EL DEPORTIVO SCION tC GANA MEJORAS DE AUDIO EN 2006

Sporty Scion Tc Gains Audio Upgrades For 2006

The Scion tC, the best value in the sport coupe market, gains audio system enhancements for 2006, including a new three-spoke steering wheel with integrated audio controls, a new standard Pioneer audio system and an available upgrade system with connectivity for the Apple iPod digital music player. Scion is the first brand to offer iPod connectivity and control across its entire lineup.

Introduced for the model year 2005, the Scion tC appeals to young driving enthusiasts by combining sophisticated design, compelling performance and Toyota quality at an affordable price.

“At Scion, we love hearing from our customers about what they would like to see or want to improve on the cars,” said Mark Templin, vice president, Scion. “Offering portable music player connectivity is just one way to show our customers that we’re listening to them and we will deliver for them.”

High-Performance Audio
Scion has been successfully attracting young, first-time new-car buyers in part by getting in tune with their musical preferences, including the migration from compact disc to digital music formats.

The 2006 tC’s new standard 160-watt maximum output audio system now features a centrally-located volume control knob and a mini-jack port located in the center console compartment that allows for connectivity to most portable music players. The mini-jack port allows users to listen to their portable music collection through the tC’s six Pioneer speakers.

A Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit with iPod control is now available as an all-new accessory upgrade for all 2006 Scions. The tC was the first car in its class to integrate track, artist and album information from the iPod into a one-line display on the head unit’s screen. Connectivity is achieved by simply plugging the iPod into a port via a connector cable, providing outstanding sound quality through the car’s stereo system and constant power to the iPod. Music is controlled through the head unit and steering wheel buttons. The upgrade unit also features audio display color change illumination.

Both the standard and upgrade head units still retain key Scion audio system features such as Scion Sound Processing (SSP) where listeners can choose from three pre-set equalizer settings, satellite radio compatibility, a user-customizable welcome screen and Sound Retouch digital equalization which provides clearer CD sound quality.

Complete Performance Package
The sleek tC sits low and wide, with a 106.3-inch wheelbase and an overall width of 69.1 inches. The long wheelbase of the Scion tC contributes to the car’s interior roominess and ride comfort, while a 61/39 front/rear weight distribution coupled with a sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension help ensure responsive handling. The tC starts with a solid foundation needed for sporty performance – a rigid body structure. The high-strength architecture allows the strut-type front suspension and double-wishbone rear suspension to help provide an ideal blend of compliance and response.

The performance/value quotient is evident in the standard 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels fitted with P215/45Z R17 Bridgestone Potenza Z-rated all-season tires. Steering and brake feel have been carefully tuned to provide optimal feedback from the road to the driver.

As expected in a performance car, the Scion tC comes standard with a four-wheel disc brake system. A two-step brake booster increases power assist in proportion to pedal force to provide precise pedal feel. For safety, the tC comes equipped with standard anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD). ABS helps to prevent the wheels from locking during severe  braking maneuvers, and EBD monitors differences in front- and rear-wheel speeds and distributes optimal braking force to all four wheels.

The Scion tC serves up fun-to-drive power right from the factory, thanks to its 2.4-liter double overhead-cam four-cylinder engine. This sophisticated powerplant boasts an aluminum cylinder block and head, magnesium cam cover, electronic throttle control and Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i). Tuned specifically for the tC, the engine produces 160 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 163 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,000 rpm.

This CARB-certified Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) engine is mated to a five-speed manual or an available electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. The Scion tC has EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy ratings of 22/29 mpg with the manual transmission and 23/30 mpg with the automatic.

Personalization
Owners can enhance performance of the tC with components specially developed for it by Toyota Racing Development (TRD), including performance suspension kits, a high-performance clutch, quick shifter, leather-wrapped shift knob and sequential shift light kit.
The approximately 40 available accessories make it easy for the customer to take the performance/style factor even higher in the tC and truly personalize the car. Notable highlights include EMX Super seven-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli PZero Nero P225/40ZR18 all-season tires, polished stainless steel muffler, color-keyed ground effects and a rear lip spoiler.

High-End Interior Without the High Price
The tC designers recognized that sports coupe buyers enjoy taking their friends along for the ride, and so they made interior room, comfort and versatility high priorities.

The Scion tC interior features materials and content that, like the car’s performance, belie its very affordable price. In addition, the tC offers outstanding utility in a spacious cabin, with attention to detail unexpected in this segment.

The sport bucket seats are covered in a premium deep-texture fabric for a rich “class-above” feel and appearance. Shutter-type flush-closing dash vents complement the overall design of the contrasting metal-tone center console. The genuine cast-aluminum temperature control dial is flanked by soft-touch electronic buttons and an LCD display that shows exterior temperature, seven fan speeds and a clock.

The driver’s seat provides adjustments for both height and thigh support, along with a walk-in function with memory for both the seat and backrest. A simple push of a convenient lever at the top of the seat back yields a wide step-in space for easy access to the rear seats. The rear 60/40-split seats fold forward for a nearly flat load floor.

The business class rear seats, unique in this segment, also recline to 45 degrees and can be adjusted into 10 different positions. Finally, when both the front and rear passenger seats are folded flat, the Scion tC provides more than 8.5 feet of length for cargo, complete with tie-down hooks in the rear seat and cargo areas.

Designers incorporated many high-quality interior details. Extensive use of sound absorption materials helps maintain low NVH levels to further support the “class above” feel. The dash and upper door panels are trimmed in a material that was inspired by the texture of Japanese paper, and the front-passenger airbag is seamlessly integrated into the dash. Interior moving parts employ dampers for smooth operation.

Further evidence of Scion DNA can be found in the use of amber instrument panel illumination with meters and gauges that spring to attention when the car is started and unique day/night illumination that reverses contrast of the gauges for easier viewing.
Storage capacity includes four roomy map pockets, numerous CD, bottle, cup and cell phone holders, bag hooks in side panels and a two-tiered, fabric-covered center console. More storage is provided under the rear floor deck, where a large right-side area is available to secure valuables.

Unparalleled Value
Like the Scion xA and xB models, the tC is offered in well-equipped “mono-spec” trim. The standard equipment is so complete that the customer needs only to choose between manual or automatic transmissions, vehicle color and whether or not to have front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags.

Standard features include the panorama glass power moonroof, a first in this segment, air conditioning, cruise control, exterior mirrors with integrated turn signal lights, power door locks and mirrors, rear cargo tonneau cover, auto up/down power windows with jam protection, in-key remote keyless entry, rolling-code engine immobilizer security system, auto-off headlamps, electronic hatch release, chrome-plated exhaust tip and a unique audio unit cover.

All Scion models come with three complimentary oil changes, to be performed by an authorized Scion or Toyota dealership.

Advanced Safety
In addition to ABS and EBD, safety features for tC include headrests and three-point seatbelts in all five seating positions, front airbags and a standard driver’s knee airbag. The knee airbag helps to keep the driver in position and provides additional protection against knee injuries in frontal collisions. Front seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags are available as the only factory option. In addition, the Scion tC comes with a standard safety first aid kit.

Colors
A total of seven colors are available for tC: Azure Pearl, Flint Mica, Super White, Black Sand Pearl, Black Cherry Pearl carry over from the 2005 model year.

Silver Streak Mica and Indigo Ink Pearl exterior colors are replaced with Classic Silver Metallic and Nautical Blue Metallic. Exterior colors are complemented by a high-quality dark charcoal fabric interior.

Generous Warranty
All Scion models are backed by a 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle limited warranty that applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation. All Genuine Scion accessories are also covered by the new vehicle warranty.

Scion Racing
Scion is entering the motorsports arena with Scion Racing and has partnered with Sport Compact drag racing stars Christian Rado of WORLD Racing and Leslie Durst of Horizon Motorsports. Rado and Durst, both 29, will campaign Scion tC competition vehicles in a series of NHRA and NDRA national events in the 2005 and 2006 racing seasons.

Rado’s tC is a 2,000-lb., Silver Streak powered by a race-modified 2.7-liter 3RZFE Toyota engine producing 1,200 horsepower on methanol. Details on his Pro FWD Scion racer can be seen on his Web site, www.world-racing.com.

Durst, of Long Beach, Calif., Turbo magazine’s 2003 Rookie of the Year, has an All-Motor/Pro Stock class competition tC in the works for the 2006 season. The stock 2.4-liter 2AZFE tC engine has been race-modified to produce approximately 320-hp on methanol. This coupe sports a full tube chassis and when completed, Durst expects the All-Motor/Pro Stock tC to run in the high 9-second range.

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