Model research hub

Lexus RC

An analysis on Alibaba's car-interior tips section says unlike earlier RC generations, no 2026 Lexus RC exists, since Lexus officially discontinued the RC coupe line after the 2024 model year, and confirms the LC series is Lexus' flagship grand tourer, with future electrified GT models deriving from the next-generation e-TNGA platform debuting in 2026, though no coupe body style is currently scheduled to replace the RC specifically. MotorTrend says the car set to succeed the Lexus LC luxury sport coupe at the top of the lineup will be based on Toyota's GR GT3 concept car shown in Tokyo in 2022, noting the range-topping LC is new relative to aging sporty Lexus coupes like the circa-2014 RC, but is still due for a makeover of its own. Carsfera says Lexus is set to revamp its coupe lineup, replacing both the RC and LC models, with the replacements projected to start around $80,000, positioning them as premium but attainable luxury sports cars.

No 2026 RC exists

A car-interior tips analysis says unlike earlier RC generations, no 2026 Lexus RC exists, since Lexus officially discontinued the RC coupe line after the 2024 model year, and confirms the LC series is Lexus' flagship grand tourer, with future electrified GT models deriving from the next-generation e-TNGA platform debuting in 2026, though no coupe body style is currently scheduled specifically as an RC replacement.

A successor based on the GR GT3 concept

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the car set to succeed the Lexus LC luxury sport coupe at the top of the lineup will be based on Toyota's GR GT3 concept car shown in Tokyo in 2022, noting the range-topping LC is new relative to aging sporty Lexus coupes like the circa-2014 RC, but is still due for a makeover of its own.

A jointly replaced coupe lineup

Carsfera (opens in a new tab) says Lexus is set to revamp its coupe lineup, replacing both the RC and LC models, with the replacements projected to start around $80,000, positioning them as premium but attainable luxury sports cars.

Questions buyers ask

Is there a 2026 Lexus RC?

No — Lexus discontinued the RC coupe line after the 2024 model year.

What will replace the Lexus RC and LC?

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says a new coupe based on Toyota's GR GT3 concept car.

Research map

Every major decision path.

Current model year

2025 Lexus RC

Final model year for the RC: RC 300 RWD uses a 241-hp turbo four while AWD switches to a 260-hp V6; RC 350 shares the 311-hp V6; RC F is the 472-hp V8 flagship, now sold only as a Final Edition.

Read specifications, trims, answers and sources

Model-year archive

1 indexed Lexus RC model years.

2025
Number of trims per model year for the Lexus RC (most: 1).
Model yearTrimsOpen record
2025 Lexus RC2025 record →

Background and safety record

What public sources say about the Lexus RC.

The Lexus RC is a compact executive two-door coupé manufactured by Lexus, Toyota's luxury division. The RC which according to Lexus stands for "Radical Coupe" is a two-door coupé version of the Lexus IS (XE30). The RC is designated as the XC10 series.

Source: Lexus RC (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.

Lexus RC at a glance

Production
2014–2025
Model years
2015–2025
Assembly
Japan: Tahara, Aichi (Tahara plant)
Class
Compact executive car (D)
Body style
2-door coupé
Layout
Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive
Platform
Toyota New N platform
Electric motor
105 kW 1KM Synchronous motor, synchronous (RC 300h)
Power output
180 kW (RC 200t/300), 131 kW (RC 300h, petrol engine only), 234 kW (RC 350), 341 kW (RC F)
Transmission
8-speed Automatic transmission, automatic (petrol, RWD), 6-speed automatic (petrol, AWD), eCVT (hybrid)
Drivetrain
Power-split
Wheelbase
2730 mm
Length
4695 mm
Width
1840 mm
Height
1390 mm
Curb weight
1680 kg
Predecessor
Lexus IS C (XE20)
Related models
Lexus IS (XE30), Lexus GS (L10)
Designer
Pansoo Kwon (2012)

Year by year

The Lexus RC across 11 model years.

Model yearCombined MPG/MPGeEPA annual fuel costEPA recordsNHTSA recallsNHTSA complaints
2025 Lexus RC19–25$3,200–$4,2005
2024 Lexus RC19–25$3,100–$4,1005
2023 Lexus RC19–25$3,100–$4,1005
2022 Lexus RC19–25$3,100–$4,10051
2021 Lexus RC19–25$3,100–$4,100510
2020 Lexus RC19–24$3,250–$4,100511
2019 Lexus RC19–24$3,250–$4,100511
2018 Lexus RC19–26$3,000–$4,100511
2017 Lexus RC21–26$3,000–$3,700411
2016 Lexus RC21–26$3,000–$3,700410
2015 Lexus RC21–22$3,500–$3,700215

Year-to-year changes

What changed in the Lexus RC, one model year at a time.

EPA certification record, change from the previous model year
StepEPA recordsCombined MPG/MPGe, midpointAddedNo longer listed
2020 to 202121.5 to 22.0
2018 to 201922.5 to 21.5
2017 to 20184 to 523.5 to 22.5Labels: RC 300, RC F; Engines: 5L 8-cyl SIDI & PFILabels: RC 200t
2015 to 20162 to 421.5 to 23.5Labels: RC 200t, RC 300 AWD; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI

Buying used

What the Lexus RC recalls and complaints are about.

NHTSA recall campaigns by model year
Model yearCampaignsSystems recalledWarnings
20221fuel system, gasoline (delivery)None
20211fuel system, gasoline (delivery)None
20201fuel system, gasoline (delivery)None
20191fuel system, gasoline (delivery)None
20181fuel system, gasoline (delivery)None
20171fuel system, gasoline (delivery)None
20161fuel system, gasoline (delivery)None
20151fuel system, gasoline (delivery)None
What owners complain about most, all model years together
SystemComplaintsShare of all complaintsWorst model year
fuel/propulsion system545%2017 (3)
unknown or other545%2017 (2)
structure19%2015 (1)
fuel system19%2015 (1)
gasoline19%2015 (1)
service brakes19%2018 (1)

Trim by trim

Every 2025 Lexus RC trim side by side.

2025 Lexus RC trims: Kelley Blue Book specifications and base price
TrimDriveEngineHorsepowerTorque (lb-ft)Curb weight (lb)Max towing (lb)Combined mpgBase price
RC 300AWD3.5-liter V62602363,891–22$46,695
RC 350AWD3.5-liter V63112803,891–22$49,625
RC 300 F SPORTAWD3.5-liter V62602363,891–22$51,315
RC 350 F SPORTAWD3.5-liter V63112803,891–22$54,245
RC F Final EditionRWD5.0-liter V84723953,946–19$94,000

Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2025 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.

Specifications by year

Power, weight and towing for every Lexus RC model year.

Kelley Blue Book trim data by model year
Model yearTrimsEnginesHorsepowerCurb weight (lb)Max towing (lb)Fuel tank (gal)
202553.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8260–4723,891–3,946–17.4–17.5
202462.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4723,737–3,902–17.4–17.5
202362.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4723,737–3,946–17.4–17.5
202262.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4723,737–3,902–17.4
202162.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4723,737–3,902–17.4–17.5
202062.0-liter 4-cylinder (Twin Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4723,737–3,902–17.4
201952.0-liter 4-cylinder (Twin Turbo) / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4673,737–3,958–17.4
201834-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 2.0L / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4673,737–3,958–17.4
201744-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 2.0L / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4673,737–3,958–17.4
201644-Cyl, Twin Turbo, 2.0L / 3.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8241–4673,737–3,958–17.4
201523.5-liter V6 / 5.0-liter V8306–4673,748–3,958–17.4

Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.

Model-year recall record

Lexus RC: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.

Model yearFederal recalls on fileComplaints on fileRecalls most commonly affected
2026not available
2025not available
2024not available
2023not available
20221not availablefuel system
202110fuel system
202011fuel system
201911fuel system
201811fuel system
201711fuel system
201610fuel system
201515fuel system

Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.

Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lexus RC model year 2022 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.

Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.

Q01Is there a best year to buy a Lexus RC?

Federal recall records don't single out a best Lexus RC model year: recall counts across the 8 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 1.0 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.

Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Lexus RC by model year?

2022: fuel system. 2021: fuel system. 2020: fuel system. 2019: fuel system. 2018: fuel system. 2017: fuel system.

Q03Why do some Lexus RC model years show "not available" for complaints?

The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lexus RC model year 2022 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.

Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Engine and cooling.

Compared with

Models this Lexus RC is most often compared with.

Nearest Lexus models

Other Lexus models.

Frequent questions

Answers with their conditions intact.

Browse the complete answer library
Q01How many trims does the 2025 RC come in?

The 2025 Lexus RC (compact luxury coupe) comes in 3 trims: RC 300, RC 350, RC F.

Source: Lexus
Q02What are the 2025 RC trims?

The 2025 Lexus RC trims are RC 300, RC 350, RC F, listed from the entry RC 300 up to the top RC F.

Source: Lexus
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 RC use?

The 2025 Lexus RC is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder (RWD), 3.5L V6 (AWD or RC 350), or 5.0L V8 (RC F), rated at 241 / 260 / 311 / 472 horsepower across its compact luxury coupe body style.

Source: Lexus specifications
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 RC have?

The 2025 Lexus RC is rated at 241 / 260 / 311 / 472 horsepower (2.0L turbo four-cylinder (RWD), 3.5L V6 (AWD or RC 350), or 5.0L V8 (RC F)).

Source: Lexus specifications
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 RC?

The 2025 Lexus RC is offered with RWD / AWD.

Source: Lexus specifications