Scion tC
The Scion tC is a compact car manufactured by Toyota under its Scion brand from 2004 to 2016 over two generations: ANT10 and AGT20. Both generations were built in Japan. The tC was introduced first in the United States for the 2005 model year and then, beginning with the second generation in the 2011 model year, in Canada as well. The tC was Scion's best-selling model, constituting almost 40% of total Scion sales.
The name tC stands for "touring coupe." Beginning in 2011, the tC was sold as the Toyota Zelas in the Middle East, China and South America, a name derived from "zelante", Italian for "passionate" or "zealous."
First generation (AT10; 2004)
Toyota debuted the production tC at the January 2004 North American International Auto Show with sales beginning in May 2004 as a 2005 model year. The tC was a spiritual successor to the Celica intended to appeal to the millennial market. To this end, Toyota included numerous standard features, and optional features were easy to add. 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-inch alloy wheels, and a panoramic moonroof.The tC shares its chassis with the Avensis and uses a MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear suspension. It was offered at a low with the pure "monospec" pricing marketing style that Toyota adopted. This generation was not sold in Canada.
A bare-bones version of the tC known as the Spec Package was offered without many of the standard accessories. The Spec Package replaced the alloy wheels with steel wheels and seven spoke wheel covers, and had simplified interior and exterior equipment, including a fixed rather than powered glass roof, deletion of cruise control and steering wheel audio controls, and urethane steering wheel finish instead of wrapped leather. Meant to serve as a blank slate to the tuner market, the Spec Package 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.
The tC received a minor refresh in 2007 for the 2008 model year that included a revised grille and new, "Altezza"-styled head and taillights.
The model was Scion's best seller, reaching over 79,125 units sold in 2006, but the car's sales quickly dwindled by 2010, only moving 15,204 units. A 2nd generation was released for the 2011 model year.
Car and Driver praised the 2005 tC for its list of accessories but criticized its low headroom in the backseat and limited cargo room.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.4 L Dual Overhead Cam 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: at 6000 rpm / at 5700 rpm
- Torque: at 4000 rpm / at 4000 rpm
- / with TRD supercharger
- Transmission: Standard 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission
- Curb weight: ;
- Fuel tank:
- EPA ratings for manual transmission: city / hwy ; city / hwy
- EPA ratings for automatic transmission: city / hwy ; city / hwy
- Performance
- 0-60 mph : 7.4 seconds
- 1/4 mile : 15.6 seconds at
- 1/4 mile : 14.2 seconds
Safety
- Frontal Crash Test - Driver:
- Frontal Crash Test - Passenger:
- Side Impact Rating -
- Side Impact Rating - Rear:
- Rollover Rating:
All Scion tCs come standard with 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock brakes. For 2008 models, front seat-mounted side torso airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, and a driver's knee airbag became standard. Front passenger classification was also added, allowing dual stage control of airbag release dependent upon the weight of the passenger. Vehicle Stability Control was not originally offered until 2011 when Toyota began rolling out Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Control in all their vehicle brands, including Scion, sold in North America.
Second generation (AT20; 2010)
2011–2013
The replacement model debuted at the April 2010 New York International Auto Show, and appeared in U.S. dealerships in October 2010. It received a performance bump; with the new engine being carried over from the Toyota Camry being a 2.5 liter I4 2AR-FE engine producing and. Like the first generation, the chassis remained a variant of the Toyota Avensis, the model using the third generation chassis. Visually, the second generation is a toned-down variant of the Scion Fuse concept, featuring a similar rear quarter-panel window line to the concept but with xB-styled blacked-out A-pillars. The headlights, taillights and grille received a makeover to make the car seem more muscular and angular. It continued to receive very high safety marks, an all-glass roof, roomy interior, and a hatchback design. Other changes included a wider track, standard wheels, larger brake discs, a more powerful engine, a six-speed transmission, and a performance-tuned electric power steering system. The Scion tC now comes standard with Vehicle Stability Control. A TRD supercharger was originally offered for the car, as well as a special body kit by FiveAxis, but both have since been discontinued. The tC remained popular in the tuner market, with many aftermarket performance upgrades still being available.Toyota Zelas
At the 2010 Abu Dhabi Motor Show, the Scion tC was introduced under the Toyota Zelas nameplate. It later went on sale in the Middle East, with an aggressive body kit not featured on the Scion tC.2014–2016
Initial sales of the second generation tC fell short of expectations, and to coincide with the launch of the Scion FR-S, the tC received a facelift for the 2014 model year. Inspired by the design of the FR-S, the 2014 tC received updated headlamps, grille, LED taillights, 18-inch alloy rims, body kit, a sport-tuned suspension, reworked faster shifting transmission, sport-tuned shocks, and a new touch screen audio system standard. For the first model year, Scion offered a Series 10 anniversary edition of the ten-year anniversary of the brand, limited to 3500 units. It included a new silver color, silver seat belts, a solar-powered illuminated shift knob, an LED Scion locator badge that lights up when the car is unlocked and a sequentially numbered interior badge. For the 2016 model year, the tC received some minor changes, such as a standard rear windshield wiper, new silver interior door handles, center console tray cover, and a leather-wrapped shift knob, the latter of which was formerly an optional upgrade.The tC ended production in August 2016 after a final release edition as part of the phasing out of Scion brand. At 29, the tC sports coupe had the lowest-average age buyer in the industry according to Toyota.
Specifications
Safety
crash test ratings- Frontal Impact - Driver:
- Frontal Impact - Passenger:
- Side Impact - Driver:
- Side Impact - Rear Passenger:
- Side Pole - Driver:
- Rollover Rating -
| Moderate overlap frontal offset | Good |
| Small overlap frontal offset | Acceptable |
| Side impact | Good |
| Roof strength | Good |
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 used to produce performance parts such as lowering springs and racing struts, full coil-over 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 were also offered.TRD also offered a supercharger, which is a rebadged Vortech supercharger, that is capable of putting out, although when installed by a dealership and under warranty it is set at. Starting in 2008, Scion began making the supercharger with tamper-proof pulleys. As of mid-2009, TRD discontinued production of superchargers for the Scion tC.
In 2016, TRD discontinued production of all parts for the Scion tC.
Release Series line
Scion used a simplified "pure price" sales model that eschewed traditional factory options in favor of fixed base-vehicle pricing and buyer customization via dealer-installed accessories; hence, the tC was offered in a single standard trim, with exterior colors and the choice of transmission typically being the only factory options. However, some limited-production special editions with added factory equipment and exclusive colors were offered. Beginning in late spring 2004, Scion launched the Release Series line, limited quantities of their current vehicles pre-packaged with individual numbered badging, exclusive accessories, and other special features. Their exterior colors were bright hues.Please note that not all cosmetics, features, and options are not listed in this page.
2005
- tC RS 1.0 only available in Absolutely Red with 2,500 units produced
- tC RS 2.0 only available in Blue Blitz Mica with 2,600 units produced
- tC RS 3.0 only available in Blizzard Pearl with 2,500 units produced
- tC RS 4.0 only available in Galactic Gray Mica with 2,300 units produced
- tC RS 5.0 only available in Gloss Black with 2,000 units produced
- tC RS 6.0 only available in Speedway Blue with 1,100 units produced
- tC RS 7.0 only available in High Voltage Yellow with 2,200 units produced
- tC RS 8.0 only available in Absolutely Red with 2,000 units produced
- tC 10th Anniversary Series only available in Silver Ignition with 3,500 units produced
- tC RS 9.0 only available in Two Tone Magma Orange and Gloss Black with 2,000 units produced
- tC RS 10.0 only available in Barcelona Red with 1,200 units produced