Scion has announced that it will participate in the Formula Drift this year with its rear wheel drive RS*R Scion tC which is based on Scion’s most popular model, the tC sports coupe.
The factory built front-wheel drive tC converted to a drifting rear-wheel drive by RS*R, acclaimed exhaust and suspension manufacturer. The conversion made possible due to its similarity with Toyota’s Japanese market Avensis four-wheel drive and Caldina all-wheel drive platform. RS*R changed the stock transverse 2AZ-FE 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine configuration to a longitudinal setup in order to drive power, through the transmission and drive shaft, directly to the rear wheels.
The converted tC now features 3SGE Beams motor, HKS GT3037 turbo and intercooler, Blitz Dual SBC boost controller, and AEM EMS engine management system to deliver more than 400 hp compared to the stock 161 hp.
The car is also fitted with a G-Force 5-speed sequential transmission, Tilton triple carbon clutch, Project Mu brakes, RS-R coilovers, Sparco Corsa seats, Enkei RPF1 wheels and Toyo Proxes R1R tires and a custom concept wide body kit.
The RS*R Scion tC will be driven by Ken Gushi, the youngest driver ever to compete in the D1 series, starting at Formula Drift’s Round 1, Streets of Long Beach in Calif. on April 12.
