After nearly a year of speculation, Scion, the new car marque from Toyota, completed its original three-vehicle strategic launch plan by unveiling the all-new tC sports coupe at a press conference today at the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

Billed as a “sporty coupe with sophisticated styling”, the tC joins the “entry level” Scion xA and “urban utility” Scion xB models that have been on sale in California since late 2003. The tC will be included in the national rollout of the Scion brand showrooms, which will ultimately be available in about 60% of all Toyota showrooms.

"The tC was developed specifically for Scion and the U.S. market with an aim to deliver a level of style, performance and value that will be flat-out impossible to beat." said Jim Farley, Scion vice president.

Initial guessing as to what the third Scion model would be ranged from turbocharged five door to two-door coupe. With the introduction of the three-door coupe, the answers are provided in a sleek coupe that features styling with hints of upmarket European and Japanese design. Outside mirrors have built-in turn signal lights ala Mercedes Benz, the front fascia recalls some recent Germanic designs, and the side profile hints at the rooflines of some higher performance Japanese sports coupes. The three-door hatch configuration also incorporates a unique two-section panorama glass moonroof – the first for this segment.

Though not obvious, Scion claims the sophisticated styling exudes a Scion family identity. These traces of DNA include the use of amber illumination, metal-tone trim and innovative instrumentation panel grains. Scion also says that a material that was inspired by the texture of Japanese paper was developed for the tC dash. Exterior Scion cues include taut, clean lines from front to rear, accentuated rocker panels and wheel arches, and a sporty mesh grille.

Other refinement cues uncommon to this class of cars include dampers on interior moving parts, a cast aluminum temperature control dial, seamlessly integrated front-passenger airbag, and narrowed gaps on interior components. The height and thigh adjustable driver seat will even offer a walk-in function with memory. Rear 60/40-split seats will be equipped with three headrests and three-point seat belts in all seating positions. Also, the rear seats will recline 45 degrees and adjustable into 10 different positions. The roomy cabin will provide up to 8.5 feet of length for cargo with the rear seats folded flat.

The performance level will easily be the highest among its Scion brothers. An all-aluminum 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) that will produce 160 horsepower is the centerpiece of the engine bay. The engine will be mated with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions driving the front wheels. A dealer-installed supercharger package developed by TRD (Toyota Racing Development) will be offered later in the year and is expected to raise power delivery to 200 horsepower. Along with features like a double-wishbone rear suspension, front MacPherson struts, 17-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, and four-wheel disc brakes with an Anti-lock Brakes system the tC should easily raise the performance bar against class competitors like the Honda Civic Coupe and the Hyundai Tiburon.

Like the xA and xB, the Scion tC will be offered in mono-spec trim. Standard features will include the panorama moonroof, 17-inch alloy wheels with graphite appearance finish, air conditioning, cruise control, a high-output Pioneer sound system, power windows, door locks and mirrors, and a center console with armrest. Official pricing has not been announced, but we expect an affordable ‘Scion price’ below the $20,000 mark.

The Scion brand will on the east coast starting in February and will be available coast to coast by June of 2004.