If you’ve spent even a small amount of time on CarDomain, you’ve most likely crossed paths with Dawn’s Scion tCat some point. Her matte black, murdered-out tC has been attracting a lot of attention around here lately and she’s already won Showoff of the Week, surpassed the 100,000 views mark and received nearly 8,500 comments from interested CarDomain members. Why has her car gotten this attention? Well, she didn’t drop six figures on it and it hasn’t been in any magazines, like some popular cars on here. Nope, it’s just because her tC is a cool car driven by a cool girl that’s very in tune with the automotive ccommunity. She’s a very nice person who knows what she’s talking about when it comes to cars, and as we’ve found in the last couple months, that’s more than enough to win over the heart of the CarDomain ccommunity. Dawn always has stuff planned for her beautiful tC and she’s even looking at getting a new, better paint job (as if it could get any better), so make sure that you stop by and check it out. Trust me, it will be hard to resist adding this perfect combo to your favorites.

Many people were shocked to hear that Tanner Foust would kick his old Nissan 350Z to the curb and take on a unproven platform like the Scion tC, but I think this past weekend showed everyone including myself that the guy knows what he’s doing. At the Formula D season opener Tanner was able to pull a third place finish in his brand new car. As for the car, it’s got a pretty decent build, including a 358-cubic-inch V8 from a former Busch Series NASCAR. The engine is rated at 650 horses with 450 ft pounds of torque. He’s running a four-speed G-force dog-engagement gearbox and Toyota Supra rear differential and rear suspension.

So what do you think of Tanner Foust’s new Scion Racing tC? More pics after the jump!

Continue reading "Tanner Foust’s Sick New Scion tC" »

I just came from the Scion press launch of their new concept micro car, the IQ. I have to say that generally I am not overly enthralled with microcars, but this little sucker was cool. Kind of like a smart car on steroids, the IQ definitely appeals to teenager in all of us and at first glance it actually gives the appearance of being much larger than it actually is.

With techno blasting in the background, the little IQ was lowered into the crowd with oohs and aahs from photographers and journalists. There is a good reason for this, too. You see, the IQ is cool. Macho fender flares and 18″ wheels hide massive rotors and nice two-pot calipers. The paint is called “Radioactive,” and has some iridescent qualities and shows yellow or green depending on the exterior light.

Interior appointments are typical Scion, meaning they are youthful. Scion, as I see it, has become a master of dressing up inexpensive materials to appeal to a much hipper audience–and it works. Funky honeycomb seat and door inserts help offset otherwise drab gray vinyl. Combine that with a massive 10″ pop-up monitor and for watching DVD’s (when you’re parked) make for a cool little micro that you wouldn’t mind just hanging out in.

The ultra-compact Toyota iQ has long been rumored to become part of Toyota’s US lineup, and it looks like we might be getting some official word on this at the New York Auto Show next month. The iQ won’t actually be sold in the United States as a Toyota, but as the latest addition to the Scion line. Scion hasn’t released any specs on the USDM version of the iQ yet, but their press release says they will be showing a “micro sub-compact” concept, which is exactly what the iQ is. According to Scion’s press release, “the concept reflects Scion’s youthful image and represents a new segment for the brand aimed toward the growing urbanization trend”.

We will find out next month at the New York Auto Show exactly what Toyota and Scion have in store for the US-spec iQ.

By Mike Garrett Source: World Car Fans

Scion recently told Automotive News that they are planning to add a fourth vehicle to their lineup in the next two to three years. They will also have a replacement for the tC coupe within the next two years. So what should they build next? Something like the Hako Coupe concept that they unveiled in New York last year? Or what? My vote is for a boxy RWD 2+2—a modern day Datsun 510.

Of course we already saw the blue Tuner Challenge tC at SEMA, but I figured you guys would want to see the Scion booth anyway, since they always have such cool displays. More pics after the jump!

Continue reading "Scion at NAIAS" »

Oh man! Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Scion just went and opened the Scion Squad to everyone!  You can win awesome stuff including a $15,000 car makeover, and you don’t even have to own a Scion.  How sweet is that? Just sign up whatever vehicle you have and start completing challenges today! Click on the picture to get started.

Check out this awesome custom gauge setup in David’s Scion xB. To quote Dave—a Vegas native—it’s “amazing what can be done with a scanner and photoshop.” Nice work, man!

I don’t know if you’ve been following our Scion Squad contest, but CarDomain member mdickson81 is currently leading the pack. He recently put on a car show at Titus-Will Scion in Tacoma to complete one of the challenges. Over 30 Scions and other domestics show up. Mike even added a charity food drive to the event and called it the "Feed the Need" car show.

Given how much I ask it to do, my trusty little IBM ThinkPad—running Windows XP—is pretty stable.  But obviously, its maddening idiosyncrasies occasionally reduce me to a seething, profanity-spewing toddler who just wants to go kick holes in something. So I found the Matrix Runs on Windows pretty funny. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Talk about irony. Shannon Nicole Adkins’ senior project was a study how dangerous the roads of her rural county were for young drivers. She died Monday after being struck head-on by a drunk driver who crossed the center line. Damn, that’s sad. MSNBC
• Apparently, the recent drop in gas prices is still translating into increased sales of SUVs. And while I know this isn’t the first time I’ve talked about this ridiculous phenomenon, I feel like I have to keep mentioning it. Seriously America, maybe it’s time to start thinking further ahead than lunch? ABC Charlotte
• Looks like the next gen Scion TC is going to be RWD. The car itself will be the product of the long-awaited Toyota/Subaru partnership, and I can’t wait to get a look at one in the flesh. Which company’s do you think will look hotter? My money is on Toyota. CarScoop
• When I walked into the office on this morning, my credentials for the LA Auto Show were sitting on my desk. Now, it’s not clear which member of editorial team is going, but I can tell you that the General won’t be hosting any press conferences. Yikes. Freep

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

Scion always puts up an impressive booth—Kathy’s already blogged the Cartel Customs xD and the P-40 tC, and I found that their widebody tC’s were even hotter in person than in their design concepts. The "Stay Tuned" theme was cute, and it’s clear they’re putting major emphasis on aftermarket modding, which is what we like to see. Take a look around the Scion booth after the jump.

Continue reading "All Up In Their Booth: Scion At SEMA" »

By Katherine Helmetag

AKA atomicalex

I can’t make up my mind about this Scion xD from Cartel Customs. The chopped top makes for good proportions, the custom work in the interior is hot, and the sound system is tight. But the black and white Daytons are a major distraction, in my opinion. See more.

Continue reading "Cartel Customs Scion xD" »

By Katherine Helmetag

AKA atomicalex

World War II is officially over, because now we have a Japanese car decorated like an Allied bomber. This tC built by Eddie Hahm gets points for over-the-topness. The interior is full of vintage aircraft styled bits, including old perforated steel seats.

Continue reading "Scion tC P-40 Warhawk edition" »

SEMA kicks off next Tuesday and if you’ve been paying attention to the CarDomain Blog we’ve been covering tons of rides like Topo’s widebody Challengers, Vivid Racing’s Green Evo-X, and GT-RR.com’s Signature GTR build. 

But before any of you members go off saying that a car must be over the top expensive to make it to SEMA I wanted to show Rogue Status’s Scion XB. Check out the modest Gun Show print design and the custom Capital Forged Gun Show wheels after the jump.

Continue reading "Rogue Status Scion XB Ready for SEMA 2008" »

When the new xB was released, there was a little bit of a backlash from folks who didn’t exactly love the chopped roof and tweaked dimensions. But even die-hard fans of the old model—I like to think of it as the "racing toaster"—have to appreciate how silky smooth Finishline West’s xB came out. I chose this pic because I like how it shows off slick body lines, but the guys have also shod this baby with a sick set of multi-color wheels, and they really bring the whole look together. We’ll make sure to get tons of pics from the floor at SEMA, but in the meantime, check out Finishline West’s ride pages and head over to its official site for even more pics!