Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Scion xB.

Scion announced pricing for the 2009 xB and tC today, and if you want to get your hands on the love-it-or-hate-it toaster on wheels, you'll have to pony up an extra $100 this year. The xB's base price is now $16,370 (including shipping), and comes equipped with a five-speed manual as standard equipment. If you can't stand swapping your own cogs, you can shell out another $950 for a four-speed automatic. The tC's price remains the same as the 2008 model, starting at $17,620 with a five-speed manual and $18,420 for the four-speed auto 'box. Sales of the xB begin this month and the "slightly tweaked" tC will arrive in May.

Scion's press release is available after the jump.

Click above for a huge high-res gallery of the RS*R Scion tC drift car.

We've enjoyed our fair share of front-wheel-drive hijinks in empty parking lots with our right hand firmly grasping the e-brake, but in the end, tail-out antics are always more enjoyable behind the wheel of something with the proper wheels driven. "Proper," however, isn't the way we'd describe how Scion decided to go about campaigning a tC in this year's Formula Drift series.

With backing from Toyota, the aftermarket firm RS*R converted a run-of-the-mill tC into a rear-wheel-drive monster utilizing a BEAMS-built 3S-GE engine and taking advantage of the Toyota Avensis/Caldina all-wheel-drive chassis on which the tC is built. RS*R ripped out the abysmal 2AZ-FE 2.4-liter four-pot from the stock car, fabbed up a series of new mounts to facilitate the transverse to longitudinal conversion and dropped in the 3S-GE after fitting the four-cylinder with an HKS GT3037 turbo, intercooler, Blitz dual SBC boost controller and an AEM EMS engine management system. Approximately 400 hp is now routed to the rear wheels through a Tilton triple carbon clutch and a G-Force, five-speed sequential gearbox. RS-R coilovers keep things suspended on all four corners, and are hidden by the custom wide-body kit and Enkei RPF1 wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes R1R rubber.

The RS*R tC will be piloted by Ken Gushi, the youngest driver ever to compete in the D1 series, beginning at the season opener on the Streets of Long Beach on April 12th. Hit the jump to read the full press release and check out Formula D's website to see when the competition will be heating up in your area.


[Source: Toyota]

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]

Back in March, Winding Road floated the idea that Toyota may be in the process of developing a rear-wheel drive vehicle in the same vein as the Corolla AE86 of the 80s. At the time, it was easy to pass it off as pure speculation. Now, the GTChannel says that its sources in the Land of the Rising Sun have also confirmed that a 2+2, front-engine, RWD vehicle is in the works and that if and when it comes to market its sticker will be "well under [$] 20k" – maybe even $16,000.

Considering that the Scion brand has quickly emerged as a cost-conscious means of stylish transport, it wouldn't be hard to imagine that such a vehicle would slot in nicely within the youth-oriented marque, even if its price would make it a direct competitor to the tC. The only rub is finding a suitable platform to build the new vehicle atop, and the only RWD vehicle that could fit the bill would be the Lexus IS. Granted, the $30,000+ sports sedan's underpinnings might be a bit of a stretch (or shortening, in this case) to make a budget performance car, but the ability to cut costs via platform sharing isn't out of the question. Maybe some of the old IS's architecture could even be used.

In the meantime, we're hoping to see spy shots of a tC-bodied mule making the rounds around the 'Ring, rear-wheels a blazing and powersliding into the Carousel.

[Source: GTChannel]

Click image for a photo gallery of the '08 Scion tC

The Scion tC is a nice little value-oriented coupe, and it's set to continue offering a nice bang for the buck with the '08 edition, which'll hit dealerships later this month. Changes are minimal but noticeable when you take a good look at the car. New grille inserts, projector-beam headlamps with blacked-out housings, and more detailed taillamps, are joined by some new-for-'08 interior trim elements. In terms of amenities, the tC's stock Pioneer stereo gets full iPod integration (track info, etc is displayed on the head unit's screen, and music can be controlled from the stereo or steering-wheel-mounted controls), and a premium Pioneer unit offers a degree of customization via downloadable skins. Above that, an optional nav system is available for the first time.

All cars receive seat-mounted side airbags as well as side-curtain airbags, and Scion throws in the first two scheduled maintenance visits to boot. The blank-slate tC Spec Package receives the grille, interior, radio and safety updates. Pricing for the manual-transmission-equipped tC is $17,000. Tack on an extra $800 for the automatic. The tC Spec Package comes in at $15,000 with a manual and $16,100 with an automatic. The prices are slightly higher than the outgoing '07s, and likely reflect the increased level of standard equipment and features. Full details are included in the press release from Scion after the jump.

[Source: Scion]

Amidst the flurry of press surrounding the release of Scion's xD and xB, the refreshed tC got lost in the shuffle. For 2008, Scion made a some notable changes to its best selling coupe, with mildly revised styling, added safety features and an upgraded audio system.

On the styling side of things, a new mesh grille, blacked out headlamps and lower lattice work separate the new tC from its elders, along with two new colors for 2008: Sizzling Crimson Mica and Wave Line Pearl.

On the inside, Scion has made iPod connectivity standard across all of its models, via a Pioneer 160-watt head unit, while the optional premium audio setup allows users to download four- to eight-second clips that will display on the LCD readout.

Under the hood, the 2.4-liter inline four is still producing 161 HP and 162 lb.-ft. of torque, channeling power down to the front wheels via either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

Follow the jump for the full press release and be sure to check out the gallery by either click the image above or one of the pics below.

click above image to view XX high-resolution images of the redesigned Scion xB

Scion VP Mark Templin claims that his company is more in touch with its buyers than any other brand, and what xB owners wanted even more than another Toyota-sponsored group hug (or Second Life virtual conference) was a larger vehicle. The 2008 xB addresses this request with a foot more overall length and three more inches of width, while an inch decrease in height yields somewhat more traditional proportions.

With the expanded sheetmetal comes an upgrade in components under the skin, starting with a 158-hp, 2.4L DOHC inline-four. Under the larger standard 16-inch wheels lie a set of disc brakes that are a touch smaller than 11-inch, and anti-lock, stability control, and traction control are standard. Inside, the cargo area grows by nearly 40%, and a storage area is provided underneath the rear seats for laptops, cameras, and various other consumer paraphernalia. The still center-mounted gauge cluster includes what Scion refers to as a "combination meter", which offers up various information related to fuel economy and outside air temps, the Pioneer sound system offers up an iPod interface, and the driver now gets a spot to set his or her right arm.

Click on the photo above for live and studio shots of the production and customized 2008 Scion xB!

click image above to see high-resolution version

Toyota announced today that the Scion tc Release Special 3.0 will be shown at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week. Scion has rolled out a Release Special tc every year now since 2005 (2005 model, 2006 model), each model representing the brand's own take on what the tuner wants. This year's edition sports a front and rear KenStyle ground effects kit with a "wide-intake" grille. Darkened headlights and clear LED taillights have also been added. Inside, the R.S. 3.0 gets black Alcantara seats with gray perforated seating surfaces and a Blizzard Pearl RAZO shift knob. Finally, a Pioneer audio system with a 35-watt woofer and 160-watt maximum output ensure its young demographic will be satisfied with their turn-key tuner.

Scion will only build 2,500 units of the tc R.S. 3.0 at a price of $2,580 over the base MSRP, which should put it around $19,000. Those interested should have their funds in order by February when the vehicle will go on sale. You'll find Toyota's full press release after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Back in May we revealed that Scion would be pricing its tuner-ready 2007 tC Spec Package at $15,000 with a manual transmission and $15,800 with an automatic. Unfortunately it took Toyota until now to furnish some photos of what the tC Spec Package will look like, but it came through today with a bunch.

The idea behind the tC Spec Package is ingenious – instead of sinking millions of development dollars into a super tC like Ford did with the SVT Focus, Dodge with the SRT-4, and other manufacturers continue to do, offer a version of the tC that's ready to be tuned and costs less than the standard tC. Real sport compact enthusiasts want to turn their own wrench, pick their own appearance mods and make their cars truly unique. The sport compact enthusiast scene would be a much different and more creative place today if every manufacturer acknowledged the tuner in this way.

Realizing that new wheels is one of the first mods a tuner may perform, Scion equips the tC Spec Package with smaller 16-inch wheels wearing seven-spoke wheel covers. The new entry-level model gets the fixed glass panoramic roof (that'll get replaced by an articulating sunroof with mounted 42-inch plasma screen), unique upholstery on the seats (that will be ripped out and replaced with Recaros) and a urethane steering wheel (can anybody explain the significance of this last one? Doesn't matter, the MOMO wheel's on its way), as well.

Aside from those changes the Spec Package is loaded with the same equipment as the standard tC, which includes items like a 160-watt Pioneer audio system, four-wheel disc brakes, and the car's 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 161 hp and 162 ft-lbs. of torque.

Scion has its own catalogue of Toyota Racing Development accessories that includes the normal staple items of a tuner's diet: supercharger, wheels, sport suspension, exhaust, etc. No doubt many tuners will look to the aftermarket, though, where a number of good companies have been producing good Scion performance and appearance accessories.

(Tons of pics after the jump and Toyota's press release)

[Source: Toyota]

When it rains, it pours... Tuesday was not a good day for Toyota. On top of the recall investigation we reported earlier, The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safey Administration announced that it is investigating problems with the glass moonroof in the Toyota Scion tC model. The NHTSA has received nine reports of the moonroof shattering, with one person slightly injured by falling glass.

The Scion tC moonroof has already been the subject of a "special service campaign" for its wind deflector, which can shatter if hit by debris at highway speeds.

[Source: Reuters]