Lexus Throws A Party, Nobody Shows Up
The coming-out party for the Lexus RC has been canceled in its home market of Japan. Apparently, Japanese journalists just aren’t interested.
Automotive News reports that the media launch for the RC and the V8-powered RC-F was canned due to “insufficient attendance” on the part of Japan’s automotive press.
As former EIC Bertel Schmitt frequently noted, Japanese events are far more austere than the all-expenses paid junkets that North American journalists are accustomed to. Many scribes end up paying their own way to and from the event, and a bottle of water is considered a generous freebie.
Even so, AN‘s Hans Greimel touched on one likely reason for the low attendance. Quoting one fellow journalist who remarked “Why would I go all the way to Yokohama to test drive a sports car like the RC and just sit in traffic?”, the RC’s launch may have been as much a victim of poor planning as any other factor.
More by Derek Kreindler
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Just read a review article of RC from website of Japan's most respected motor magazine CarGraphic. Apparently Lexus invited 10 motor journalists to Oita AutoPolice circuit, given 7 cars and allowed flat out for 4 hours, hosted by chief engineer. if interested in photos http://www.webcg.net/articles/-/31570 This canceled show seems to be for general media and bloggers who don't know how to drive or praise cars.
A bit overwrought, really. Will probably result in a few lawsuits for shin damage from walking too close.
I owned and loved a 2008 IS-F, in spite of the fact that it didn't have the Torsen LSD and it drove very much like a rumbly video game. That said, I have no idea what to make of the RC-F. It's heavier than the old IS-F with no real explanation as to why, and it appears that Lexus took every complaint about the IS-F's styling and multiplied them all x2. The front end is just ridiculous, and yes it's ridiculous from all angles, not just the one pictured. And it isn't much faster (if at all). I'm thinking STi when I return to the states; maybe Subaru will have released the hatchback version by then...
It may be too soon and in bad taste, due to recent events, but since it's a Lexus, I have to say this: It's styling is clearly based on Joan Rivers. Can they stretch it any more?