Scion's sports coupe, the tC, debuts for 2005 with sleek styling and a well-finished interior that delivers good comfort in the front and back. Currently the most powerful Scion offered, the tC packs under its hood the all-aluminum 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) that's otherwise found in the Toyota Camry. Here it generates 160 horsepower and can be mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. For added muscle, a, supercharger can be dealer-installed that boosts the car's output to nearly 200 horsepower. A four-wheel fully independent suspension with a double-wishbone rear setup and 17-inch alloy wheels and Z-rated performance tires promise crisp handling. Four-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and a driver's knee airbag that helps the driver stay in an upright driving position during a crash come standard, as does air conditioning, power accessories, keyless entry, and a 160-watt CD/MP3 stereo. While front-side and side curtain airbags are the tC's only available factory options, as with the other models in Scion's line, buyers can accessorize the coupe from an eclectic list of dealer-installed items.
2005 Scion tCby Paul A. Eisenstein (5/24/2004) Toyota's fledgling brand attempts to redefine "entry-level."
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2005 Scion xA |
Looking like a smaller version of the Toyota Matrix, the funky looking youth-oriented xA four-door hatchback is graced with sculpted wheel arches, a wide front grille, and ample-sized rocker-panel extensions. Inside, a black-on-white instrument panel resides at the top center of the dashboard. Power comes from a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that employs Toyota's variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-I) system, and generates an adequate, though not necessarily stirring, 108 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission comes standard and a four-speed automatic is optional. Standard equipment is generous for a car in its price range and includes air conditioning, a CD/MP3 stereo, anti-lock brakes, and power accessories. Available through select Toyota dealers, no less than 40 dealer-installed accessories are available for buyers to customize the xA to their own specific tastes.
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2005 Scion xB |
While it's actually a lot smaller in real life than it looks in pictures, the decidedly boxy xB is a hot and hip urban alternative to both small sport-utility vehicles and station wagons. It sits fairly low to the ground and carries ground effects and a low front-end skirt with wide air intake to dress up its otherwise angular styling. Just to show there can be a practical side to a trendy styling treatment, the xB affords 21.2 cu. ft. of cargo stowage, which is impressive considering its compact stance. The car comes with the same languid 108-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that powers the xA, and is fitted to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The xB comes with a more generous features list than does the xA, adding stability control, traction control, and brake assist. As with other Scion models, nearly 40 dealer-installed accessories, ranging from large alloy wheels with low-profile tires to a neon-lighted cupholder, are offered.
2004 Scion xA and xB by Bengt Halvorson (6/23/2003) Toyota's fashionable youngsters enter the scene.
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