Scion tC 2010

Vehicle Summary
While other cars in Scion's lineup have funky, boxy designs, the tC coupe has always been the most conventional. It competes with small cars like the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus and Nissan Sentra. The tC uses a 161-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. A wide variety of safety features are standard.

Vehicle Overview
While other cars in Scion's lineup have funky, boxy designs, the tC coupe has always been the most conventional. It competes with small cars like the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus and Nissan Sentra. The tC uses a 161-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. A wide variety of safety features are standard.

New for 2010
There are no significant changes for the 2010 model year.

Exterior
The tC looks more aggressive than its Toyota siblings, bearing more resemblance to an Audi coupe than any of its competitors. It's 174 inches long, making it shorter than the Cobalt, Focus and Sentra, and is roughly the same height as the Cobalt. It's 3 or 4 inches shorter than the Focus and Sentra.

* Hatchback body style
* Sunroof covers first and second rows
* Automatic headlamps
* Optional front and rear spoilers
* 17-inch wheels standard, 18-inch wheels optional
* Nautical Blue Metallic replaces Blue Ribbon Metallic

Interior
Overall, the Scion tC's interior has a nice mix of textures and a rich appearance for its price.

* 160-watt Pioneer audio system with iPod connectivity and auxiliary port
* 60/40-split rear seat has three-point seat belts and head restraints for three occupants
* Standard air conditioning
* Standard cruise control
* Standard power locks, windows and keyless entry

Under the Hood
The tC is powered by an all-aluminum, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 161 hp and has variable valve timing.

* Standard five-speed manual transmission
* Optional four-speed automatic

Safety
The tC has a wide variety of standard safety features, including:

* Four-wheel antilock brakes
* Seat-mounted side-impact airbags
* Side curtain airbags for first and second rows
* Driver's knee airbag
* Electronic brake-assist

Scion Hako Coupe

Scion says its Hako Coupe concept was inspired by its xB, and it isn't hard to see similarities between the boxy wagon and this concept. Both models have a vertical grille, and the Hako Coupe goes even further with a completely vertical windshield. The concept's short side windows wrap around the rear end, and the greenhouse is topped by a roof that looks a bit like a toupee.

"We love that slammed, sinister look," said Jack Hollis, Scion's vice president.

Look inside the concept and you might think the brand put in some mismatched seats, but the use of an orange driver's seat and a black passenger seat is intentional and intended to separate those areas of the cabin. Numerous video screens are sprinkled around the cabin — there are two in the dashboard for the entertainment system and four more in the doors and the rear of the cabin — and the driver can use exterior cameras to record passing scenery, providing a visual record of a trip.

The Hako Coupe is one unusual-looking concept car, but it sure does stand out from the crowd, and that's not easy to do these days. Somehow, someway, I find myself drawn to the look.


* Looks like: A modern-day '32 Ford coupe
* Defining characteristics: Boxy shape, vertical windshield, wraparound side windows
* Ridiculous features: Video screens galore in the cabin
* Chance of being mass-produced: This is the brand that brought the xB to the U.S., so a boxy coupe isn't out of the question