Scion will offer a supercharged version of its tC sport coupe.

In an interview with Automotive News after his presentation at the J.D. Power and Associates International Automotive Roundtable on Friday, Scion Vice President Jim Farley said the model should arrive around April.

The tC will be the first vehicle sold by Toyota in the United States that will get a supercharged model produced by the factory, Farley said.

The Toyota racing division added superchargers to some Matrix wagon models as an aftermarket accessory, he said.

The tC "will be the first one from scratch," Farley said.

Scion, Toyota's youth division, was introduced in select markets in 2003 and rolled out nationally last year. The tC, which went on sale last fall, is its third nameplate.

The tC produces 160 hp, he said. The xA and xB hatchback models each make 108 hp.

Farley would not say how much more horsepower the supercharged model will make.

The division decided to add the model because 30 percent of respondents to an online survey said they would like a supercharged version, he said.

"We had no idea it would be that popular," Farley said.

In 2004, 99,259 Scions were sold. Farley projects sales of 120,000 units in 2005: 40 percent tC, 40 percent xB and 20 percent xA.

Claimed Crank Hp: 160 hp @ 5700 rpm
Claimed Crank Torque: 163 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Measured Wheel Hp: 152 hp @ 5700 rpm
Measured Wheel Torque: 141 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

The Scion tC is on the recall list this week, as Toyota prepares to bring back 30,000 of the coupes for a problem with side airbags. Toyota tells the Associated Press that the side and curtain airbags could deploy if the doors are slammed with high force in affected vehicles, if the ignition is on or if the doors are slammed within 90 seconds of the ignition being keyed. The recall applies to about 20 percent of all tC coupes built in 2005 and 2006. Toyota has logged 17 complaints but no injuries related to the problem, which will be repaired for free.

tC Release Series 3.0 on Display at The 2007 North American International Auto Show
01/05/2007 Torrance, CA

January 5, 2007 – Torrance, CA - Scion, of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today that the tC Release Series 3.0 (tC R.S. 3.0) will be on display at the 2007 North American International Auto Show and hit dealer showrooms beginning in mid-February.

The 2007 tC Release Series 3.0 will come in a frosty Blizzard Pearl white and be decked out with a front and rear KenStyle® ground effects kit. Other tC R.S. 3.0 exterior features include darkened headlights, and a custom wide intake-style upper grille with a honeycomb insert that matches the lower grille. This package also has Scion Genuine Accessory clear LED taillights with unique gray trim.

The tC R.S. 3.0 has black Alcantara® seats detailed with a gray perforated center seating surface on a white background. Alcantara® is a suede-like material often found in luxury or performance vehicles and on aftermarket racing seats. A Blizzard Pearl RAZO® weighted shift knob with black leather insert is also standard.

A Pioneer six-inch subwoofer with 35-watt maximum power complements the standard 160-watt maximum output Pioneer audio system and is tuned specifically for the tC. This compact subwoofer is mounted in the under-floor storage area, keeping it out of sight and leaving the cargo floor clear. This unique vehicle is completed by an individually numbered brushed stainless steel badge.

Only 2,500 units of the tC Release Series 3.0 will be built. The tC R.S. 3.0 model will carry a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $2,580 over the base price. The base MSRP for the tC starts at $16,400 for the manual transmission model and $17,200 for the automatic transmission model.

Scion has announced that it will launch its tC Release Series 4.0 model at next week's Chicago Auto Show. The new trim line will be based on the Scion tC, but will feature enhanced visuals both inside and out.

The RS 4.0 model will add a DAMD body kit and upper front grille, with a color-keyed rear spoiler optional. All RS 4.0 models will be painted in Galactic Gray Mica.

The interior of the RS 4.0 will sport gray and black Alcantara seats — with "tC RS 4.0" embroidered on the front and rear seats — a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a black leather and dark wood RAZO shift knob. The tC's interior will also wear special badging.

Only 2,300 examples of the tC RS 4.0 will be produce, with the package adding $2,770 to the price of a regular tC. The optional spoiler will add another $285 to the tC's $17,000 base price.