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Scion, Toyota's youth brand in the North American market, revealed the redesigned tC coupe at the New York Auto Show. The second generation tC sports a cleaner, more masculine look, heavily influenced by the Calty-designed Fuse concept unveiled at the 2006 New York Auto Show.
Launched in 2004, the tC is Scion's sportiest vehicle, and it will now riding on a new platform. The new car is 41mm wider than the outgoing model but retains the same overall footprint, wheelbase and the wheels-at-each-corner stance. The proportions are better judged though, so that it appears lower and has a slightly more aggressive demeanor. At the front, the grille is narrower and the headlamps sleeker, with 3D covers bulging out from the surrounding surface.
The most noticeable difference however is in profile. Here, the A-pillars have been painted matte black to accentuate the 'helmet look' of the roofline and DLO. A subtle shoulderline runs below the glasshouse before kicking up and disappearing into the C-pillar, following the angle of the rear window line. It is then picked up aft of the C-pillar adding definition to the rear haunch. In the lower half of the doors there is a scalloped section to detract from the expanse of the side surface. There are no surprises, but it is clean and well-executed.
Inside there is an added level of 'premium' with a driver-oriented IP and a quality feel to the dash upper. Looking like painted wood, the grainy material adds a technical feel to what would normally be quite subdued. A new flat bottom three-spoke steering wheel, more robust bolsters for the front seats and a V-shape theme for the gauge cluster and center console further reinforce the sportier intentions of this car.
Powered by a new 2.5-liter engine mated to either a six-speed manual or a six speed sequential-shift automatic, we imagine the tC will continue to be good tuner's canvas, as expressed by the 'Bloodshot red' Five Axis-tuned model also on show.
Revealed at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year, this is the first time we had a chance to see the Odyssey concept in the metal. A departure from the current model, the concept informs the next generation Odyssey due in Fall 2011.
While the current model was created by Honda's design team in Japan, the concept was designed by Catalin Matey under the direction of Dave Marek at Honda's California design studio in Los Angeles.
The Odyssey concept embodies a cleaner aesthetic that is sleeker and more dynamic, thanks in part to slimmer headlamps and a rising featureline. But the most novel feature is its dramatic beltline that drops down aft of the C-pillar, accentuating the dynamic DLO. This element serves to distinguish the minivan's profile while simultaneously improving rearward visibility for third row passengers, Honda says.
Standing 25mm lower and measuring 35mm wider than the current model, the concept features steeply raked A-pillars and a chamfered roofline, making the car appear sportier while reducing visual height. This is further enhanced by a concave cutout in the lower rocker area working in unison with the convex featureline that departs from the pair of door handles and rises as it travels rearward, emphasizing the dynamic attributes of the design.
The concept's headlamps - LED units for the showcar, front and rear - flank a more pronounced grille with a larger Honda emblem, while the foglamps are incorporated into the lower grille aperture rather than being standalone elements on either corner. The rear of the car features a full-width taillamp design that references that of the current model, but it is altogether more modern.
Though the concept was an exterior only - the interior was blacked out as it is still in the development phase - the next generation Odyssey will further build on the current model's strengths in interior spaciousness and comfort, a Honda spokesperson told us. The next model will have a similar cabin and cargo space so functionality will remain the same.
The big news at the Hyundai stand was the North American introduction of the Equus, but the Korean automaker also debuted two new variants of the recently revealed Sonata. One of those models features a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, but the other is powered by Hyundai's proprietary hybrid drivetrain - a first for the brand - and extends the company's 'fluidic sculpture' design language through unique exterior design elements.
While the Sonata was conceived at the Korean automaker's Southern California design studio, the Hybrid variant was the work of designers in Hyundai's Korean design studio. The goal was to make the car more aerodynamic, but also to make it stand out from its more conventionally-powered siblings.
The headlamps and taillamps communicate the model's eco-intentions through bold use of LEDs within the housings. Expressive and aesthetically appealing (the headlamps include a flowing strip that winds its way through the unit while the taillamps feature LED strips that sit maze-like within the can), the lamp designs denote the vehicle's alternative powertrain and add to the unmistakable DRG. No one will think you're driving the 'lesser' model.
But while we quite like the bold design of the head and taillamps and the new 'eco-spoke' wheel design, it seems the design team sought to differentiate the model a bit too much, particularly at the front. Here, the pleasing face of the Sonata has been replaced by a gaping hexagon-shaped front grille that sits low in the bumper overpowering the face of the car. And it appears that employing a copious amount of chrome is also the order of the day: a large chrome plate adorns the top of the hood (incorporating the Hyundai logo) and along the rocker panel in the lower door section.
We thought the Sonata's expressive aesthetic made for a very elegant and distinctive model at its launch at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, and we can't help but think that the design team in Korea has unnecessarily messed with a fine design. The public will surely decide whether they want this sort of differentiation in an alternatively propelled vehicle...
Related Article:
Hyundai Sonata - Los Angeles 2009
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