New Scion tC: Closer to 3 series, but too steep for young buyers? Mark Rechtin Automotive News -- August 6, 2010 - 2:15 pm ET
SAN DIEGO -- When the original Scion tC arrived, young buyers craved an affordable coupe that met their BMW 3-series aspirations. But a half-price Bimmer meant some shortfalls, and Scion owners asked for more power, more room and better brakes and gas mileage in the next version.
With the 2011 tC redesign, those needs were met, but with a sticker price nearly $1,200 more dear. At a time when it's nearly impossible for young buyers to get a new-car loan, they are confronted by a tC that will quickly zip past $20,000.
The basics: The tC's basic platform continues to borrow heavily from the Europe-market Avensis. Although the tC's wheelbase and length remain the same, it is slightly wider, which translates into more rear seat room.
The engine, borrowed from the base Camry, gained some displacement as well as 19 hp and 11 pounds-feet of torque. That translates into a claimed 7.6-second 0-to-60 time with a six-speed manual transmission,
8.3 seconds with the six-speed automatic. Both times are nearly a second quicker than the old model.Toyota engineers increased the size of the brakes in both front and back. They also widened the track and lowered the floor, giving the tC a lower center of gravity and better handling. The rigidity of the suspension was increased as well. The power steering system has changed from hydraulic to electric.
ENLARGE The tC is crucial for Scion, having accounted for 41 percent of the brand=92s nearly 800,000 sales to date.
Notable features: The rear seats recline an additional 10 degrees on demand. The front seats have position memory for when someone gets into the back seat.
On the safety side, the redesigned tC adds brake assist, a passenger- knee airbag and defeatable traction control and vehicle stability control. It also introduces a brake override system.
The tC's moonroof, which had been prone to shattering in the first generation, has been redesigned with a mesh wind deflector.
Scion already has 45 accessories ready for the new model, with plans for more performance pieces from Toyota Racing Development.
What Scion says: =93There is no question this is evolutionary,=94 Scion Vice President Jack Hollis said at the media introduction here. =93Our target was to get to the top of the sporty-subcompact segment.=94
Compromises and shortcomings: No paddle shifters in the automatic transmission version. Bluetooth should be a standard feature for this demographic. Not enough asphalt sheeting in the floor means lots of tire noise intrudes into the cabin. While the stocky C-pillar is an interesting design cue, it makes for a huge blind spot.
The market: The original tC was so good, it blew the overpriced Acura RSX into oblivion and made the plasticky Hyundai Tiburon and Mitsubishi Eclipse irrelevant. But the small-coupe market is fickle. Jim Hall, an analyst with 2953 Analytics in suburban Detroit, thinks that the 2011 tC may not have changed enough and that Scion should have challenged the conventional wisdom with something entirely different.
The skinny: The tC is crucial for Scion, having accounted for 41 percent of the brand's nearly 800,000 sales to date. It also is the youngest car in Toyota's lineup, with an average owner age of 26. It's a definite improvement in performance. But in moving from a budget coupe to something more aspirational, might Scion price the tC out of reach of its young followers?
More horsepower, more money 2011 Scion tC 2010 Scion tC Wheelbase 106.3 in. 106.3 in. Length 174.0 in. 174.0 in. Width: 70.7 in. 69.1 in. Height 55.7 in. 55.7 in. Engine 2.5-liter inline-4 2.4-liter inline-4 Horsepower 180 @ 6,000 rpm 161 @ 6000 rpm Torque, lb-ft 173 @ 4100 rpm 162 @ 4000 rpm Fuel economy 23/31 20/27 Curb weight 3,060 lbs. 2,932 lbs. Base price* $18,995 $17,820
*incl. destination chargesYou can reach Mark Rechtin at snipped-for-privacy@crain.com.
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