Historiography: The Definitive Favorite Car of All Time

This is the answer to the question I hate answering.

The “favorite car” question has always been one that you should never ask an automotive journalist. That is, unless they divorce themselves from their professional duties. 

As I probably said before on this website, one should never ask such a question to anyone in the automotive media corps. It could skew their objectivity and expose a hidden bias or agenda they may have. 

However, if I take off my journalist’s fedora (which I do not own…I’d look silly in one) – there is an answer. One that came later in life. One that took 56 years of car loving, 45 years of being a licensed driver, and 24 years of media work to determine. All of which was through the experience of driving one.

Where am I going with this? The car I can honestly call my favorite one ever will see the end of production this year.

The Lexus RC F. 

This comes as no surprise to those of you reading this website for the past 14 years. If you have seen me around the car community here in the Twin Cities, you probably saw one of them at a car meet or around town. You probably have a story about the time I was working with one. 

Why are we doing a Historiography column on the Lexus RC F? It is ending production by the end of this year – along with the RC coupe. They served Lexus well as their entry into the luxury sports coupe market. You probably have seen it race in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship circuit in both GTD and GTD Pro. Heck, the Vasser Sullivan team sent one to win the manufacturer’s title in GTD Pro back in 2023. 

Since its arrival onto the scene in 2015, I had the privilege to work with three RC Fs. I took a fourth one around the Autobahn Country Club’s short course in Joliet, Illinois. If there is someone who is perhaps a bit too familiar with this car – it would be me.  

The RC coupe was developed as a combination of the IS and GS sedans. The platform yielded a shorter wheelbase than its compact sedan with body elements from the larger one. The so-called “Radical Coupe” may look radical, yet it wears all of the brand’s design elements with an air of combined elegance and excitement. 

The original RC coupes for the USA market were powered by the familiar 3.5-liter V6 engine. Lexus would add the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit not just to lower the base price, but to compete against its rivals in the same segment. You could get your RC in either rear- or all-wheel drive. No manual transmission was offered in the RC. 

The interior also followed Lexus design elements, as influenced by the LFA supercar. You sat lower than the IS sedan into supportive seats that induced the driver to find a good road to play on. When you spec an F Sport model, the center dial of the instrument cluster would slide over to move the information screen to the side. The shifter had a notched pattern, making things a bit more exciting. 

There were two drawbacks on the RC coupe. One, was rear seat room and access. If you had kids that do not require a child seat, you might be fine. In reality, the RC was a 2+2 rather than a true four-seat coupe. The other was the infotainment system. That trackpad was an improvement from what Lexus used to offer, but it was not sufficient for a lot of drivers. Luckily, you can use the steering wheel buttons to advance music files or radio stations, and to adjust the volume. 

It is worth noting that the Lexus RC won #VOTY15. Just a trivial footnote…

The RC coupe formed the basis of something more desirable. Under the guidance of the F Performance team, the RC F took the basic coupe form and made adjustments to it. The front end was distinguished with its larger Spindle Grille area and improved lower air management. The rocker panels added more aerodynamic aids leading towards a rear end replete with a diffuser and deployable rear spoiler emanating from the trunk lid. 

Wheel choices ranged from 18- to 19-inches, depending on model. Ideally, the 19-inch wheels always looked the best, whether they were alloy or carbon fiber. Earlier models wore Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. They were great on the track, but not on the road. That issue was solved by fitting Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires. Of course, the issue of short wear life always challenged the RC F owner, as these tires cost quite a sum of money. 

One does not appreciate the RC F just for what rubber is worn to keep it on the road. It is the 2UR-GSE 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 mounted underneath its formed hood. It had two tunes over its eleven-year production run – just a difference of a few horsepower and pound-feet of torque. As of this model year, the RC F’s V8 puts down 472 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. All of that sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

If you only go by the specifications, you are clearly missing the point. These days, it’s just fine. Performance hunters want somewhere north of 500 horsepower. What the RC F brings to the table is that mix of muscle and engineering. You can have a power band commonly found on performance versions of today’s sports coupes with a touch of Japanese engineering geekery through its dual overhead camshafts per cylinder bank with four-valves per cylinder. All of which are celebrated with a red line of 7,100 RPM. 

The technical goodies do not stop inside the engine bay. A Torsen limited-slip differential makes things fun at the rear axle. Brembo supplies superb brakes. Carbon fiber lightens the RC F from its original complaint of it being too heavy for track use. That weight issue is something I argue against.  

All of the testers I’ve driven had the triple-beam LED headlamps. As cool as they look, they do illuminate the road just fine. I also had my share of degrees of carbon fiber add-ons. The second RC F – a 2017 model in Infrared – had the Carbon Package, with its subtle nods on the roof, deployable rear spoiler and a few other areas. The last RC F I worked with was the 2023 Track Edition, with its massive amount of carbon fiber on the hood, roof, fixed rear spoiler, wheels, front splitter, rear diffuser…and inside, too. 

However, we must go back to the first one. An Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2015 model that won my heart. It engaged with friends and made new ones. It became the talk of car meets in the Twin Cities. Most importantly, it struck a chord with my soul. 

Not a lot of vehicles have done that. It takes a superb one to do exactly that. Considering the ingredients of this sports coupe, the RC F made for an amazing treat. 

Now, we are about to say “good-bye” to the RC F. Production is scheduled to run until November of 2025. The only RC F available in the USA is the Final Edition. Available in four colors, this grand finale is essentially a Carbon Package model with 19-inch BBS forged wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires. The interior gets red trim to go with its black leather upholstery. 

Nothing lasts forever. Not in a world tangled in electrification and trade conflicts. For 11 model years, Lexus gave us something that illicit maximum joy on the road. A warrior on the track that won its share of races and an IMSA class championship. 

Personally, it is the one vehicle in the past 45 years of licensed driving that I put above all others I have piloted. Until another great vehicle shows up to sweep me off my feet, nothing will match what the RC F has done for me – professionally and personally. 

Therefore, you can call this my all-time favorite car. Full stop. A definitive answer to end all incoming queries.

If you got a bottle, pour one out for the Lexus RC F. 

DISCLAIMER: All vehicles referenced in this article were supplied by Toyota Motor North America

All photos by Randy Stern