Scion tC
Wikicars, a place to share your automotive knowledge
The Scion tC is a compact sports coupe which was initially introduced by Toyota in 2004 as a concept vehicle under its recently created Scion brand name. Significantly more powerful than its sister vehicles, the xA and xB, the tC offers some extra punch under the hood and promises to appeal to those a bit put off by the xA's size or the xB's funky style.
See Wikicars' comprehensive Scion tC Review.
Recent Changes
Cosmetically, very little has changed in the scion tC since its 2005 debut. In 2006, the audio components received a nice upgrade when controls were placed on the steering wheel and a new head unit with iPod connectivity became available. In addition, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) has made an optional supercharger available for the tC which boosts its horsepower from 161hp to a whopping 200hp.There is also an RS 4.0 with a bodykit.
Styles and Major Options
In keeping with Scion's simple, Pure Price philosophy, the tC is available in one standard trim: the 2-door coupe.
Specifications
- Engine: Double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve VVT-i 2.4 L 4-cylinder
- Power:
- 161-hp (119 kW) @ 5700 rpm
- Torque: 163 ft·lbs (221 N·m) @ 4000 rpm
- Transmission: 5-speed manual or available 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission
- Highway fuel economy/consumption: 35-30 mi/U.S. gal (7.8L/100 km) (automatic); 34-29 mi/U.S. gal (8.1L/100 km) (manual)
- City fuel economy/consumption: 29-23 mi/U.S. gal (10.7L/100 km) (automatic); 28-22 mi/U.S. gal (10.7L/100 km) (manual)
- Fuel tank: 14.5 gal (54.9L)
- Brakes: 4-wheel anti-lock braking system employing disc brakes on both the front and rear
- Curb weight: 2,970 lb (1,347 kg) (automatic); 2,905 lb (1,318 kg) (manual)
- Displacement: 2382 CC
Features
The Scion tC features a number of standard features, including:
Interior: Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, Tachometer, Tilt Steering, Steering Wheel Mountedl;kPressure Monitor, AM/FM/CD Pioneer audio system with 6 speakers and MP3 playback, A second-row folding seat and a panoramic moonroof/sunroof.
Exterior: Automatic headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, power windows, power exterior mirrors, deep tinted glass, and interval windshield wipers.
Safety: Power Door Locks, Vehicle Anti-Theft, an Anti-lock braking system, Driver & Passenger Airbags, as well as a driver knee airbag, a First Aid Kit, and Keyless Entry.
Pricing
Today's actual prices for the Scion tC can be found at CarsDirect.
|
Scion tC Trims |
|
|
Scion tC Coupe
|
Scion tC Coupe
|
|
MSRP |
|
|
$16,940 |
$17,740 |
|
Invoice |
|
|
$15,580 |
$15,485 |
Gas Mileage
As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:
|
Trim |
|
|
Scion tC Coupe
|
Scion tC Coupe
|
|
MPG |
|
|
23/30 |
23/31 |
Reliability
Cars.com has rated the tC a 5/5 in Reliability, and J.D. Power dubbed it "Highest Ranked Sporty Car in Initial Quality" when it debuted in 2005, but due to its relative youth, it may still be too early to tell whether or not the tC can live up to its accolades. One thing in its favor is that Scion is a brand under Toyota, which has proven itself over the years to be one of the leaders in automotive reliability.
Safety
NHTSA 2006 crash test ratings [1]
- Side Impact Rating - Front: 4 out of 5 stars
- Side Impact Rating - Rear: 4 out of 5
- Frontal Crash Test - Driver: 5 out of 5
- Frontal Crash Test - Passenger: 4 out of 5
- Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Photos
 |
 Scion tC interior |
 |
 Scion tC engine |
 |
Colors
- Azure Pearl
- Black Cherry Pearl
- Black Sand Pearl
- Flint Mica
- Nautical Blue
- Classic Silver Metallic
- Super White
Main Competitors
Hybrid Models
Scion currently does not produce any hybrid vehicles, and there are no plans to release a hybrid version of the tC.
Limited Editions
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 bounds dealerships against market-demand vehicle mark-up. Naturally, resale values of Release Series vehicles command a premium because of their packaged options and scarcity.
- tC RS 1.0 only available in Absolutely Red with 2500 units produced
- tC RS 2.0 only available in Blue Blitz Mica with 2600 units produced
- tC RS 3.0 only available in Blizzard Pearl with 2500 units produced
- tC RS 4.0 only available in Galactic Gray Mica with 2300 units produced
Unique Attributes
The tC comes standard with a one-of-a-kind panoramic sunroof, which spans the entire width of the car.
Resale Values
According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2006 Scion tC was predicted to retain an incredible 68% of its value after 24 months and 57% at 48 months. The 2007 model is expected to have the same kind of resale value.
Criticisms
Cargo space is modest when the back seats are not folded down, and passengers taller than 6 feet may feel a bit cramped as well. Other items to consider are a relatively wide turning radius and side mirrors that do not fold in.
In early 2006, a recall was issued for some 2005 and 2006 tCs due to the possibility of the glass wind deflector being shattered by debris. Owners were requested to bring in their vehicles to have a shatter resistant film installed.
One man told the head of scion at the time before the tC should have been the second gen AE86, and it should have been RWD!! We here at Wikicars agree.
Generations
First Generation/Origins (2005–present)
The Scion tC was designed to appeal to the Generation Y market and get them locked into the Toyota brand before any other car manufacturer could have a chance. They hoped to do so by making standard features numerous and optional features extremely easy to add. The Scion lineup in general, including the tC, was designed to replace the Toyota Celica, supplanting it with a sportier selection that would be more attractive to younger buyers.
The Scion tC uses the chassis of the Avensis which is sold in the European market, and the Camry's 2.4L 2AZ-FE I4 engine. Its low price (base MSRP of $16,715 for the 2006 model) is a major feature, as well as the pure pricing marketing style that Toyota has adopted.
The name tC does not fit in with its stablemates the xA and xB because the name "xC" has already been taken by Volvo for its XC70 and XC90 models. According to Scion, "tC" stands for "Touring Coupe," although rumors exist that tC stands for any number of things, including Toyota Celica.
Worldwide
Scion's xA and xB models were originally marketed in Japan under the Toyota brand name, but the tC was developed expressly for the US market.
Design quirks and oddities
Awards
- 2005 - J.D. Power Highest Ranked Sporty Car in Initial Quality
See also
| image (between 170-190 pixels) | ||
| SCION | ||
|
Toyota | Lexus | Scion | Hino | Daihatsu Current Concept t2b Concept · Fuse Concept · Hako Coupe Concept Include notable internal links here | ||
| Toyota | Corporate website | A brand of ToMoCo |
External Links
This page uses content from Wikipedia; see Scion tC, which includes these contributors.
