What it’s like to drive the $134k Lexus RC F sports car

Getting to drive the Lexus sports coupe from the Men in Black film is quite the treat - but things can get awkward.

Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson also got to enjoy the Lexus RC F in the new Men In Black film.

Driving in peak-hour traffic in Sydney, I pull up at the intersection, car humming as I wait for the lights to turn green. Out of the corner of my eye I feel the guy in the car next to me looking my way. He winds down his window, leans out and has a really, good look.

It’s awkward. I mean, this hasn’t happened to me in at least a decade. OK, probably more.

It’s OK, though, I know what’s going on (although it doesn’t make the ogling any less awkward). The car I’m driving is the Lexus RC F, which is the vehicle featured in the latest Men in Black film.

The Lexus RC F is ‘more aggressively’ priced at $134,129.

The Lexus is not just beautiful on the outside.

It is a beautiful car. It’s low-lying, has new single-piece LED headlights and a wider grille, enlarged front-side air breathers and new canard ‘fins’ on the lower front bumper.

Lexus is the official vehicle partner of Men in Black: International, which opened in cinemas last week, and they let me drive the stunning sports car for a week.

The team was quick to point out that this vehicle comes in at a reduced — or “more aggressively” — priced $134,129. It’s apparently a more affordable entry point but the total cost of the four cars I’ve owned over the past 25 years is still less than that figure.

I’m not really into cars. My first car was a convertible VW Beetle so, to be fair, I peaked early.

Now that’s a car that stops traffic.

I’m less concerned about what I’m driving these days, as long as it’s big enough to ferry the kids around.

But this car is truly beautiful — and not just on the outside.

The leather seats sit low, are heated, ventilated and super comfortable. The rear seats look great but seem a little useless. You would have to sit right under the steering wheel to squeeze anyone in the back.

The centre console is clever. Instead of a traditional joystick, the new system has a slick track pad similar to that found on a laptop computer. It sits low and is within reach of the driver’s left hand and responds to finger movement. It can be used to control everything from the air-conditioning to the audio systems, but is a little tricky to manage while driving. There is an impressive 26cm widescreen centre display and 17 speaker Mark Levinson audio system.

The safety system in the RC F is comprehensive. The blind spot monitor on the side mirrors is a feature I now want in every car I drive. The warnings are visual and audible and ideal for anyone easily distracted by kids in car.

The vehicle also has a back guide monitor, clearance and parking sonar, a pre-collision safety system that detects pedestrians and lane-departure warning, which uses cameras to monitor road markings, and vehicle sway warning. There is a lot of beeping and plenty of flashing lights in this car but it’s super useful.

The Lexus has one of the most responsive and sonorous engines.

It also has a nice backside.

Driving in Sydney meant I was largely stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic and never got to push the car much past 70km/h but it is fast, light and quick off the mark. Lexus offer standard launch control across the RC F range to enable faster and more controlled standing-start take-off.

It has greater downforce particularly on the front axle, stiffer and lighter suspension components, firmer steering control, a lighter engine, more intuitive transmission and grippier tyres.

Recent changes to the RC F range also enable higher turn-in speed to a corner, greater chassis stability during rapid direction changes, plus improved steering and throttle response.

According to the brochure, the high-revving, 5.0-litre V8 produces 351kW of power at 7100rpm and 530Nm of torque between 4800rpm and 5600rpm, placing it among the most responsive and sonorous engines.

The engine meets Euro 6 emissions standards while also providing more linear throttle response as a key improvement to driveability.

It seems obvious to say the Lexus was a joy to drive. But I honestly haven’t loved being behind the wheel of a car since the 90s when I was driving around in my red bug with the top down.

This is clearly the upgrade I need, just got to find those extra dollars.