| Manufacturer | Toyota Motor Corporation |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–present |
| Model years | 2005-present |
| Assembly | Tsutsumi, Japan |
| Class | Compact |
| Body style | 3-door liftback |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | Toyota Avensis |
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 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. The tC is sold as the Toyota Zelas in the Middle East, China, Central and South America.[1]
|
| Production | 2004–2010 |
|---|---|
| Model years | 2005-2010 |
| Engine | 2.4L 2AZ-FE straight-4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in (2,700 mm) |
| Length | 174.0 in (4,420 mm) |
| Width | 69.1 in (1,755 mm) |
| Height | 55.7 in (1,415 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,905 lb (1,318 kg) (manual) 2,970 lb (1,350 kg) (automatic) |
Toyota debuted the production tC at the January 2004 NAIAS with sales beginning in June 2004 as a 2005 model year. The Scion tC was designed to appeal to the Millennial market.[2] 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[3] 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.
The tC received a minor facelift in 2007 for the 2008 model year that included a revised grille and new head- and taillights.
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 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.
NHTSA crash test ratings (2006)[5]
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Scion tC an "Acceptable" overall score in both the frontal offset and side impact crash tests.[6][7]
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.[8] Vehicle Stability Control is not offered.
In early 2006, a factory service bulletin was issued for some 2005 and 2006 tCs due to the possibility of the glass wind deflector being shattered by road debris.[9]
In late 2006, a service bulletin was issued for 29,542 2005 and 2006 tCs due to the possibility of the side airbags deploying as a result of slamming the door forcefully.
In 2010, a technical service bulletin was issued for 2005-2010 tCs regarding the rear hatch handle. The handle becomes brittle over time and can break off, especially in sub-freezing temperatures.[10]
Scion has yet to have a major recall.
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.[11]
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.
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
| Also called | Toyota Zelas (Middle East, South America, China) |
|---|---|
| Production | 2010–present |
| Engine | 2.5L 2AR-FE straight-4 |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic 6-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in (2,700 mm) |
| Length | 174.0 in (4,420 mm) |
| Width | 70.7 in (1,796 mm) |
| Height | 55.7 in (1,415 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,090 lb (1,402 kg) (Manual) 3,160 lb (1,433 kg) (Auto) |
In February 2009, Scion Vice President Jack Hollis announced a new tC replacement would arrive within two years.[19] The second-generation tC is built from the third-generation Toyota Avensis platform.[20]
The replacement model debuted at the April 2010 New York Auto Show, and it was scheduled to appear in U.S. dealerships in October 2010. It was to 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.[21] Visually, the second 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 continues 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.[22] 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.[23] As of November 2011, only 20,846 tCs have been sold.[24]
The 2011 tC was among the first Scions in Canadian showrooms, along with the xB and xD, appearing by March 2011.
In terms of sales, the Scion tC was once Scion's most popular model and from 2005 to 2007 accounted for almost half of all cars sold under Scion. Its best selling year was 2006.[25]
| Calendar Year | US Sales |
|---|---|
| 2003 | n/a[26] |
| 2004 | 28,062[27] |
| 2005 | 74,415 |
| 2006 | 79,125[28] |
| 2007 | 63,852 |
| 2008 | 40,980[29] |
| 2009 | 17,998[30] |
| 2010 | 15,204[31] |
| 2011 | 22,433 |
| Type | 2000s | 2010s | |||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Microcar | iQ | ||||||||||||
| Subcompact | xA | xD | |||||||||||
| xB | |||||||||||||
| Compact | xB | ||||||||||||
| tC | tC | ||||||||||||
| Concept cars: bbX · ccX · t2B · Fuse · Hako Coupe · iQ | |||||||||||||