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By: Mike Kowdley, 2005-Nov-03
SCION tC SUPERCHARGER
And now, the moment you'll all be waiting for...
Last month TRD and Scion annouced that the tC supercharger is now available. Quite a few ScionZone.com members and guests drooled over the protoype version that was displayed in 2004 (prototype pictures) at the Scion Performance Challenge in Pomona. In October Scion announced that the supercharger is now available!
Many tC owners will be disappointed to confirm, however, that the supercharger is available only for the Scion tC's that have manual transmission. Steve Haag, Scion Corporate Manager, told me that the automatic transmission version is in the works and will be available, but there's no release date - yet.
Compatible with both the 2005 and 2006 models, the centrifugal-type supercharger produces seven pounds of boost. The target horsepower is 200 hp.
The Scion supercharger follows the same model as Toyota's other superchargers - available as a do-it-yourself kit or as a dealer installed option. Getting it installed by the dealer puts the supercharger under the same warranty as your powertrain. This means is warranted for five years or 60,000 miles, OR, until your current powertrain warranty expires, whichever comes first. Installing it yourself? You'll still enjoy a 12-month, 12,000 mile part-only warranty.
Interestingly enough, you can't purchase the supercharger with the vehicle, only immediately afterwards. Directly for Scion Product Communications:
"The tC supercharger system can only be purchased as a dealer-installed or over-the-counter option, after retail sale of the vehicle. The supercharger may not be purchased at the same time as the new vehicle and may not be financed together with the new vehicle."
Thanks to Steve at Toyota of Puyallup for pointing this out.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price of the TRD supercharger is $3,200, not including installation. Your dealer price may of course vary. The installed prices varies with the labor rates in your region but is expected to come in around $4,000.
I snapped some pictures of the installed supercharger, so click here to view them.
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