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[Live image update] Scion debuts tC Release Series 5.0 in Chicago

02/12/2009, 12:26 PM

By Drew Johnson

Scion’s tC may be getting a little long in the tooth, but that isn’t stopping Toyota’s youth brand from trying to spice things up a bit. Following the now annual tradition, Scion has released its latest limited edition version of the sporty coupe at the Chicago Auto Show.

For 2009, the limited edition Scion tC RS 5.0 will take on a Toyota Racing Development theme. The TRD look will be set off by a gloss black paint treatment, as well as a set of 18 inch TRD wheels done up in matte black with red trim.

To uphold its performance theme, the tC RS 5.0 will also feature TRD lowering springs, a TRD rear sway bar and a TRD sport muffler. A rear lip spoiler is also available.

Inside, the RS 5.0 is fitted with a black leather interior – with contrasting red stitching – and unique TRD floor mats.

Scion plans to build 2,000 examples of the tC RS 5.0, at a cost of $2,300 over the base price of the tC. The rear spoiler can be had for an additional $285. The tC RS 5.0 will begin rolling into dealer showrooms next month.

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02/12, 12:33 PM

posted by:

RaineMan

Looks nice… but this 4-banger 2-door Corolla is no sports car. Where’s the performance?? Turbo the thing already or replace it with something more substancial. Toyota is really losing out in the sport-compact market.

02/12, 12:38 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Man that thing would look racy in the YMCA parking lot next to all the New Beetles.

02/12, 12:57 PM

posted by:

mayer_ray_nagin

This division needs to change its name to Shat-on

02/12, 1:00 PM

posted by:

zfenderguy

It’s official, Toyota doesn’t give a carp about the sport compact market. Would’ve thought they did, but I guess they got enough biters on the xBox that they figure no one on a budget likes to go fast. Screw them. This car sucks. At least the TuRD supercharger kit should be included, and tuned to at least 250 hp.

02/12, 1:04 PM

posted by:

Need more oil for GM

Did they cart in by tow truck the same way they leave the dealerships? Nobody gives a sh1t about a car for punk kids with no jobs living at home with mommy. You can get a Cobalt for the same money and everyone would rather drive one of those

02/12, 1:06 PM

posted by:

CADDY-V

Toy-yo-DAA stop it with these fu*king cars already. Rice burners were cool in the 90’s if you were 16. Now you have just burnt the rice.
It’s over put a fork in it.
It’s for your own good.

02/12, 1:34 PM

posted by:

Borat

Call me a pervert, but I like it. Comfy, has sunroofs (2), hatch and folding seat, not a race demon but will move with stick shift. Cost very little for content.

02/12, 1:53 PM

posted by:

bigjimid

I like the grill a lot. Way better than standard cross-mesh look. I guess I never really payed much attention to Scion before to notice it.

02/12, 2:05 PM

posted by:

valenburg

they should have thrown the TRD super charger in there if they were gonna throw the TRD badge on it. Give that Camry engine some more balls.

02/12, 2:29 PM

posted by:

Bimmer

What’s a 5.0? Does it have a V8 5.0 like Fox body ’stang? If not, then don’t call it 5.0!

02/12, 2:44 PM

posted by:

A4

youre an idiot Bimmer, its the 5th in a line of special release vehicles. aka [version] 1.0, 2.0, so on so on.

02/12, 2:54 PM

posted by:

Borat

Are they gonna have emergency patches? I.e. 5.1, 5.2 etc

02/12, 2:55 PM

posted by:

Borat

Melias went UAW. No news in 2.5 hours

02/12, 3:05 PM

posted by:

A4

by the way the TRD supercharger is a joke. Its a heap of sh!t and its near impossible you can get 250hp out of it, and if you can, it would be as far from safe and reliable as you could get. it would blow right up. and torque steer like a mofo. No LSD standard on these cars and adding the TRD LSD would tack even more onto the cost. You would be looking at $5000-$6000 for this package instead of $2300. The point of these release series is to throw together a “personalized” and limited edition car for relatively little cost in one package, so the people buying it can feel like they have a pseudo R32, or some other limited production hot rod that they aspire to someday own. If you want a TRD supercharger you can still get one, but most people will look at this as certainly being the most “masculine” looking tC available and that will be enough for them.

02/12, 3:18 PM

posted by:

inline6

It’s actually a two-door Avensis, not a Corolla coupe.

This car in truth is no replacement for the Celica. That was better-looking and faster in GT-S form.

02/12, 3:23 PM

posted by:

mayer_ray_nagin

TRD =
………….. T oyota
………….. R icing
………….. D ivision

02/12, 3:42 PM

posted by:

Bimmer

A4,
F you. Since this ‘not fancy Toyota’ is not sold in Canada, how am I suppose to know wtf 5.0 means? Usually car makers use non decimal numbers to differentiate one model from another (i.e. Golf III, Corvette C5). So, unless it’s an engine displacement or some sort of computer software update, no point in using decimal numbers, as Borat pointed out.

02/12, 3:45 PM

posted by:

zeegone

In Bimmer’s defense A4, most cars that have any type of numerical name usually signify either model or engine size. The A4 is not the 4th model “a” car nor is the M3 the third M model. Chill out. I agree with Bimmer, who cares if it’s the 5th model, it certainly doesn’t have a 5.0 engine so what’s the point. It’s ok to try something new but to most people they’re gonna think”Ya right, that little thing doesn’t have a 5.0 engine, what a wannabe!”

I agree with inline6, they shouldnt have killed the Celica.

02/12, 4:04 PM

posted by:

bigjimid

Borat – Yes. You’ll be able to download them via Wi-Fi directly into the ECU from iPatch.com/TuRD. Lol

02/12, 5:05 PM

posted by:

mujician

all i can do is snicker………….

02/12, 7:19 PM

posted by:

melias

Borat,

No, melias is not UAW,

I’ve only been doing photos at the car shows, along with colleague Chris Doane. Our in-the-thick-of-it news team of Andrew Ganz and Drew Johnson did the words.

But just you wait, there will be more!

02/12, 10:57 PM

posted by:

Mutant@DCX

Ya, gonna need some stickers to distinguish itself, Slobalt wing or something.

02/13, 8:25 AM

posted by:

Need more oil for GM

Japcrap Nobody buys Scions unless they are the village idiots.

Buy American. Buy GM

02/13, 8:44 AM

posted by:

Lyndongolden

Like so many other brands right now, Scion is scrambling to identify its own image and determine who are its customers. Scion has managed to capture a wide demographic…with goofy-funky designs like the xA and Xb, and they’ve managed to sell tons of (gorgeous) TCs to giggly college girls (all over the University of Houston campus, anyway) while igniting interest among the tuner crowd at the same time. But the conservative style of the TC is out-of-step with the remaining Scion line-up. That is to say that Xb and Xd look like trendy clown-mobiles and the TC is elegant – and will still look desirable in 5 years.

02/13, 4:20 PM

posted by:

sharpie

Somehow I think you guys have taken it too far about the naming of the “5.0″ There is no hard and fast rule about this. The decimal is certainly not reserved for engine displacement. Bimmer, zeegone, it’s fine if you see no point in it, as I don’t see any point in the whole Release Series that Scion keeps making for tC and xB as if they are some collectible items. I think Scion is merely trying to copy off computer software versions, like Firefox 3.0.6, or Dos 6.22 by using the “decimal.” Just hope they don’t start releasing the “Service Pack” series already!

02/16, 1:54 PM

posted by:

Longhorn

Hey “need More Oil for Gm” did you read that over 49% of GM’s employee’s are getting laid off! What are you so proud of ? are you proud of thousands of car and trucks sitting at dealership? Or thousand upon thousands of car and trucks in repair lots? Toyota build great QDR, and i know since you are a GM fan, you don’t know what that is. It is Quality, Durability, and reliability,

 
 
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