Lexus Reveals 2019 RC Coupe Design Updates

Since its arrival in 2014, the Lexus RC Coupe has been a solid option against German competitors, but has been overlooked because of its radical design (consumers are still having trouble falling in love with Lexus' spindle grille), among other things. For the 2019 model year, Lexus is updating the RC Coupe's design. Unfortunately, the spindle grille is here to stay.

The most notable change for the RC Coupe is the revised designs for the front and rear bumpers. The redesigned front bumper is slightly less edgier than before, but there's no way it's going to draw in buyers that weren't interested in the RC Coupe because its bold design to begin with. The daytime running lights, which were positioned below the headlights in a check mark, have been repositioned, now sitting inside of the redesigned headlights. Speaking of the headlights, they now share a similar design to the units found on the LC Coupe.

The polarizing spindle grille now features a different mesh pattern that Lexus claims transforms as it flows from the hood to the bottom of the bumper. To our eyes, it simply looks like the mesh design gets larger as it goes from top to bottom. New air ducts have been added to the front bumper, as well.

At the back, taillights with an L-shaped LED design are new, as are a pair of air ducts. Redesigned exterior mirrors and a new fin shape for the side window mold should help the RC Coupe flow through the air better. A new set of 19-inch wheels inspired by the LS and LC round out the exterior changes.

Lexus has updated the RC Coupe's suspension setup, too, adding stiffer suspension bushings and new shock absorbers. Grippier tires have been added into the mix, as well. This, in Lexus' words, was done to improve stability.

Since Lexus didn't provide any information on what engines the new RC Coupe comes with, we expect the same engine lineup as last year's model. The base engine will probably be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 241 horsepower. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we expect to see a 311-hp, 3.5-liter V6.

The 2019 RC Coupe will make its debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show in October.

After spending some time in last year's RC Coupe, we weren't fans of the vehicle's performance, as the V6 engine didn't have enough grunt to move the 3,748-pound coupe in a sporty manner. We also didn't like Lexus' remote track pad controller for the infotainment system. Those issues haven't been fixed for the 2019 model year.

We did, though, enjoy the RC Coupe's suspension, which could see the car go from sporty to capable highway cruiser with just the switch of a button. The sport seats were also incredible, straddling the line of being supportive and comfortable perfectly.

While the RC Coupe is a solid contender in the luxury sport coupe segment, it's a slow seller, which is probably why the vehicle is rarely stocked at dealerships. In 2017, Lexus only sold 7,363 units of the RC Coupe, claims Good Car Bad Car. So far in 2018, 2,008 units of the RC Coupe have been sold, as the vehicle is on course to have the worst year to date. The update for the 2019 model year, then, is coming at a good time.