Scion tC/Toyota Zelas minor change

2014 Scion tC

Scion, Toyota's youth oriented brand was launched in 2003 with two models, the xA which is the first Toyota iST and the xB which is a Toyota bB. Yes, they're both made in Japan but Scion is nothing more of a North American exclusive brand targeted for the younger audience, especially speedo boys. The tC though, although it may be more of a Celica underneath it, this 3-door sports coupe is a wide appeal to the speedo boys in America. It's been three years now since the second-generation Scion tC broke loose with mixed reactions and for this minor change, what can I say?

2014 Scion tC

This minor change is a bit too unorthodox to me. While some say, it draws inspiration from its FR-S big brother, there's one hint of cost-cutting around here because based on the new front face, I can sharply assumed that the new front lamps were borrowed from the facelifted Toyota Mark X (Reiz). Suspicious or is this just a big coincidence? Although I can't say that this new face can be a bit of a fluke, the speedo boy favorite tries to keep itself "red hot" like pizza supper. Wait a minute. Red hot like pizza supper? Aw man, why did I just said that? That's morally wrong to describe that the 2014 tC is red hot as pizza supper. Seriously, pizza supper? I did this sometimes, having pizza for dinner but still this is more topical than having a gorilla in a cake.

Scion says that the 2014 tC loves to pick on a fight against the Hyundai Veloster, the soon-to-be-replaced Kia Forte Koup, and the commoner favorite, the Ford Focus. So, how does it compare? For starters, the tC carries a 2.5 L 2AR-FE straight-4 which develops a moderate 179HP of power, that's more than what you expect than the Veloster, the Koup, and the Focus. And with the starting price of just 20,965 US Dollars, that's more reasonable to buy than the Veloster, Koup, and Focus.

2014 Scion tC interior

2014 Scion tC interior

So, it's a fair choice for the speedo boys who prefer a car that suits their style and consider it a SWAG but how it's like to be a driver's car? To find out, I had to imagine myself eating too much hotdog but be warned. This isn't the hotdog contest for the faint-hearted. The first hotdog would be a pleasant one for me because I'm still on the starved basis. If I'm still hungry after eating one hotdog, I'd eat another one and one minute later, another one! And another! More and more until my stomach says "I'm stuffed", meaning that's enough. Yep, that's exactly how it feels like when you're driving the new tC because by the way you're driving it feels like you're trying to beat Joey Chestnut's record for most hotdogs eaten but sadly, it feels a bit more like...Muscle Man.

Even with the reworked suspension system, it feels a bit more "stuffed" than "starved" and oh! One more thing you may notice... There's this optional 6-speed automatic transmission with rev matching downshifts which allows quicker downshifts on the road. That all seems fine but because real men are always going for the manual, who cares? The 6-speed manual's a standard so this is how fun they'll going to shift these little suckers like a man. Changing gear is all about freedom and with the three pedals and the 6-speed manuals, it feels like that you are in complete control over the car for fun and speedo boys like it too.

So, conclusion time. While the new model may feel a bit more Muscle Man and hotdogs but it's still one of the most enjoyable front-wheel drive sportscars that money can buy. You can forget about the Veloster or the Koup or the Focus. It's this one you can keep and trick if you have the funds to scare the neighborhood. So, would you want one of these or not? That's a simple question only you can answer.

Available colors: Black, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Blue Streak Metallic, Absolutely Red, Cement, Classic Silver Metallic, and Super White.

Photo: Toyota Motor Sales USA

Meeting up with the Scion tC...

The old Scion tC

Now, this here is the Scion tC. A few years ago, I drove one on Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition as a starter car and I found it a bit...lame but for those who are adrenaline junkies, they can improve the breed by modifying the tC into anything they like. It even has a racing pedigree and it has strong involvement on the Formula Drift, especially when Tanner Foust competed on it using the drift-spec tC with Rockstar livery. Anyway, I shall now explain with a bit noisy history lesson.

At the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand, launched the tC, which serves as the main competitor to the Honda Civic Si and the Hyundai Tuscani. Originally, they could have called this the xC because of the Scion naming that goes like the xA (1st generation ist), xB (1st generation was based on the Toyota bB until the 2nd generation was more like the Corolla Rumion), and the xD (2nd generation ist) but the XC naming was trademarked by Volvo for their lineup of SUVs. However, there's nothing wrong with it because the tC naming stands for TOURING COUPE, according to Scion.

It went on sale in USA in the summer of 2004 as a 2005 model and it comes with a 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine that produces 160hp of power and 221Nm of torque. In 2006, the Scion tC received a 5-star NHTSA crash test rating of five stars for both Frontal Crash Test Driver and Side Impact Rating Rear. The first limited edition, dubbed as tC Release Series, was launched in 2005, limited to just 2500 units and finished with Absolutely Red.  Every year, there is always a Release Series for the Scion and resale values of Release Series vehicles command a premium because of their packaged options and scarcity but luckily, Scion's "Pure Price" MSRP prohibits dealerships from adding "market-demand" vehicle mark-up.

In 2010, the Scion tC got its full model change, it made a premiere at the 2010 New York Auto Show, and it went on sale in the autumn of 2010. Sadly, Forza Motorsport 4 didn't put the second-generation tC until now....

The new Scion tC in action

That's right folks. The April Alpinestars Pack did include the second-generation Scion tC (at long last!) and what you're looking at it now is a bit less radical than the first generation tC. For starters, the 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine from the old one has been replaced by a more potent 2.5L 2AR-FE engine. For the first time, the second-generation Scion tC was sold in China, Middle East, and Latin American markets as the TOYOTA ZELAS.

From every angle, I can see its robust angle straining to burst out of its bodywork and this was made to own and handle the streets. (Cue the Scion jingle!)

Old tC vs. New tC

How does the new tC stack up against the old tC? For starters, the old Scion tC comes with a 2.4L 2AZ-FE straight-4 engine that produces 160 hp (119 kW) @ 5700 rpm of power and 163 lb·ft (221 N·m) @ 4000 rpm of torque. 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds, 0-100mph in 19.7 seconds, and top speed of 136.4mph. The new Scion tC comes with the 2.5L 2AR-FE straight-4 engine that produces 180 hp (134 kW) @ 6000 rpm of power and 173 lb·ft (235 N·m) @ 4100 rpm of torque. 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds, 0-100mph in 19.2 seconds, and top speed of 139mph. On paper though, the new Scion tC is much more powerful and better than the old tC but how does it compare to other FWD coupes such as the Kia Forte Koup or the new 2012 Honda Civic Si? Almost impossible to say because these two completely trounced the new Scion tC in terms of performance figures!

It's the Scion tC RS 7.0!

Now, there was an available body kit for the new Scion tC and it was way too obvious to put it on my current car and I have to buy another 2012 Scion tC. This body kit will replicate the one you saw from the Scion tC RS (Release Series) 7.0 but for best results, equip it with WedsSport SA-97 F rims, paint that rims in black, and paint the body with something that is more like High Voltage Yellow. However, if you're more of a RACE REPLICA type, you might want to spend the rest of your life recreating the one driven by Fredric Aasbo for Team Need For Speed but that is way too obvious to show it. In the meantime, I should stick with my new Scion tC that has the look of the Release Series 7.0 because that is much better to look at and that's enough.

To sum up then, the Scion tC is much more better than the old one but if you think that the new tC is a bit boring and if the Kia Forte Koup is not the answer, get a new Honda Civic Si. That's it.

Second Generation Scion tC

2011 Scion tC

The second generation Scion tC is the coupe that tries to look at it best when it comes to its new robotic styling while retaining the original length and height of the first generation model that was launched since 2004 as a 2005 model. First off, one glance of the new 2nd generation tC really reminds us of the previous first generation model but with the new front, new side design, new wheels, and a new rear design, all is clear for a major overall for Scion's most popular FF coupe that is likely to target against the likes of the USDM Civic Si Coupe, well not quite necessarily. I can always imagine how many young adults in their 20's to 30's driving this kind of car that made it more popular to the trends of FF coupes. Even tuners take the new 2nd generation Scion tC for granted because of such circumstances.

One thing to aware is the new interior of the new Scion tC. Although it might be quite good enough in terms of comfort, the new interior design of the new Scion tC lacks character. I am clearly say that some of them still prefer the old interior from the 1st generation tC because of the character it shows. Despite having a shape of a 2-door coupe, the Scion tC still classifies as a 3-door liftback because of the lftgate that opens like a hatchback for added space and it even comes with a tonneau board as well. Despite the character-lacking interior, it still looks good enough to be inside the new tC, as if to nothing.

The new Scion tC replaced the previous 2.4L 2AZ-FE straight-4 engine with the new 2.5L 2AR-FE straight-4 engine. This new engine offered on the new tC provides maximum horsepower of 180 @ 6000 RPM and the torque goes about 173lb-ft @ 4100 RPM. If you were in a 6-speed manual variant, you'll get 31MPG highway while in a 6-speed automatic variant, you will get as much as 31MPG highway as well! Just be sure that the 6-speed manual transmission on the new Scion tC is overall fun for the owners so be advised because this is going to be a wild ride. The new tC is now offered with a standard Vehicle Stability Control for added safety but forget about it.

Color variation includes Black, Cement, Classical Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Nautical Blue Metallic, Sizzling Crimson Mica, and Super White.

My comment:
Despite the new interior lacks character, the new exterior really shows its character because of such design or so they thought. Now imagine if I can see one as a gray market import in the Philippines...well never mind. I don't need explanations about it but the new Scion tC is all about style at its best.

Photo: Toyota Motor Sales USA