Scion celebrates 10 years with 2014 tC, Scion 10 Series

NEW YORK--The 2014 Scion tC sports coupe gets an FR-S-inspired midcycle revision at the 2013 New York International Auto Show.

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Stiffer chassis

The majority of the visible changes happen at the front and rear end of the vehicle. From axle to axle, the midsection of the tC appears completely unchanged, keeping the silhouette of the current model intact. Behind the scenes, however, Scion has increased chassis rigidity with more spot welds while also retuning the electronic power steering, suspension, and stabilizer bars to add more "sport" to this front-drive sports coupe.

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FR-S inspired bumper

The front bumper features a large lower intake that shares its shape with that of the Scion FR-S sport coupe and dips closer to the ground for a more aggressive appearance.

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Angry eyes

The tC's hood also stretches farther forward and into the upper grill area, compressing the new headlamps for an angrier appearance.

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Headlamps

The headlamps themselves feature a sharp, angular design and are complemented by LED accent lighting near the recessed fog lights.

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Rear bumper

Around back, the more aggressive rear bumper is also inspired by the FR-S, featuring a similar "faux-diffuser" blackout area and and low-center reflector.

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Rear end

Recessed reflectors low on the bumper corners look, to my eye, like cute, little dimples...on the tC's butt.

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Taillamps

The LED taillamps appear clear when not illuminated, but have a very complex design when closely inspected.

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Wheels

Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the 2014 tC.

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Interior

Inside, the cabin gets brighter accents on its upgraded seating and dashboard materials.

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Display audio

Toyota's 6.1-inch touch-screen Display Audio System gets Scion-restyled and makes an appearance in the 2014 tC as a standard feature. Bluetooth, HD Radio, and USB connectivity are now the baseline of Scion technology. There will also be a premium "BeSpoke" audio system that features Aha by Harmon app integration and turn-by-turn navigation.

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Six-speed automatic

The 179-horsepower, 2.5-liter engine was not mentioned in the presentation, because it survives the 2014 midyear update completely unchanged. The six-speed automatic transmission now features an "FR-S inspired" manual-shift mode with Dynamic Rev Management rev-matching software that attempts to match engine speed with the chosen gear to smooth out those upshifts and downshifts. The 2014 tC is, of course, still available with a six-speed manual gearbox, as well.

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Availability

The 2014 Scion tC will begin arriving at dealerships around June of 2013.

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Scion 10 Series

Alongside the revised tC, the automaker also celebrated its 10-year anniversary with the announcement of the Scion 10 Series of limited edition models.

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Scion 10 Series iQ

All Scion 10 models will be painted in this Silver Ignition color and feature silver seatbelts, a solar-powered illuminated shift knob, limited edition numbering, and unique alloy wheels with a graphite finish.

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Scion badge

Perhaps the coolest (or goofiest) feature is the inclusion of illuminated Scion badges on the front and rear of each Scion 10 vehicle.

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Illuminated badge

When the vehicle is unlocked or locked, the badges glow bright blue before fading to white, then deactivating after a few moments.

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Phantom Scion badge

On the passenger-side dashboard, the Scion name illuminates upon entering the vehicle. After a few seconds, the logo fades leaving just the letters "IO" (now read as "10") lit momentarily before completely disappearing into the dashboard. It's a very cool trick.

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Scion 10 Series FR-S

The Scion 10 Series FR-S is unique in the series. Only this model gets upgraded with HID headlamps and LED daytime running lights.

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Scion 10 Series xD

All five Scion models, including the tC, will get the 10 Series treatment, with about 10,000 total units being produced.

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Scion celebrates 10 years with 2014 tC, Scion 10 Series (pictures)

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