Special edition Scion tC gets a $3,000 facelift

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The special-edition 2008 Scion tC Release Series 4.0 goes on sale from March. The production run will number only 2,300 units and each will be painted in Galactic Gray Mica, while sporting an interior with gray and black Alcantara upholstery (‘tC RS 4.0’ is embroidered into the seats).

The coupe also gets a DAMD (big in the Japanese aftermarket scene) body kit, a black leather and dark wood Razo (ditto) shift knob, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. A small, numbered plaque is also part of the package. The only enhancements are cosmetic -- the 161-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine, and the front-driven MacPherson strut (front) and double wishbone (rear) chassis remain untouched.

To score a tC RS 4.0, add $2,770 to the car’s basic MSRP. A normal tC with a five-speed manual transmission starts at $17,000. One with a four-speed automatic starts at $17,800. For an extra $285 (plus installation), there’s an optional color-coded rear spoiler.

-- Colin Ryan