First Comparison Look at BMW M4 versus Lexus RC F

[Diver]

The grille of the Lexus is weird, but some Fords have the same look. It must work great in the wind tunnel.

[Keto]

Wow that lexus dash is HORRIBLE. And the seats are... well.. busy. Yuck interior.

[duk]

looks good interior wise... CF roof too? nice

[///M5Bruno]

WOW, Surprisingly I really hate the looks of this RC-F. Looks like it should have been built in 1997. I think my wife's Prius has less plastic in the interior. I really like a lot of the new Lexus product out on the road these days but this cars styling gets a big thumbs down as far as aesthetics go.

[KANdaddy]

The Lexus looks too busy exterior and interior. They should also get rid of those 90's style huge, busy steering wheels. I am glad to hear they still have a V8 though. My biggest disappointment with the M4/3 is no V8 and negligible hp increase (but the increase in torque is great). Hoping the Bimmer will surprise me when I finally drive one.

[Year's_End]

These opinions are about what I expected for a front page post comparison (admin, why'd you have to edit my thread in the general auto section? We keep to ourselves over there ) I think they're both great options for the consumer. Hey, we all benefit in the long run.

If you want something that's less staid and conservative, and also happens to be packing a V8, you've got another option to look at. Quite frankly, I prefer the RC-F's polarizing sheetmetal.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by ///M5Bruno

WOW, Surprisingly I really hate the looks of this RC-F. Looks like it should have been built in 1997. I think my wife's Prius has less plastic in the interior. I really like a lot of the new Lexus product out on the road these days but this cars styling gets a big thumbs down as far as aesthetics go.

You might be viewing 1997 with rose-tinted glasses there, buddy.

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by basscadet

Wow, looks familiar to me.

Exactly my thought when I saw the rear of the RCF.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by basscadet

Wow, looks familiar to me.

Toyota 86 was my first thought too.

[Curt2000]

Lexus is really pushing the limits with some of their new designs. I feel like the Lexus interior is surprisingly 'German' in its layout. Typically the Japanese interiors are more luxurious and cushioned instead of utilitarian and firm/sporty.

The rear tails seem to not match the extreme theme, I would have liked to see the tear drop tails from the new IS which would have completed the over-all striking appearance.

I'll definitely test drive one but Lexus has two things working against them for this consumer...highway robbery lease rates on F models and no euro delivery equivalent program.

[ZheHbKa]

lex looks like a cheap knowoff of m4, body lines are very similar and that rear..is Hyundai like

[Teutonic]

Lexus looks terrible. I must search pretty good to see an uglier car at this level.
The interior is absolutely dated, nothing flows in there, it is ugly and lacking imagination. The seats are the single thing I might like.
The exterior of the Lexus is herrendous from every point of view!
Plus, I always hated when the lights or tailights are out of the car lines, the tailights are part of the body, they help define the shape of the car, or inthis case they stick out in a terrible way.

There is no comparison in here in any aspect. Leave Lexus for the people who like Lexus. They can have it.

[Maddict3]

holy shit that lexus is so ugly wtf!

Its cool that it kept the V8 and it has more HP.

[clbmw]

Not being a fan boy, but objectively the M4 is stunning next to the Lexus pig in lipstick

[Powaup]

Originally Posted by basscadet

Interior Winner: Lexus, hands down.

Exterior winner: BMW, hands down.

Lexus couldn't style a car if they got Pininfarina to do all their work.

Originally Posted by Mloyalty

You're joking...

M4 interior is far nicer than the Lexus except for the seats, lexus wins that battle but the M4 is all around a better looking car (IMO)

[19x]

Not a fan.

The rear end is nice. Although I'm not sure why Lexus insists on the placement of the exhaust tips. However, the front end is hideous IMO. The grille design is too Audi-like.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by Tracus

Lexus looks terrible. I must search pretty good to see an uglier car at this level.
The interior is absolutely dated, nothing flows in there, it is ugly and lacking imagination. The seats are the single thing I might like.
The exterior of the Lexus is herrendous from every point of view!
Plus, I always hated when the lights or tailights are out of the car lines, the tailights are part of the body, they help define the shape of the car, or inthis case they stick out in a terrible way.

There is no comparison in here in any aspect. Leave Lexus for the people who like Lexus. They can have it.

Or it could be for people who used to be long term BMW fans (raises hand) that are sick of seeing the same carbon-copied vanilla car get pumped out.

If you had an eye for implied lines and graphics, you'd see that this is a clever design. It's polarizing like the BMW days of not too long ago... you know... when they actually took risks to differentiate themselves.

[Maddict3]

Originally Posted by Mloyalty

You're joking...

+1

the bmw interior looks miles better

[Powaup]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

What an ugly snout on the RC-F

"Predator" face.

The hind quarters and wheel arches are very nice though, better than the M4 on those pics.

Originally Posted by Vertigo//SD

Yup.

That predator face can never be unseen, can't wait for Lexus to give that up

[Tornrider]

This car is amazing!

5.0 V8
480 HP
7300 RPM








The cylinder heads and all moving parts are completely new. Friction reductions allow the engine to rev 500 rpm faster than the IS F's, to 7300 rpm. A switch to electric phasing on all four cams brings greater variability and precision, and lets the engine borrow the Prius' more efficient Atkinson cycle operation during low-demand cruising conditions.

So, while BMW downsized its M3/M4 engine from a 4.0-liter V-8 to a 3.0-liter I-6 and added twin turbochargers to compensate, Lexus virtually downsizes its 5.0-liter V-8 to roughly a 4.2-liter just by leaving the intake valves open for part of the compression stroke during Atkinson operation.



The ideal Atkinson cycle captures and compresses an amount of air that, when combusted and expanded throughout the entire power cycle, results in a cylinder pressure that's near atmospheric at the bottom of the piston's stroke, meaning the engine has wrung every bit of energy out of the fuel. Drop the hammer, and those valves shut in time to give you the full 12.3:1 compression (up from 11.8:1) and 5.0 liters of furious power -- 480 horses' worth (up substantially from the IS F's 416).

A newly modified version of the current D4S direct-injection with secondary port injection helps make all this work. Torque ratings and further specifications are pending. Power and twist route aft through a similar eight-speed automatic, upgraded with different control logic for D-mode operation, and a track-optimized Sport-plus shift schedule. Naturally, a manual mode relinquishes full control to the driver's shift-paddling or stick-rowing pleasure.

At the rear axle is a torque-vectoring differential that can be programmed via the TVD switch on the console for standard, slalom, or track vectoring. That middle position optimizes for very quick side-to-side transitions found in magazine slalom tests and autocross courses. The rotary knob marked Eco, Normal, Sport controls throttle response, shift-schedule in Drive, and the electric power steering feel. The suspension is not adjustable.

Speaking of suspenders, 70 percent of the hardware is altered from that of the IS F sedan, with new geometry and more use of aluminum. It rides 0.2 inch lower than the RC 350 coupe.

Relative to the IS F's Brembo brake system, the RC F's is upgraded in front by increasing size from 14.2 to 15.0 inches in diameter and adding 0.15 inch in thickness, and in back by doubling the caliper piston count from two to four. Cross-drilling is ditched in favor of grooves all around; no carbon-ceramic option will be offered.

Three designs of forged 19-inch wheels are available -- one of which is hand-polished -- and they're wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sports sized 255/35 in front, 275/35 in back. Y

asuo Kajino designed the striking RC coupe and oversaw its F transformation, which alters everything forward of the A-pillar from the functionally vented hood and front fenders to the more aggressive front fascia incorporating oil cooler inlets for the engine (left) and transmission (right), and a more aggressive spindle grille, the mesh of which is composed of little Fs from the bumper level down.

Moving rearward we find a BMW homage carbon-fiber roof panel (saving 13 pounds), bolder rocker panels, a decklid incorporating a wing that rises at 50 mph to reduce lift and create downforce at high speeds, and a rear fascia incorporating two pair of stacked exhaust outlets.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz2ppl6A1Hl

[m3ct]

I like the fenders, seats, digital dash, and the 460hp V8...other than

It just looks overly designed and makes you appreciate the simplicity of German engineering even more. I think cars like the RC-F will not age so well... But looks are subjective and everyone will have their own opinion.

Props to Lexus for shaking up the competition though, I'm sure this thing will be a beast, and hopefully better looking in person.

[SO__USA]

I still prefer lci e92 m3 all day