Lexus to add turbo four-cylinder engine to RC lineup

2015 Lexus RC 350

Lexus is getting ready to spill the beans on a new, entry-level version of its RC coupe powered by a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder shared with the NX crossover, and recently added to the IS sedan line.

Though the news has only been made official in Europe so far, Automobile Magazine says they have it on good authority the four-pot will be added to the RC in North America, too.

It makes good sense: BMW and Audi both offer engines with nearly-identical specs in their competitive models, the 4 Series and A5, respectively; Automobile’s source says the RC’s 2.0L will differ from the one used in the IS and NX, but they don’t say how, leaving us to speculate. Automobile suggests the RC will get a power bump (the 2.0L makes 241 hp/258 lb-ft in the IS and NX), and we’d agree: our guess is the RC’s version will be boosted to around 260 hp (something like the output of the IS’ next-up-the-ladder V6 motor) in order to differentiate it not only from the other Lexus models that share the motor, but to give the brand’s marketing folks something to brag about.

Expect the four-pot RC to be called the 200t when it goes on sale.