Lexus is readying its BMW M4-rivalling RC F coupé for the showrooms - and the great news is that this Japanese performance monster will have a normally aspirated engine.
Powering the RC F is a new, 5.0-litre V8 making 478hp and 530Nm, driving the rear wheels through a 'significantly upgraded' eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission with five operating modes. This allows the RC F, the most powerful V8 road car Lexus has yet built, to get to 100km/h from rest in just 4.5 seconds and go on to a limited top speed of 270km/h.
Not only that, but the car has adjustable chassis and electronic settings to allow drivers of differing skill levels to get the most out of it, while an active rear wing and a torque-vectoring differential will be on offer too.
Already, the RC F has been signed up for GT3 racing duty in 2015, meaning it'll quickly have bona fide motorsport credibility, while its body uses lots of carbon fibre, driving displays that change according to the mode the car is in and a 'stirring' engine note, all said to be derived from that wonderful Lexus creation, the LFA supercar.
Anything else?
Lexus wants this car to appeal to both the novice petrolhead and to experienced drivers, as the RC F's chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi explains: "There's a perception that many high-performance cars are hard to drive. In fact they're easy in the right hands because they've been purpose-built for the skill level of their drivers. It's the same with the RC F, which I have built to be enjoyed by all enthusiasts, no matter what their level of expertise. Electronics can be modified instantly on board to provide performance and protection appropriate to each driver's abilities. But even in its basic settings, it's a blast."