the F Sport) in the pipeline that will come with a 467 horsepower V-8 for true adrenaline junkies. Meanwhile, the more sedate V-6, which produces a zero-to-60-miles-per-hour time of 5.8 seconds, will be more than sufficient for most buyers.