The Scion brand is all about being youthful, modern and relevant. But apparently no one told that to the tC. Once a rival to Honda's Civic Coupe, the tC has outlived its stay with (so far) a six year production cycle. As the brand's flagship it has even been surpassed by the edgy xB.
In a recent interview with AutoWeek about the upcoming Scion iQ, the company's VP Jack Hollis said that, "the next-generation tC is our top priority now."
The exciting news is that the next tC is expected to be powered by the same 2.7-liter four-cylinder that is making its way into most of Toyota's vehicles. With the displacement increase from the old 2.4-liter four-cylinder, horsepower should rise as well, from the current 161hp, much closer to the 200hp mark.
A high-horsepower model is something Scion customers have expressed considerable interest, says the brand's manager Dawn Ahmed, citing a hybrid model as the next most popular demand.
Hollis insisted that future Scions will continue to have just one trim level and a long list of aftermarket options will be made available to them. He also said that it's unlikely for Scion to expand above the sub-compact segment or to use anything larger than a four-cylinder engine.
As for that new tC, Hollis says a redesign is due out in 2010 as a 2011 model.
More:
Report: Second Generation Scion tC May Get 2.7-Liter 4-Cylinder With 200-hp on AutoGuide.com
Report: Second Generation Scion tC May Get 2.7-Liter 4-Cylinder With 200-hp
Linear Mode
