THINK sports cars and the Lexus name may not immediately spring to mind.

After all, it's the premium arm of Toyota most commonly associated with fuel-saving hybrids, luxury SUVs and large saloons.

But with the introduction of the stunning RC F all that is about to change.

Powered by a whopping 5.0-litre V8 engine delivering 471bhp and boasting a 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.5 seconds and top speed that is electronically-limited to 168mph, the RC F certainly has all the credentials to place it into the sports car category.

Then there are the looks. For the RC-F looks fantastic from every angle possible. Stand-out features include the beautifully streamlined body with race-bred aerodynamic styling, numerous cooling vents, sweeping headlight clusters, 19-inch alloys, an active rear spoiler, a spindle grille with F motif mesh, tinted windows, four tailpipes and auto-dimming, power-folding door mirrors.

Step inside and the level of on-board technology cannot fail to impress. There are body-hugging high-backed sports seats that can be heated or ventilated, a 10-speaker sound system with DVD player and DAB radio, sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity, a chunky three-spoke sports steering wheel, a 7-inch high resolution screen, dual zone climate control and plenty more besides.

Navigating the many features can take a little getting used to via a touchpad, but after taking a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the system, it is quite efficient.

It's also worth mentioning the smart leather-styled hood that houses the TFT display, with a large circular rev counter that changes in appearance when you shift through the optional driving modes - eco is quite tame looking, whereas move up through Normal, Sport S and Sport S+ and you will see all sorts of additional information appearing.

Obviously, like any other coupe sports car the space in the rear seats is very limited, but the RC F does boast quite a generously-sized boot with a capacity of 366 litres and elsewhere there is a glovebox, deep central bin, practical cup holders and door pockets for storage purposes.

So it would be fair to say the RC F certainly looks the business and is packed with technology and creature comforts, but clearly this car is all about performance and handling so how does it fare? The answer is exceptionally well.

Push the start button and you are greeted with a roar from the V8 petrol engine, a light touch on the accelerator and that roar builds into a crescendo of noise and that is just a hint of what's to come!

The acceleration is blisteringly fast, but somehow the car remains quite refined in the process. It moves through the eight-speed automatic gearbox at a rapid pace and you can take extra control by using the paddle shifts.

At lower rev counts, the RC F doesn't feel over-powered, but move up to about 5,000rpm and it's like being fired from a canon. The road-holding is outstanding and the precise steering makes light work of twisting roads.

And there are gadgets and features galore to add to the fun. A Torque-Vectoring Differential (£3,500 option) delivers an enhanced steering response when cornering and increased traction when exiting a bend. There are three settings - Standard for normal driving, Slalom for improved steering and Track which emphasises stability for high-speed driving.

Of course, Lexus has packed the RC F with a comprehensive range of safety features, such as eight airbags, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, stability control, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert and lots more.