Lexus RC Premieres Brand's New Black Line in New York
Lexus is hopping on the black craze by offering a new appearance package, starting with the RC F Sport. Limited to only 650 units, the brand’s “Black Line” special edition is also only available in one of two colors: Caviar (black) and Atomic Silver (orange). Additional visual enhancements include matte black wheels, orange or black brake calipers, and darkened chrome. The upgrade also includes Lexus’ navigation and Mark Levinson premium audio packages — as well as a moonroof, parking assist, and triple beam LED headlamps.
Extensive orange stitching differentiates the Black Line from the standard cars and appears on everything from the seats to the dashboard and doors. The vehicles also receive an exclusive wood-trimmed steering wheel that features “distinctive shades of black” created by a 200-year old Japanese calligraphy shop.
The special edition appears to be aimed at those who want to splurge on something unique but can’t rationalize the V8-powered RC F’s $64,650 price tag. That does not make it cheap, however, as Black Line adds roughly ten grand to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. However, if you were to order all of the options included separately, it really wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Available for the entire RC lineup, Black Line prices for the 300 begin at $51,730, and $53,755 for an RC 300 with all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the RC 350 Black Line starts at $54,660 and tops out at $56,120 for a V6-powered 350 with AWD. Models do not receive any engine upgrades; the RC 300 sticks with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine making 241 hp, while 350s stay with the 3.5-liter V6 and its 311 hp.
These limited edition Lexus RC variants will make their first public appearance alongside the new UX subcompact crossover at the New York Auto Show at the end of March. Sales commence later this spring.
[Image: Lexus]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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So this is where those guys from Scion went. The ones who issued a limited number of "special edition" FR-S cars every year in unique colors with a few bespoke trim bits. Now they just have better materials to work with.
Drove the RC350 and found the steering dull, throtle tip in very slow, tires loud and overall not a Lexus I would want to take a trip in. I did expect more.