Lexus F-model teaser gives us a clue

Second teaser short of Lexus RC-F tells us more than perhaps Toyota would want us to know.

Second teaser short of Lexus RC-F tells us more than perhaps Toyota would want us to know.

Published Dec 20, 2013

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This is Lexus' second teaser shot of its upcoming F model, showing little more than a sweep of bonnet punctuated by a signature F-series sugarscoop.

And the 79-word release that accompanies it tells us very little more, save to confirm that the up-coming F model will have have "half the doors and twice the roar", of the current IS-F sedan, confirming that it will indeed be a coupé based on the 2015-model RC that was shown at the recent Tokyo show.

Oh, and that the official name of this two-door F model will be released early in January 2014, presumably at the Detroit reveal of the car itself - which tells us more than perhaps Toyota would want us to know, because it has already trademarked the name RC350 F.

EU 6 COMPLIANT

Most inmates of the cybergarage are guessing that the RC-F will have a tweaked version of the brilliant 311kW five-litre V8 that gives the IS-F its cojones, delivering anything up to 340kW and 543Nm.

We think that's unlikely; Toyota's white-coated sensei would battle to get such a monster through EU 6 emissions testing, and it would have to give away a significant proportion of its 'roar' to pass.

We're expecting to see a 'blown' version of the familiar Lexus 3.5-litre V6, which already has dual-spritzer stratified direct fuel-injection (ideal for forced induction) and which has previously been fitted with a supercharger for a Japan-only Toyota model that was rated at 265kW.

RWD NON-NEGOTIABLE

Bolt a turbocharger to each bank, and we can expect to see closer to 330kW - enough to compete with the M4 and S3. Add to that an eight-speed paddle-shift transmission and rear wheel-drive, which, for purely emotional reasons, is the one thing about a 'real' sports car that is absolutely non-negotiable - ask any GT 86 owner!

Give it sports suspension, Brembo brakes, the rumoured carbon-fibre bonnet, roof, boot-lid and aero kit, and you have a recipe for a wickedly fast, EU-6 compliant sports coupé with a longer stroke - and hence a deeper, gruffer voice, than the IS-F's hard-revving V8.

The RC is built on the same platform as the IS350 F Sport, with double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension; suitably lowered (the number going round the cybergarage is 15mm) there's no reason it shouldn't work nicely for the new F.

Give it Brembo brakes, the rumoured carbon-fibre bonnet, roof, boot-lid and aero kit, and you have a recipe for a wickedly fast, EU-6 compliant sports coupé with a longer stroke - and hence a deeper, gruffer voice, than the IS-F's hard-revving V8.

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