Lexus has refreshed and updated the RC F 2-door coupe for the 2020 model year resulting in improved aerodynamics, reduced weight, with a retuned suspension and enhanced styling. New for 2020 is the all-new, limited production Track Edition. The RC F Track Edition is capable of turning hot laps at the track during the day and being driven home that night.

“The new RCF and the Track Edition, in particular, benefit from constant development since their original launch,” said Koji Sato, Executive Vice President, Lexus International. “With the latest improvements, these models help further distinguish the F brand by offering fast, durable, highly capable performance cars that rely on a range of technologies to help make their performance accessible to drivers of all skill levels.”

The 2020 Lexus RC F coupe gets a wide range of changes designed to boost its performance and freshen its overall look. One of the first targets for the engineers was reducing weight without compromising the coupe’s refinement. At the rear, hollow half shafts are now used in place of the previous solid shafts while up front a pared-down intake manifold and a smaller air conditioning compressor remove weight from the front of the car. Changing to aluminum for the toe control brackets and upper suspension support brackets also reduces weight while maintaining stiffness.

The RC F has stiffer bushings for the rear suspension arms and steering rack mounts. More rigid engine mounts were also used to better transmit the power of the RC F’s normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, which is now rated at 472 horsepower and 395 pound feet of torque.Power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Electronic launch control is now standard and can propel the RC F from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Putting the power t the pavement are Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires designed specifically for the RC F.

The RC F Track Edition features a precisely engineered set of upgrades that work together to push its performance to a new level. Developed with input from Lexus race teams in the Super GT and IMSA series, the Track Edition is designed to deliver exceptional performance that enthusiasts can easily exploit in a wide variety of conditions. The Track Edition doesn’t forego refinement for all-out speed. It remains an uncompromised luxury performance coupe with the ability to perform on the track and off.

One key area of improvement is the RC F Track Edition’s aerodynamic signature. Up front, the unique air dam is not only made from carbon fiber to reduce weight, it’s also designed to increase front end downforce for better grip and more precise steering. At the rear of the car, a fixed rear wing made from carbon fiber replaces the active spoiler offered on the standard RC F. The fixed wing is not only lighter, it does double duty by simultaneously reducing drag and adding downforce.

Like the standard model, weight reduction was a key area of focus for the Track Edition. Preliminary estimates put the total reduction between 160-180 pounds compared to the previous RC F. Every Track Edition model is upgraded with Brembo carbon ceramic brake rotors. They are not only significantly lighter than their steel counterparts, they’re also better able to withstand the extreme heat cycling associated with performance driving. They are surrounded by a set of lightweight 19” BBS forged alloy wheels that feature a design derived from the RC F GT3 race car. Between the wheels, brake rotors and calipers, the Track Edition boasts a significant 55-pound reduction in un-sprung weight on the front of the car alone.

Additional weight was removed by using carbon fibre for the roof and hood along with switching to a carbon fibre partition behind the rear seats and a carbon bumper reinforcement. Many of these carbon fibre pieces are made on the same line that supplied the Lexus LFA during its two-year production run. A standard titanium muffler and tailpipes is yet another area where the Track Edition sheds weight. Rarely seen on production cars, the use of titanium not only reduces the overall weight of the individual parts, it gives the Track Edition a polished look along with a unique sound.

That sound is worth enhancing, too, as the Track Edition uses the same normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 found in every RC F. Combined with the new electronic launch control system, the RC F Track Edition is capable of a 0-to-96 km/h time of less than 4.0 seconds.

In order to give the Track Edition a more exclusive look on the inside, a red leather interior comes standard along with Alcantara seat accents and red carbon trim on the doors and dashboard. Only two exterior colours will be available: Ultra White and Nebula Matte Gray, an exclusive colour only available on the Track Edition.