Subtle tweaks inside and out are the extent of the changes. You cannot confidently say this RC 350 F Sport will give the Audi S5, BMW 440i M Sport and Mercedes-AMG C43 coupé restless nights. But at the very least, it adds some diversity to the Teutonic domination.
We found that the forte of this Lexus is its assuring cruising ability. The performance of the normally aspirated, 3.5-litre V6 under the hood pales in comparison to the turbocharged units in rivals. It dispatches the car along in an acceptably brisk fashion - not in a way that will get the butterflies in the tummy flapping their wings with greater effort.
The soundtrack is quite endearing, however: filled with bass and conviction. An eight-speed automatic is tasked with shifting the quoted 232kW and 380Nm to the rear wheels.
Now, about those minor upgrades. And they really are minor - bumpier looking bumpers, a sharpened-up grille, a smattering of additional ducts and redesigned wheels. Inside, Lexus claims that the cupholders are more defined … which is tough to prove, really.
Also, a note that there is but one offering in the range, which is this RC 350 F Sport. The pace might be decidedly lukewarm but there is little doubt that this Lexus coupé looks like a million bucks. Good thing, since it costs R939,100.