THE LEXUS RC, A SUBCOMPACT WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES.

Is it a small luxury platform or a small performance vehicle?

Those are some of the questions Bumper2Bumpertv has about the Lexus RC 350 F Sport.

CREATING A SUBCOMPACT VEHICLE WITH LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE CHOPS IS THE EQUIVALENT TO FINDING A UNICORN FOR AUTOMAKERS.

LEXUS HAS REWORKED AND REFEATURED THE RC PLATFORM OVER THE YEARS TO TRY AND HIT THAT SWEET SPOT.

THE 2020 VERSION, WITH THE F SPORT UPGRADES IS AN ATTEMPT TO CHECK OFF ALL OF THE BOXES.

HERE IS WHAT WE LEARNED AFTER A WEEK OF SEAT TIME IN ONE.

AT AN OVERALL LENGTH OF 185 INCHES IT IS CLOSER TO A MID SIZE THAN A SUBCOMPACT.

IT HAS HANDLDING AND RIDE A CLOSER TO A LUXURY EXPERIENCE THAN A COMPETITION VEHICLE.

FOR THE RECORD IT IS A FOUR PASSENGER UNIT AND LEXUS DOESN’T EVEN TRY TO BE COY, CLAIMING A PERSON CAN RIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT, SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY APPRECIATE.

WHAT THE ENGINEERS DID DO WELL IS CONFIGURE THE RC TO HANDLE MORE THAN ONE POWER PLANT.

THE BASE UNIT THE RC 300 COMES WITH A 2.0 LITER TUBO CHARGED ENGINE IN A REAR WHEEL DRIVE SETUP.

THE OTHER MOTOR IS THE VERY FAMILIAR 3.5 LITER V6 IN THE 300 AND THE 350.

IT IS RATED AT 311 HORSEPOWER IN OUR TEST VEHICLE WITH 280 POUND FEET OF TORQUE.

IT RUNS ON PREMIUM FUEL AND IS CAPABLE OF A TOP SPEED OF 143 MILES AN HOUR.

NOT THAT WE WOULD EVER DRIVE LIKE THAT IN THE CITY.

THE TRANSMISSION WAS AN 8 SPEED REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND A SIX SPEED ALL WHEEL DRIVE VERSION IS OFFERED.

THERE ARE FOUR VARIATIONS ON THE DRIVE MODE WHICH SIGNIFIGANTLY ALTER THE RESPONSE.

THE BRAKES FOR THE F SPORT EDITION ARE BY BREMBRO WITH THE LEXUS LOGO PAINTED ON THEM, SO THERE IS PLENTY OF STOPPING POWER AVAILABLE.

PAIRED WITH AN ADAPTIVE VARIABLE SUSPENSION IT DELIVERS A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN HARD HANDLING SITUATIONS.

THE F SPORT TRIM LEVEL ALSO INCLUDES SEVERAL INTERIOR VISUAL REMINDERS SUCH AS SPECIAL TRIM ON THE FRONT SEATS WHICH COME WITH ENHANCED SIDE BOLSTERS.

THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN UPGRADED WITH TRAFFIC SIGN RECOGNITION AND IS LINKED TO AN ONLINE DATA BASE WHICH PROVIDES TRAFFIC JAM ALERTS WHILE THE RC 350 F SPORT MAY NOT CLAIM TO BE THE MOST AGGRESSIVE SPORT COUPE ON THE ROAD IT DEFINITELY CAN HOLD ITS OWN AGAINST THE OTHER ENTRIES IN THE SEGMENT.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT WILL GET YOU THERE IN STYLE.

I’M GREG MORRISON.