New Lexus RC200t, turbo engine also for the Japanese coupé

The people at Lexus are making the most of all the developments they carry out every time they launch a new model onto the market.

Starting with the current generation of the IS, Lexus launched the RC, a coupé with very sporty lines. Now, it inherits from it its new 2.0 turbo engine.

The RC has only recently started selling in our country. Based on the IS, it is Lexus’s take on the mid-size coupé segment within the premium range. It is designed to go head-to-head with models such as the Audi A5, the BMW 4 Series or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé.

With a different and eye-catching style, until now the RC was sold in Spain with two mechanical options, both petrol, since Lexus abandoned diesel sales years ago. The entry-level version is called RC300h, and as its name suggests, it uses a hybrid powertrain made up of a 2.5 petrol engine and an electric motor, delivering a total output of approximately 220 CV. It is a very exotic option, as there is currently no model it can be compared with.

The second version, called RC F, is the pinnacle of the Japanese model. It features a monstrous 5.0 V8 naturally aspirated petrol engine, derived from the one fitted to the previous generation IS F. It delivers 470 CV and 530 NM, paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. With these figures, its rivals are none other than the Audi RS5, the BMW M4 and the Mercedes C63 AMG Coupé.

Now, Japan wants to boost sales of this model even further by fitting it with a new petrol engine, which will be commercially named RC200t. It is the same powerplant debuted a few weeks ago by the IS, a 2.0 inline four-cylinder unit with turbocharging. Thanks to systems such as direct injection, this engine delivers 245 CV and 350 NM. It is paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, with which it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. Its average consumption is also rated at 7.5 litres per 100 km, making it a more than interesting alternative within its -limited- market.

Source | Lexus