2015 Lexus RC 350 – First Look and Review
The car’s center console is anchored by a crisp display screen presenting vehicle, audio, and navigation information. Drivers or front-seat passengers control the information displayed using the RC’s new Remote Touchpad located to the right of the gearshift. This is a major advance over Lexus’ joystick cockpit controller, which we found difficult to use.
The circular Touchpad recognizes tap, flick, and pinch commands, and sliding a finger over its surface controls the cursor’s position. Pressing down or double tapping makes a selection, much like with the touchpad on a laptop. A convenient feature vibrates the Touchpad’s surface when the cursor moves over a selection on the screen, thus facilitating cursor movement while allowing the driver to keep his eyes on the road.
DRIVING THE LEXUS RC 350
My day with the RC 350 started in White Plains in Westchester County, New York. It was overcast and grey for late summer. The leaden clouds seemed the perfect backdrop for the drive as they made it resemble outrunning a storm front, and the RC was an incredibly fun vehicle in which to attempt the task.
My drive took me through the historic village of Sleepy Hollow and past its legendary graveyard, which was an eerie experience given that Halloween was looming. I succeeded in avoiding disturbing any of the residents, including the headless horseman, as I resisted the temptation to goose the engine while passing through.
As the drive continued, I found both the car to be rock solid, with an eager motor that required little more than a slight tap on the pedal to elicit a noticeable response. Steering was equally responsive and the car always went where I intended it to go.
From the Headless Horseman’s home, it was a long stretch upstate paralleling the Hudson River, which was a good opportunity to try the car’s radar cruise control on the highway.
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