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Scion tC changes, barely, for 2016

The Scion iA and iM have cornered the recent headlines, but for now the tC remains the brand's milk and honey. Upgrades for the 2016 model are sprinkled throughout the cabin, from tiny tweaks like silver door handles inside to the leather shift knob, which is currently a $99 option. Scion touts the seven-inch Pioneer touchscreen Display Audio that's standard on base models, but that comes in the current tC. The head unit includes convenience features such as Bluetooth and voice recognition. A smart key and pushbutton start also get in the press release, but they, too, are standard features on the 2015 model. What can look forward to is a rear windshield wiper as standard fit. Prices for both manual and automatic have gone up slightly. The six-speed manual will start at $19,385, the six-speed automatic at $20,535, both prices a $175 increase compared to the present models. Destination and handling will throw another $770 onto that. You'll find a few photos above and a press release below with a bit more information. Related Video: 2016 Scion tC Upgrades Make for Alluring Touring TORRANCE, Calif., (July 16, 2015) – Scion's top seller, the tC sports coupe, adds new sound, smarts and swishes as it enters the 2016 model year. A new standard audio system, a host of upgraded interior features including a Smart Key with push-button start, and the addition of a standard rear windshield wiper add to the fun and functionality of the tC. The 2016 tC retains its thrill-to-value proposition with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $19,385 for the six-speed manual transmission and $20,535 for the six-speed automatic with paddle shifters and Dynamic Rev Management®. This price excludes a delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee of $795. The new standard audio system features a large 7-inch Pioneer® touchscreen Display Audio system with AM/FM/HD radio™, voice recognition, Bluetooth® hands-free and streaming audio, and the Aha™ app which provides access to 100,000 Internet radio options. Also new to the interior of the tC are new silver interior door handles, a new center console tray cover and a leather-wrapped shift knob. The 2016 tC will be available in dealerships starting in August.

Scion rolls out its past concepts, one last time

In 2002, we first met Scion by way of the silver BBx concept you see above, the iconic toaster that soon became the production xB hatchback. That was the official kick-off of Toyota's youth-oriented brand, and it all started right here at the New York Auto Show. But Scion's being phased out this year, and the very last brand-new car is a special edition tC – interesting, since that's the only model not being carried over with Toyota badges. So to commemorate the life of Scion, just as it comes to an end, a number of the brand's most important concepts are on display in New York. The BBx is arguably the most important concept, though the one that garnered the most attention in recent years was the original FR-S (the "Friggin' Really Sweet" car) from the 2011 New York show. That came to production as Scion's (and Toyota's) best-driving car, using a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive architecture shared with the Subaru BRZ. Thankfully, the Scion FR-S will live on as the Toyota 86. Also of note are the 2004 FiveAxie Speedster xA, 2009 Kogi BBQ Truck XD, original 2009 iQ concept (remember the iQ?), and a 2014 tC designed by Slayer. They're all on display here in New York, and you can see them all, one last time, in the gallery above.

Here's the 2017 Toyota 86: Don't call it a Scion

After we heard the bells toll for Scion yesterday, we told you that the Scion FR-S will transform into a Toyota. That's right: just a rebadging. The practical question is, which badge? The philosophical question, which we can't answer yet, is where it'll sit in the pantheon of front-engined, rear-drive Toyota sports cars, of which the Supra was the last one to visit our shores, from 1992 until 1998 in its fourth generation. And as if summoned by this conversation, this camouflaged prototype appeared. Our best guess is that this is going to be the US-bound, Toyota-badged version of the Subaru BRZ and all the other 86-badged variants: the Toyota 86 (in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and South Africa), Toyota GT86 (in Europe and New Zealand again), and Toyota FT86 (in Nicaragua and Jamaica). For simplicity's sake, let's call it a Toyota 86. Peer into the 86's swirly camo, and it looks like the car is going in for a light refresh. The lower intake in the front fascia, if it's representative of a production part, adopts a different shape and is considerably wider and narrower than either the BRZ or FR-S units. It also appears that the turn signal and its surround are reshaped, different than any of the current variants. Changes out back appear mild. The area around the license plate seems to be smoother, and there is likely a predictable light restyle of the bumper skin and defuser under the camo. We don't expect a significant power increase, and certainly not a turbocharger (sorry!), but crossing fingers wouldn't do any harm. Related Video: