Scion tC
The Scion tC is an automobile manufactured and sold by Scion, a division of Toyota. Introduced in the United States in June 2004 and Canada in 2010, the Scion tC is generally considered Toyota's successor to the Toyota Celica whose production ended with the 2005 model year. The name tC does not fit in with its stablemates the xA, xB, and xD, because the name XC designation has already been used by Volvo for its lineup of sport utility vehicles. According to Scion, tC stands for touring coupe.
First generation
Toyota debuted the production tC at the 2004 NAIAS with sales beginning in June 2004 as a 2005 model year. The Scion tC was designed to appeal to the Millennial market. Toyota hoped to do so by making standard features numerous and optional features extremely easy to add. The Scion tC shares its chassis with the Avensis and uses a MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension. Its low price (base MSRP of US$17,670 for the 2009 model with manual transmission) is a major feature, as well as the pure "monospec" pricing marketing style that Toyota has adopted. This generation was not sold in Canada.
Major standard equipment included power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, keyless entry, mirror-mounted turn signal lights, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, a 160-watt Pioneer sound system with CD player, 17" alloy wheels and a panoramic moonroof.
A bare-bones version of the Scion tC known as the spec package was offered without many of the standard accessories. The Scion tC spec package replaces the 17-inch (430 mm) alloy wheels with 16-inch (410 mm) steel wheels and seven spoke wheel covers. The glass roof is fixed in place and the steering wheel is made of urethane instead of wrapped leather and lacks stereo controls; cruise control is also not offered and there are many other minor interior and exterior changes. This model, which is meant to serve as a blank slate to the tuner market, was offered in only four colors: Super White, Flint Mica, Black Sand Pearl and Classic Silver Metallic. MSRP was $1,400 less than the standard model. The Spec package was discontinued for the 2009 model year.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.4 L Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) 16-valve 4-cylinder with VVT-i, compression ratio of 9.6:1 for the 2005/06 models and 9.8:1 for 2007-2010.
- Displacement: 2362 cc
- Power: 161 hp (120 kW) @ 6000 rpm (2007MY+) / 160 hp (119 kW) @ 5700 rpm (2005-06MY)
- Torque: 162 ft·lbf (220 N·m) @ 4000rpm (2007MY+) / 163 ft·lbf (221 N·m) @ 4000 rpm (2005-06MY)
- 200 hp / 185 ft·lbf with TRD Supercharger
- Transmission: Standard 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (2008-2010 automatic *transmissions are labeled as "4 speed sequential" transmission in the Scion brochure)
- Curb weight: 2,970 lb (1,347 kg) (automatic); 2,905 lb (1,318 kg) (manual)
- Fuel tank: 14.5 US gal (55 L; 12 imp gal)
- EPA ratings for manual transmission: 20mpg city / 27mpg hwy (2007MY+); 19mpg city / 27mpg hwy (2005/06)
- EPA ratings for automatic transmission: 21mpg city / 29mpg hwy (2007MY+); 20mpg city / 27mpg hwy (2005/06)
- Performance
- 0-60 mph 7.4sec.
- 1/4 mile 15.6 @89.9 mph
Toyota Racing Development (TRD)
Similar to many other models of Toyota/Lexus/Scion, there are many upgrades available through the in house tuning shop Toyota Racing Development (TRD). Currently TRD produces performance parts such as lowering springs and racing struts, full coilover suspension systems, performance brake kits, rear sway bars, front strut tower bars, limited-slip differentials, upgraded clutches, axle-back exhausts and cold-air intakes for the Scion tC. Other cosmetic accessories such as TRD branded valve covers and oil caps are also offered.
TRD also offered a supercharger which is a rebadged Vortech supercharger that is capable of putting out 20 psi (1.4 bar), although when installed by a dealership and under warranty it is set at 6 psi (0.4 bar). Starting in 2008, Scion began making the supercharger with tamper-proof pulleys. As of mid-2009, TRD has discontinued production of superchargers for the Scion tC.
Release Series line
Beginning in late spring 2004, Scion launched the Release Series (RS) line, limited quantities of their current vehicles pre-packaged with individual numbered badging, exclusive accessories, and other special features. Limited edition vehicles from a marketing standpoint were used to create a buzz for the brandname, with their exterior colors tending to be loud or bright hues (i.e. orange, yellow, red, blue, green). Because of the growing popularity of the Scion product line and the scarce production runs (most dealers only get 2-3 of each RS model), these limited edition vehicles quickly sell out. Preordering is available at each dealership on a first-come, first-served basis. To the customer's benefit, Scion's "Pure Price" MSRP prohibits dealerships from adding "market-demand" vehicle mark-up. Naturally, resale values of Release Series vehicles command a premium because of their packaged options and scarcity.
Second generation
In February 2009, Scion Vice President Jack Hollis announced a new tC replacement would arrive within two years. The third generation Avensis went on sale in January 2009 while the current tC shares its platform with the second generation model.
The replacement model debuted at the New York Auto Show, and it is scheduled to appear in dealerships in October 2010. It will be equipped with a 2.5 liter I4 2AR-FE engine producing 180 hp (130 kW) and 174 lb·ft (236 N·m), once again carried over from the Toyota Camry. Visually, the next generation is a toned-down variant of the Scion Fuse concept, featuring a similar rear quarter-panel window line and xB-style blacked-out A-pillars. However, taillights, headlights, and nose treatment are less radical. The 2011 tC will continue to have an all-glass roof, roomy interior, and hatchback design. Other changes include a wider track, standard 18-inch (460 mm) wheels, larger brake discs, and a performance-tuned electric power steering system. The Scion tC now comes standard with Vehicle Stability Control. It should also be noted that all measurements from the first generation to second generation are the same, with the exception of the width, which is increased from 69.1 to 70.7.
Scion expects to sell 35,000 to 45,000 units in the U.S. in 2011, which was reduced from an earlier forecast of 40,000 to 50,000 units, but still expected to at least double what was sold in 2009
Specifications
- Engine: 2.5 L Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) 16-valve 4-cylinder with Dual VVT-i, compression ratio of 10.4:1.
- Displacement: 2,494 cc
- Power: 180 hp (130 kW) @ 6000 rpm
- Torque: 173 ft·lbf @ 4100rpm
- Transmission: Standard 6-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (with manual shift mode)
- Curb weight: 3,060 lb (1,387 kg) (manual); 3,102 lb (1,407 kg) (automatic)
- Fuel tank: 14.5 US gal (55 L; 12 imp gal)
- EPA ratings for manual transmission: 23mpg city / 31mpg hwy
- EPA ratings for automatic transmission: 23mpg city / 31mpg hwy
- EPA rating combined: 26mpg (automatic and manual transmissions.)
- 0-60 mph: 7.3 sec (manual)
- 0-60 mph: 8.0 sec (automatic)
Motorsports
With the demise of the Toyota Celica, the Scion tC is now used for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race held during the Long Beach Grand Prix, beginning in 2006.
There are several tC's in drag racing. Kenny Tran Jotech Motorsports, Leslie Armendariz Horizon Motorsports, Christian Rado World Racing, and Gary White (formerly Brad Personett)Titan Motorsports. Kenny Tran has been competing in the NHRA Sport Compact drag racing series hotrod class where he garnered the 2007 championship. Kenny cut his fastest run with 7.91 ET @ 184 mph (296 km/h) during a NHRA race at Pomona Raceway. In 2007 and 2008, the Jotech Motorsports team won back-to-back Pro Import Class titles of the Battle Of The Imports drag series. Leslie Armendariz's All-Motor Scion tC pushed a record setting 9.34 @ 143 mph (230 km/h). Christian Rado claimed 2nd place in the Pro FWD class of the 2008 BOTI nationals, he also later claimed a victory with the first FWD car to pass the seven second mark in a quarter mile with a blistering time of 6.97 seconds. Gary White won second place in the Extreme 10.5" class of the ADRL Battle of the Belts World Finals.
For the 2008 Formula Drift year, RS*R converted a Scion tC to rear wheel drive. This was done by taking a Toyota Avensis chasis (which the Scion tC is based on, originally an AWD platform) and converted it into RWD. The car is powered by a tuned BEAMS 3S-GE engine. Ken Gushi currently competes with this vehicle. After talks with team mate Chris Rado, Ken Gushi switched back to the factory 2AZ-FE engine, for the 2010 Formula Drift season. Ken Gushi stated "Chris Rado, my Scion Team mate who runs his famous record tearing Scion tC uses the same base motor (of course for a different application) has proven this motor to withstand numbers up to 900hp, possibly even more."
For the 2009/10 Formula Drift seasons, Tanner Foust competed using a Rockstar, AEM and Toyo Tire sponsored Scion tC converted to RWD, built by Papadukis Racing. It was powered by a TRD (Toyota Racing Development) built V8 taken from a former TRD Busch Series NASCAR stocker.
For the 2008 KONI Challenge season, Dan Gardner and Craig Stanton drove a Scion tC in the Street Tuner (ST) Class.
For 2009, a Supercharged tC driven by team owner Dan Gardner was entered in the SCCA World Challenge Touring Car 2 (TC2) class. Scott Webb drove the car to victory, bringing Scion home their first-ever professional win.
Modifications
The Scion tC is marketed to be customized in many ways. In 2007 Scion released a Scion tC Spec Package priced and targeted for tuners starting at $15,000. Aftermarket parts for the tC are available from suspension, engine performance, body kits, drive train, turbos/supercharger, electronics, and many more. Turbo kits available for the Scion tC prove to give a major performance gain from stock 161 hp (120 kW) to anywhere between240 hp (179 kW) - 450 hp (336 kW).Further, more can be accomplished with internal engine and drivetrain work.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scion_tC