The Lexus RC 300h will kick off 2019 with new styling and dynamic changes

At the end of 2017, Lexus announced that its RC 300h model would undergo an update for 2018. That update focused mainly on the interior in order to improve equipment and connectivity, leaving the exterior aside with just a new colour for the bodywork. Now the Lexus RC 300h is once again set to receive changes. They will not be drastic, but will mainly affect its styling and its driving.

It was four years ago that Lexus decided to take the GS as the basis for a beautiful four-seat coupé, which has remained unchanged until now, at least in terms of styling. Now Lexus has decided that it was high time to give it slight styling improvements to bring it up to date. They are slight because the underlying model remains the current one, but its design now evolves to a new level, specifically aimed at the LC, the model that Lexus classifies as its “flagship coupé”.

The styling changes made by Lexus to the exterior of the RC 300h are more than evident, especially at the front, where, as we have already mentioned, it now resembles the brand’s most recent presentations and, above all, the LC. The bumper has been redesigned to now feature Lexus’s striking grille in a single piece with a mesh similar to that of the F Sport variants, thus eliminating the horizontal division of the current model, while the LED daytime running lights are now integrated in a vertical arrangement within the new L-shaped light cluster.

If we move slightly around the Lexus RC 300h, specifically to its rear, we will see that the changes are also visible at first glance. The bumper has also been redesigned with more angular lines and narrower but imposing air outlets, which means the exhausts are now integrated into the bumper itself. In addition, the light cluster is also completely new with a more pronounced L shape, which by the way will be a distinctive feature of Lexus’s coupés.

Moving on to its interior, Lexus has also made changes such as the brushed finish on the climate control and audio control panels, offering a greater sense of quality. The new Naguri inserts will also be offered, and a new analogue clock has been installed that will also be distinctive on Lexus’s coupés. In terms of comfort, the knee pads on both sides of the centre console have been enlarged and raised, giving a greater sense of space, and the driver’s armrest now features a new shape and added stitching for greater comfort.

In terms of driving, the Lexus RC 300h has sought to follow in the footsteps of the “agile and refined” approach proposed by the LC, which offered a more engaging drive. For this reason, Lexus’s engineers reviewed the aerodynamics, modifying details such as the new shape of the fin on the side windows and the air outlets on the rear bumper, which should provide greater stability in steering. In addition, the suspension has also been revised, with new, stiffer bushings and dampers with greater force.

We will be able to see the new Lexus RC 300h in October at the Paris Motor Show, while the first units will arrive in Spain in 2019.