2011 Scion tC Test Drive First Look

We test drive the all-new redesigned 2011 Scion tC and give you a first look at the car, interior, exterior, engine sound, and test drive. 180hp 2.5-liter, FWD, 6-speed, 18-inch wheels, and a new design.

New Car Review – 2011 Scion tC Test Drive [w/ VIDEO]

Scion tC gradually grew to become the top seller in the Scion camp. Scion claims that nearly 310,000 copies of the Scion tC are now roaming the roads of America, almost 40% of all Scion sales.

Track Test – AQ Motorsports 650hp Time Attack Subaru WRX STI

After seeing the numbers, we have no doubts about the capability of the 650whp 2.6L AQ engine. A whopping 20mph difference separates the two cars on each straight.

Review – Nismo SR20DET Reinforced 6-Speed Transmission

The Holy Grail for SR20DET owners is a true six-speed transmission. The promise of shorter gearing and an overdrive 6th for freeway cruising is sometimes just too good to pass up.

Review – Nismo GT LSD Pro For Nissan 240SX/Silvia

The GT L.S.D. Pro features an externally adjustable initial torque setting. With this capability, the LSD can be set trackside to compensate for power, tires or even the difference between a drift day and a track day.

Dyno Test Review – SPEC Mini Twin-Disc Clutch Kit

Like a good set of tires, drivetrain is an often-overlooked area of car tuning. Many obsess over blowers, exhausts and wheels but when it comes time to get that project buttoned up, the cheapest clutch kit is usually shoved in.

Test Drive Review – FPV Ford Falcon F6 E

With a factory Garrett GT3540R turbocharger attached to the engine, the F6 E pushes out 416hp at 5,500rpm and 417lb/ft of torque from 1,950 to 5,200rpm. In fact, the F6 E is ludicrous fun in the wet, breaking loose the rear tires with pretty much every full throttle stab.

Video – Test Drive – FPV Ford Falcon F6-E Bathurst Review

We test drive the 4-liter turbocharged FPV Ford Falcon F6-E. 416hp and 417lb/ft of torque from a factory GT35R turbo, inline-six engine, and rear-wheel drive.

Test Drive – Lotus Exige S240

And speaking of the racetrack, that’s that one place that I would not miss when I have a car like this at my disposal. The Lotus Exige is a perfect daily driver and weekend track day car, and I wasn’t about to pass up that second part.

Test Drive – TRD Accessorized Scion xD

Here at The Octane Report, we have a thing for power. Tire shredding, burnout inducing, push you back in your seat power. The kind of power that turns a car from simple transport to over-the-top track star.

Test Drive Review – TRD Equipped Scion xD

Review – Nitto NT05 Tires

The NT05 is Nitto’s latest maximum performance offering. With a low UTQG rating of 200, it’s matched up against the usual SCCA Street Touring standouts like the Falken RT-615, Yokohama Advan Neova, Toyo R1R, Hankook RS-3 and Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1.

Review – Continental Extreme Contact DW DWS Tires

For the average real world driver, the Continental ExtremeContact DW provides a better balance between cost and performance and will provide more than enough grip for the street and, occasionally, the track.

Review – ARD-272 5Zigen Racing Driving Gloves

On track, our palms get so sweaty that the steering wheel and shift knob can become slippery. Being too slow to catch a tank-slapper or missing a shift because of grip, well, sucks.

Review – Yokohama Advan Neova Tire

The Yokohama Advan Neova tire displayed high grip and sharp steering feedback on track, especially through the very quick Turn 2 (average 87 mph) and Turn 8 (average 119 mph) areas.

Review – Toyo R1R Tires

Toyo sells other tires for those purposes that are both quieter and longer lasting. The R1R is an r-compound racing tire disguised as a DOT street tire. But if you’re interested in putting every last bit of power down to the ground or autocross in the SCCA’s Street Touring class, then please read on.

How To – Cheap DIY Chassis Stiffening Foam

The stiffer a chassis is, the less it will flex when forces are applied to it, i.e. through the suspension. This means that forces from the road surface will be contained and absorbed by the suspension rather than being allowed to beat up the body shell.

How To – Fix Your Roll Center With Whiteline

The problem with lowering your car excessively is that the roll center is always lower than the center of gravity and will actually fall more than the center of gravity with a decrease in ride height. This is bad for steering response, handling and basically ruins the entire point of buying a lower, stiffer suspension.

Review – Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT Tires

At the moment, it seems most tire companies just want to go to war in the performance street tire market. With outright handling records and SCCA Street Touring autocross national championships on the line, numerous tires have been released with 180 or lower UTQG ratings.

Review – Aero Designs Notus Bucket Racing Seat

We tested the fiberglass version of the Aero Designs Notus seat, which rings in around the $470 mark. That’s quite a bit lower than any other comparable design fiberglass racing bucket and the Notus includes side mounts and a slider.