The Scion day

2011 Scion tC

The second generation Scion tC made its world debut today at the 2010 New York Auto Show. It comes with an aggressive new look, new engine, and new technologies.

The 2011 tC is built on a new platform and features a specially tuned MacPherson strut front-suspension and a double-wishbone rear-suspension. Under the hood there is a new 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 180 hp (19hp and 11lbs.-ft. or torque more than the previous model) coupled to either a six-speed manual transmission with improved shift-feel or a six-speed automatic with two additional gears and sequential shift.

The exterior design gets protruding fender flares, a sleek front grille, and projector headlamps, while the modified cabin’s shape is inspired by the Scion FUSE concept unveiled back in 2006. Passengers can now relax comfortably in the elongated cabin with reclining rear seat that split 60/40.

The new Scion tC also arrives with key safety features such as standard Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), traction control (TRAC), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), active front-headrests, and eight airbags.

UPDATE 08/06/2010: Scion has announced prices for the 2011 Scion tC sports coupe. You can purchase the tC with a manual transmission for only $18,275 or with an automatic transmission for $19,275. Both also carry a $720 destination and handling charge.

2010 Scion tC with 1,100-hp by Team NFS and Rado

If you believed you had to drive a Bugatti Veyron to enjoy an engine power of more than 1000 HP, you were wrong! A Scion tC with a few updates can take you for that same kind of ride, minus some luxury. It may have taken a lot of updates, but this Scion tC comes with a total output of 1100 HP.

The car was developed and custom built by Chris Rado and his racing team. It just made its debut last weekend at Road Atlanta and will be competing in the Time Attack series. This series won’t be anything new for the Scion considering Rado also suped up a tC for last year’s Time Attack series. The 1,100 tC will also be featured in the next Need for Speed.

This Scion tC was inspired by racing cars from the 60s and early 70s which saw the fastest race cars on the planet governed by next-to-no rules. This car has been a few years in the making. Rado really wanted a machine to take on the world’s fastest time attack cars, so an all new AWD Scion project would be needed.

Expect to see this beast in lots of 2011 competitions.

2011 Scion xD Release Series 3.0

Scion has unveiled the special edition xD Release Series 3.0 (xD RS 3.0). It will be limited to only 1,500 units ad will be priced at $16,905 for the manual version and $17,705 for the automatic version. The price does not include the delivery, processing, and handling (DPH) fee.

The new special edition xD RS 3.0 is distinguished by a four-piece body kit that includes front and rear lower lips along with side skirts. The body kit adds assertive styling and is exclusive to the xD RS 3.0. The xD comes painted in a distinctive color appropriately named xPRESSO, which is not currently offered on any other Scion model. To complete the stylish exterior, the xD RS 3.0 is equipped with B-pillar appliqués that are constructed from genuine carbon fiber material and feature the xD RS logo.

Each of the 1,500 units comes with a unique, individually numbered stainless-steel badge.

2010 Scion tC by James Lin

One of the many Scion tC coupes to be making an appearance at the 2010 SEMA show is one tuned by James Lin. It seems this tuner took out a book on what tuners could do to a car and then proceeded to do anything and everything imaginable, leaving us with this highly modified and super rad ride.

Starting with the exterior of the vehicle, the tuner added a carbon fiber hood and trunk, custom door handles, and a carbon fiber rear wing. More carbon fiber came in thr shape of an AIT racing carbon fiber front and rear bumper splitter. Splitter rods and front bumper carbon fiber canards by APR were also thrown in for good measure. Then Lin went ahead and shaved off the windshield wipers and door handles because, well, he could. The interior saw a new Sparco Steering Wheel, a Fast R Shift Knob, and the lovely sounds coming out of the new Sony 7-inch Double XNV-770BT audio system.

Under the hood of the Scion there is a new turbo charger, a front mount intercooler, custom chrome manifold and down pipe, carbon fiber dampers, and a DC Sport Air Filter. No specific numbers were given as to the performance of this bad boy, so we’re hoping more specs will be reviewed when the car rolls onto the show floor.

2010 Scion tC by Crawford Performance

Scion was pretty busy preparing this year’s SEMA Show. The five customized tC stand as proof of this statement. And the next one featured on our pages comes from Crawford Performance. The tuner made changes for both the exterior and the interior, but they also did some impressive work under the hood.

The exterior package includes an ATI carbon fiber hood, Vinyl Graphics by Spin Imaging, window tint, and a Scion spoiler. There are also Tein Super Racing Coilovers and a TRD big brake kit. The exterior package is finished by 18" Advan RG-D RAcing Wheels with custom paint wrapped in Toyo Tires Proxes R1R Tires 265/35ZR18. Oh, and there’s also the racing livery that is swallowing the car whole. For the interior the tuner is only offering a new Alpine Stereo system.

Under the hood, Crawford added Motul fluids, NGK Spark Plugs, K&N High Flow Air Cleaner, and power by Crawford Performance. No specific numbers were given as to the enhancement of power, but we imagine everything will get a little clearer in the next few days as the SEMA show’s doors open and the cars come flowing out.

2010 Scion tC by GReddy

Scion marks its return to the 2010 SEMA Show with an exciting selection of custom-built cars. One of the firsts is a tC Coupe customized by GReddy. Compared to a standard tC powered by a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that develops 180 HP, GReddy tuned their model to an impressive 340 HP and 325 lb-ft of peak torque. In order to obtain this impressive output, the tuner is offering a new turbo kit, a front-mounted intercooler, a new exhaust system and of course ECU update.

Next to the engine upgrade, GReddy is also offering coilovers, Five-Axis Aero package, Scion optimized rear wing, a big brake upgrade, new 18" racing wheels painted in silver with an S and A design, and some GReddy graphics. Nothing has been said on what interior changes have been made, but we don’t see any of the Scion tCs getting too much of an interior upgrade this year. We do know, however, that there will be a nice set of Sparco Chrono seats covered in black leather.

Stay tuned as we head to SEMA for more details on this and many other vehicles attending the show!

2010 Scion Tuner Challenge tC by John Pangilinan

John Pangilinan is coming to the SEMA Show with its own version of the Scion tC sports car, but the competition for this customized ride may be too much to handle as there are five customized tCs headed to SEMA to strut their stuff. The most intimidating for this version may just be the tC customized by James Lin. Lin threw everything he had at the sports car and the result was a car that we would even take out and about. That being said, Pangilinan may be a tough competitor as well as he has tweaked the engine of this bad boy enough to tickle our fancies.

Pangilinan has piqued our interest with a new turbocharger kit, a stainless steel turbo manifold, a new intake system, and RC 750cc injectors fitted right under the hood of the tC. We don’t know exactly what these changes have resulted in, since no official numbers were given, but we can’t imagine a tuner would strap on 18" race wheels and a new Brembo Gran Turismo Big brake kit for a minor boost.

The exterior of the Scion tC features a new exterior package that includes a Jon Sibal Custom Designed Seibon TC GT Carbon Fiber widebody kit, a Seibon carbon fiber hood Aerocatch hood latch, Seibon custom carbon fiber trunk, an APR carbon custom rear wing, APR carbon fiber side mirrors, and a carbon fiber wrapped roof. Exterior PPG paint was applied by Kelly & Son. For the interior, the tuner is offering new Recaro seats, a custom wrapped personal steering wheel, and embroidery by Top Stitch.

This exterior of this tC may look the part of a delectable racer, but the proof is in the pudding, which is why we can’t wait to see the new performance numbers for this tasty little treat when we hit the SEMA floor.

2010 Scion Tuner Challenge tC by Shawn Baker

The fifth and last customized Scion tC to be displayed at the SEMA Show comes from Shawn Baker. The inspiration behind this tC is that form follows function. Shawn Baker believes that it’s not really about how much you add to a customized car - could he be talking to James Lin? - it’s about how well you execute the aspect that you choose to customize.

Loving a clean look, Baker decided to turn the paint over to R Miller Autobody who added a beautiful matte black to the exterior. They followed that up with matte black features such as the A-pillars, mirrors, wiper deleted rain tray, smoothed engine bay, and rear duckbill spoiler. A racing solution RS2 Lip Kit - retro-fit and modified for tC2 fitment - was also added to the sleek vehicle. Then there’s the obligatory set of 19" 3-piece forged race SJC wheels.

For the interior, Shawn Baker went with a custom leather interior with baseball glove style rawhide stitching. The rear seat was stripped of its headrests while additional padding was added to the armrests. Up front, the tuner installed a NArdi Classic 360 mm steering wheel and a new Pioneer audio system. Under the hood there is a new turbo system, a new aluminum intercooler, and a racing SS turbo manifold.

You know the old saying where you "save the best for last?" That’s about where we stand with this Scion tC. It may have been the last customized Scion on the list of customized tCs, but its clean look and low key additions were just what we wanted to see.

2011 Scion xB Release Series 8.0

Not one, not two, but eight special limited edition models later and here’s the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show with Scion’s newest xB called the Release Series 8.0. We don’t know what it is about the xB that simply fascinates Scion, but we’re starting to take bets to see how many more special editions Toyota’s child is going to roll out.

Until the day when Scion stops creating these silly little editions, we’ll just have to bite the bullet and keep on providing information about them. The xB RS 8.0 comes fitted with a four-piece body kit designed by Kenstyle that includes an aggressive front and rear lower lips, and side skirts. The exterior will be painted in Voodoo Blue, a color that is not currently available on any other Scion model.

The interior will be freshened up with seats and door panel trim that have been covered in an exclusive black fabric with blue accents. The floor mats also feature the same color blue in the form of the "xB RS 8.0" logo.

So basically, what you are looking at is the Release Series 7.0 minus the TRD sport muffler and leather-wrapped RAZO GT Formula Spec shift knob. Oh, and you get that "nifty" blue color instead of the purple given to last year’s model.

The Scion xB Release Series 8.0 is limited to 2000 units and goes on sale later this month. Prices will begin at $18,405 for a manual transmission and $19,355 for an automatic transmission, which is slightly lower than the Series 7.0. For an extra $320 customers will also get a color-matched rear spoiler.