最新拍摄的谍照显示，雷克萨斯正在开发RCF新款车型。这是该车自2015年发布以来的首次主要升级。车厂只是对该车的下半部分进行了伪装。车辆的纺锤格栅和车头边缘硕大进气口仍是车头最抢眼的部分，不过，现行版对勾形状的LED日间行驶灯及其底座进一步简化，成为一条直线。新车侧面轮廓并没有很大不同，但侧踏板看起来更圆润一些。而在车尾，行李箱盖集成扰流器看起来更大。新车保险杠进行了改款，增加了不同的散流器和轮拱后面的进气口。虽然这些外观改款看起来很细微，但引擎也将进行升级。从照片可以看出，传感器线束从引擎盖边角延伸出来，车厂也从后轮拱收集数据。车厂收集这些数据主要是为了对升级后的引擎进行评估。虽然主要竞争车型现在都搭载了涡轮增压引擎，但雷克萨斯扔坚持为高性能轿跑车使用大排量自然进气V8引擎。这台5.0升引擎功率348千瓦/467马力，扭矩389磅-英尺（约合527牛米），搭配八速自动变速器和后轮驱动。现行版搭载的V8引擎还有动力提升的空间，因为搭载相同引擎的LC500功率为351千瓦/471马力，扭矩540牛米。据传新款LCF将在10月的东京车展亮相，该车将搭载新的4.0升V8双涡轮引擎，功率约为447千瓦/600马力，扭矩637牛米。这台引擎也有可能会提供给RC F升级版。
Lexus Spied Prepping Updated RC F, Possible Engine Update
New spy shots suggest that a refresh or new variant of the Lexus RC F is on the way. These tweaks would be the first major updates for the premium performance coupe since its launch for the 2015 model year.
Lexus only bothers camouflaging the lower half of the vehicle. The spindle grille and massive corner intakes still dominate the front end, but Lexus’ designers replace the existing check-mark-shaped LED running lights with housings that are a simple, straight line. There doesn’t appear to be much different about the model’s profile, but the side sills seem a little rounder. At the back, the integrated trunked spoiler looks larger There’s a revised design for the bumper that adds a different diffuser and air outlets behind the wheels.
While these styling tweaks seem fairly minor, there could be something special going on with the engine. Wires for sensors exit from each corner of the hood, and the company also gathers data from the rear wheel well. Collecting this data wouldn’t seem necessary unless Lexus has some powertrain improvements under evaluation.
Where rivals like the BMW M3, Mercedes-AMG C63, and Audi RS5 now use turbocharged engines, Lexus sticks by a classic large displacement naturally aspirated V8 for its RC F entry in the premium performance coupe ranks. The 5.0-liter mill pumps out 467 horsepower (348 kilowatts) and 389 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic that routes power to the rear wheels.
There’s at least some room for growth from the existing V8 because the version in the LC 500 makes 471 hp (351 kW) and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm). Plus, rumors point to an LC F arriving at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, and it would allegedly use a new biturbo 4.0-liter V8 with around 600 horsepower (447 kW) and 470 pound-feet (637 Newton-meters). The mill would be a welcome upgrade for the RC F, too.