The Scion brand is really something unique in the automotive market these days, especially given the entry-level prices of the model line-up. It is a brand that prides itself on being fun, hip and cool while still giving customers reliability with an overall perception of value. That theme continues with the 2011 Scion tC coupe that is being shown at the 2010 New York Auto Show.
As others have pointed out around the net, the Scion tC was first introduced in 2004 and followed a formula of customer customization. The new Scion tC takes that lead and runs with it giving the new car design cues like the “helmet-inspired” cabin. The interior and gauges have been reworked for 2011 giving the new tC what Car Scoop calls “an old-school bimmer-like feel.”
In keeping with hip and cool the panoramic roof remains standard on all new tC models and the power has been upped to 180 horsepower—on overall increase of 19 hp. Torque is also up by about 11 lb-ft, coming in at a total of 173 lb-ft. We haven’t seen any performance or economy figures from Scion yet, but we bet they will be coming soon. It is a good bet that the figures are a bit behind because this is an all-new 2.5-liter inline four with dual VVT-I, so they probably are still working out all the final details.
Bottom line—the 2011 Scion tC has a cool new look that is just enough different from the previous models to make it desirable, but enough like it to keep the spirit of the original design.