Ford Focus, Volvo C30 Are Top Safety Picks

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has been expanding its crash tests to more and more segments. The very influential tests were recently applied to compact coupes, including the Honda Civic, Scion tC, Volco C30, Ford Focus and Chevy Cobalt. The group as a whole performed well considering the severity of the tests. None rated lower than Acceptable in front or side tests, while the Ford Focus and Volvo C30 scored top marks of Good in front, side and rear tests, earning the Top Safety Pick nod.

While the sedan version of the Civic is a Top Safety Pick, the coupe version earned an Acceptable side crash rating. This illustrates the point that safety ratings for one version of a model can’t be applied to others.

The Scion tC faired the worst, earning Acceptable front and side marks and only a Marginal in rear crash tests. You can see the full chart below, including previously tested sedan versions of the Civic, Focus and Cobalt.

2009 Scion tC Release Series 5.0 On Sale This March

Scion has been releasing special editions of its models since shortly after the brand debuted. The latest is the just-introduced tC Release Series 5.0, which means it’s the fifth special edition of the tC coupe. This time out, Toyota wants to feature its performance aftermarket division, TRD, so the RS 5.0 gets special 19-inch matte black wheels, a TRD sports muffler, a TRD rear sway bar and TRD lowering springs. And it only comes in black.

The package will cost an additional $2,300 over the base tC’s starting price of $17,000 with a manual transmission and $17,800 with an automatic. Not included is TRD’s supercharger that was developed specifically for the tC. You can add that to the 5.0, however, at a cost of $3,200. The supercharger boosts power to 200 hp. The 2009 Scion tC RS 5.0 will debut at the Chicago auto show later this week.

2008 Scion tC RS 4.0 Announced

For most cars debuting at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, we’ll throw up a big headline with the show name and year, but the Scion tC RS 4.0 is simply a special edition trim of the already-popular coupe. As the number suggests, this is the fourth Release Series for the tC. Unlike other tCs, it features a subdued Galactic Gray Mica paint job, which will be limited to the 2,300 run of the 4.0 starting in March.

Other differences between it and a standard tC include a body kit, two-tone gray and black Alcantara seats, a leather steering wheel, a custom shift knob and badging with each car's limited number on it.

The cost of the package is $2,770 over the MSRP of $17,000 for the manual transmission tC and $17,800 for the automatic. A matching spoiler is another $285, not including installation, and none of the prices include the $620 destination charge.

Usually these packages aren’t really worth the money, but a body kit and Alcantara seats would probably set a customizer back a similar amount.

2008 Scion tC Gets Price Bump

The 2008 Scion tC gets a few new features, at a cost. Buyers will pay an additional $600 for the new tC — $17,000 for the manual version and $17,800 for the automatic. The price increase is due to new standard equipment, including a Pioneer subwoofer and iPod connector.

Other changes include a different front grille, new headlights and taillights, and new interior finishes.

There’s also a tC Spec Package that doesn’t have as many standard features and costs $15,300 for the manual and $16,100 for the automatic. None of the prices include destination and handling charges. The 2008 tC will be available next month.

Related
2008 Scion tC Gets Standard iPod Integration, New Grille (KickingTires)
More Scion News (KickingTires)

2008 Scion tC Gets Standard iPod Integration, New Grille

The tC coupe doesn’t get the radical redesign that the 2008 xB did, but it does get a few touches to keep the 2008 model fresh when it arrives this summer. A new black grille with varying sizes of circles, like those on the new xB and xD, has been added, along with new headlight and taillight treatments that resemble the tC’s new family members.

The inside remains pretty much the same, with iPod integration now a standard feature. This allows iPod owners complete control of their tunes via stereo and steering-wheel controls, and the stereo head unit displays track names and artist information. The seat fabric has been upgraded, and there are more silver-accented touches on the doors and center stack.

Surprisingly, two popular colors — Azure Pearl and Black Cherry Mica — have been replaced in 2008 by Crimson Mica and Wave Line Pearl.

Scion tC Series 3.0 Gets Spotlight in Detroit

Scion has released special editions of all its cars before, but none have been as radical as the new tC Series 3.0. The most striking element is the huge body kit on the front that lowers the car’s stance. The Scion emblem has been removed from the grille — heresy in the automotive world. Scion will produce 2,500 of the limited edition, costing $2,580 over the base $16,400 price when it hits dealers in February.

Included in the package are suede-like two-tone Alcantara seats, a 160-watt Pioneer sound system with subwoofer, LED taillights and more. We’ll see it in person in Detroit, but what we’re really waiting to see are the new Scion models that will be on display there.

Related:
Detroit Auto Show Update: Ford Interceptor, Jaguar Concept, New Scions

Scion Holds Back Production, Sales to Stay Hip

Scion has had a meteoric rise since it debuted in the U.S. a few years ago. With only three models for sale, the Toyota-owned brand will beat its projected goal of 150,000 cars sold in 2006. Most automakers would look at that success, drool and ramp up production. Not Scion.

The company says it will stem production next year to stay under that 150,000 mark. Why? Officials want the brand to have an exclusive feel, and think the less people see on the road the more buyers will want them.

Of course, this could all just be a ploy for the press, as two models — the xA and xB — will be retired in the spring and replaced with two new models. Any gaps in those moves could limit sales as well. Either way, Scion sure seems to care more about street cred than any other brand on the market.

[A Way Cool Strategy: Toyota's Scion Plans to Sell Fewer Cars, The Wall Street Journal]

Related:
Scion Unveils xB Release Series 4.0
Scion xA and xB to be Replaced in Spring 2007

Toyota Recalls 30,000 Scion tCs

Airbags in 30,000 2005 and 2006 Scion tC coupes can accidentally deploy, according to a Toyota recall announced today. The company has received reports of 17 incidents where the seat-mounted and side curtain airbags deployed when the door was slammed too hard while the ignition was on or up to 90 seconds after the ignition was turned off. Faulty sensors are to blame, and Scion dealers will replace them at no charge. Luckily, there have been no accidents or injuries related to the recall. While only 20% of Scions produced contain the faulty sensors, all tC owners should contact their service department to find out if their vehicle is affected, and Toyota will issue a recall notice in the mail next month.

[Toyota Recalling Some Scion tCs Because of Side Airbags, Chicago Tribune]