Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupes, Scion
Chicago Preview: Scion tC Series 4.0
by Damon Lavrinc on Feb 1st 2008 at 2:56PM 
Toyota won't be having much in the way of new models at next week's Chicago Auto Show, but its hip urban sibling will be showing off a new version of the tC. The Scion tC Release Series 4.0 RS (whew) ups the style quotient of the base model with a DAMD body kit, new upper grille and rear spoiler, all coated in Galactic Gray Mica. The interior benefits from a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black leather and dark wood RAZO shift knob and gray and black seats swathed in Alcantara with "tC RS 4.0" embroidered into the front and rear seats.
All that extra kit comes at a $2,700 premium (an extra $285 if you want the spoiler too), with the automatic model coming it at $20,500 and the manual-equipped version for $800 less. Both prices don't include the $620 destination charge. Only 2,300 examples will be available when sales begin this March.
Toyota's press release is available after the jump.
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE
Scion Announces Pricing for tC Release Series 4.0 - to be Displayed at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show
TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Scion, of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today that the second limited-production Scion for 2008, the tC Release Series 4.0 (tC RS 4.0), will be available at dealer showrooms beginning in March. A tC RS 4.0 will be on display in the Scion booth at the Chicago Auto Show.
The 2008 tC RS 4.0 will feature Galactic Gray Mica exterior paint and will come with VIP-themed enhancements. A DAMD body kit and upper grille will make this tC standout. A color-keyed rear spoiler will also be available. Inside, the tC RS 4.0 will have gray and black Alcantara(R) seats, "tC RS 4.0" embroidered on the front and rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a black leather and dark wood RAZO shift knob. Like all Release Series vehicles, an individually numbered badge will complete the uniqueness of this vehicle.
Only 2,300 units of the tC RS 4.0 will be built. The tC Release Series 4.0 model will carry a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $2,770 over the base price of the tC. The manual transmission tC has a base MSRP of $17,000, while the MSRP for the automatic transmission model is $17,800. The available color-keyed spoiler has an MSRP of $285, not including installation.
The delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee for all Scion models is $620 and is not included in the MSRP. DPH fees for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Allan 3:03PM (2/01/2008)
Might want to clarify the pricing in the post, since the $17,800 for the auto is NOT for the RS 4 pricing, that's just the base tC auto MSRP.
The RS 4 MSRPs will be $19,770 and $20,570 for manual and auto, respectively. At least, if my math is right.
Over $20k for a tC without a supercharger or turbo? No thanks... I'll stick with my 05 tC for now and hope for a tC replacement at the NYIAS.
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Menice 3:09PM (2/01/2008)
ok 2,700 bucks for make-up and pretty cloths is one thing, but its still a slow lumpy looking car..... wasnt there some type of performace edition onthe way?? hello that TRD thing ?
engine upgrades...?
i do like tc somewhat maybe just tired of seeing 100 a week, but it is a good deal.
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Joe K. 3:17PM (2/01/2008)
Well Menice,
Anything is slow and lumpy compared to your Tiburon... Keep livin' the Dream Son...
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Dirk 3:26PM (2/01/2008)
This is a bit pricey for what it is. How much do last years Mazdaspeed 3s go for?
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srivendel 3:27PM (2/01/2008)
The tC was a decent bargain four years ago, when it cost $16,500 and the competition all had similar hp. Now it's a joke. This is an even bigger joke than the regular car.
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Allan 3:31PM (2/01/2008)
Menice,
If you don't want to see 100 a week, stop by my area some time. I maybe see 2 or 3 others a week. If it's a busy week. And I'm not even in the middle of nowhere - not a big city or anything though.
And there is a TRD supercharger available... but they never seem to include it as part of the RS package. Which is dumb. The most they've done for performance (that i can recall) is include a front strut bar on the RS1. Which of course does next to nothing (at least for the tC - I know on some cars it does quite a bit).
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Hariwanna 3:37PM (2/01/2008)
The tC is getting long in the tooth. Afterall, it's a recycled Toyota Avensis from the late 1990's. Time for Toyota to come out with a car for the 21st century.
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Biff Baxter 3:37PM (2/01/2008)
BIGGER!
HEAVIER!
THIRSTIER!
COSTLIER!
Oh, what a feeling.
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broosewee 3:56PM (2/01/2008)
It would be cool if the next Scion tC will bring Toyota back to a cheap, RWD coupe, akin to the 80's Trueno/Corolla. Under $20K, RWD, ~200hp, lighterweight... this is marketed toward the younger enthusiast after all. Plus with the rumored Nissan 240sx(?) revival, it should be interesting!
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Menice 3:57PM (2/01/2008)
joe k.- tiburon has 10x the style compared to tc. and could have been ass loads faster if hyundai didnt put an underated v6 in it.
I live no dream, for a 6v under 200hp its lame, but I did what i could to get the most out of it. love my car+ after 64k proud to say best car i've had in 20yrs. too bad they made it odd looking now.
i do like the TC, just think for 2700. some power should have been added.
the turtle lump look is easily overcome with the right
mods.
what you drive pop?
Allan- not dissing the car, jsut popular here in NY.. like the stang. you know whats odd everyone i see drivng a tib here is usually over retirement.. its odd.
and whats up with the 'reply' thing today
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MooseMuffin 4:03PM (2/01/2008)
They only make 2300 of these for a reason. As others have said, the tC is a decent enough car at its base price but no sane person is paying 20k for one.
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MachinaDC5 4:03PM (2/01/2008)
I'd much rather have the six-speed Tiburon V6 than a Scion tC. The tC is just way too slow for what it is. Good thing Toyota offers serious upgrades for it, the vehicle desperately needs them...
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Joe K. 5:08PM (2/01/2008)
Menice-
I have a tC, factory style spoiler, I needed a commuter car so i wouldn't kill myself putting miles on my 94 Lightning. So I am using it for what it is, a reasonably priced ipod player that gets 26 mpg daily driving while not feeling like I am at the mercy of the SUVs of Northern Jersey. Don't get me wrong I like the car, and i like it a lot better than any Hyundai mostly for the stereo iPod hook-in, xm radio and decent looks with the factory ped. spoiler. Some day I will spring for the S/C for it just to have some fun, or I can wait for 12k more miles to end the warranty and drop a turbo in it.
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Allan 5:10PM (2/01/2008)
Biff:
Considering that this RS is only 1 of those things you mentioned, I now consider you a troll.
Now if Scion releases a bigger, heavier, and less efficient tC replacement in March in NY, I will (only then) not consider your comment retarded (with regards to the tC).
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rav3 5:11PM (2/01/2008)
The mushiest shifter in the business now gets a leather-wrapped stick? That should help...
This is not a sports car nor a performance car by ANY stretch of the terms. None of these bits will change that. This car should be focusing on getting better MPGs.
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mk 5:47PM (2/01/2008)
woo, woo.
boring gray paint on a boring barely discernable body kit, with a $2700 sticker price upgrade.
nearly $21k for this??? Think not. I paid $22k for a car with ~300 turbocharged hp, real AWD, a 5-speed manual transmission, leather heated seats, sunroof, climate control, with a spare set of wheels and tires for the winter. Ok, so it didn't happen to be new... but I still think I made the better choice.
And I guarantee there isn't a Scion or Hyundai Front-driver out there that can come anywhere near as fun as my car is, in terms of handling, acceleration, comfort, or maybe even styling.
2700 for a boring paint job and body kit... You have to be kidding me. 2700$ would have my Legacy GT handily beating stock WRX STIs in almost every category.
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stang_fan 5:51PM (2/01/2008)
The magazine, Sport Compact Car, has a tc as a project car. At one point they gave up on making any further upgrades, performance AND handling, because they were making a mediocre car WORSE. Their car has the supercharger and a few brake and suspension upgrades, but they could never get it to go, turn, or stop in a manner even approaching...say a Honda Civic with similar upgrades.
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spw 6:21PM (2/01/2008)
um, it is based on chasis of Avensis from 2003....
and Mazda3 with leather costs 23k.
For people into those things, getting body kit, alcantra interior, leather steering/shifter would cost you a lot more than 2.7k...
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Anthony 6:28PM (2/01/2008)
the kit reminds me a little of the outgoing corolla s/xrs
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tankd0g 1:11AM (2/02/2008)
RIP Celica. No danger of being eclipsed by the new kid.
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