Crown Scion touts arrival of redesigned 2014 tC

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This article was published 31/01/2014 (4612 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Crown Scion expects sales to take off in 2014, its second year of operation.

Crown Toyota Scion opened for business last March, replacing the former Sunshine Toyota, at the Waverley Auto Mall.

“We’re expecting strong sales throughout the spring and summer,” sales rep Chris Wiebe said.

Helping to fuel those sales will be the recently-arrived 2014 Scion FRS and the completely redesigned 2014 Scion tC.

Citing the tC’s new front and rear ends, headlights, LED accent lighting and rear LED tail lights, Wiebe said “the more aggressive styling is meant to appeal to a younger crowd. Scion is trying to appeal to the tuner market with the new tC.”

Under the hood, the 2.5 L four-cylinder engine is virtually unchanged from the 2013 model, producing 179 hp and 172 lb.-ft. of torque. The FWD systemis similar to that found in a rally-style sports car, Wiebe noted.

Inside, the big news is a new 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen infotainment unit that is makes a debut in the tC but is going to be the standard entertainment unit in all 2014 Scion models.

The 2014 FRS, Wiebe said, has the same styling as last year’s introductory model. The rear-wheel drive sports cars is powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder horizontally opposed engine that puts out 200 hp and 151 lb.-ft. of torque.

Wiebe said the base price for the FRS is $26,450, while the new tC starts at $21,490 (plus freight and pdi).

“Both the tC and FRS are selling really well,” he added. “We’re going to have trouble keeping them in stock.”

All-new 2014 Infiniti Q50

Infiniti’s 2014 Q50, which arrived in the Birchwood Infiniti showroom late last year, is an all-new model that replaces the former G37 sedan line. It also marks the beginning of Infiniti’s rebranding of its lineup, with “Q” designating sedans and “QX” designating SUVs.

“The Q50 has a new body style with a bolder-looking front end, smoother curves, noticeable character lines and available 19-inch wheels,” said Birchwood Infiniti sales manager Lee Okabe.

The new model is powered by a 3.7L V6, and AWD is optional. A hybrid model arrived at the same time as the gas version, boasting 354 hp compared to 328 hp in the gas engine.

Okabe cited a number of new technological features in the Q50, including optional Direct Adaptive Steering (standard on the hybrid), an all-electric steering system that allows for quicker responses, improved steering feel and four different driver-selectable settings. There’s also Active Lane Control, a new collision-prevention system and a twin-touch screen electronics interface which, gives access to different social media, different points of interest and different music sources.

The base Q50 comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED fog lights, keyless ignition/entry, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power front seats, leatherette upholstery and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. The Premium trim adds a sunroof, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 14-speaker Bose sound system and a multimedia monitor/display.

The Sport trim adds a sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels with summer performance tires, leather seating, a sport driver seat with power lumbar and additional bolster adjustments, aluminum pedal trim and paddle shifters.

“A lot of our clients love the way the Q50 feels,” Okabe said. “It’s a quiet ride, very sporty and fun to drive. We can also customize and personalize the vehicle for each individual driver.”

The base price for the model is $37,500 for RWD and $43,400 for AWD. The hybrid version has a starting cost of $47,000.

2014 Jetta features new engine

The big change for Volkswagen;s Jetta in 2014 is the re-introduction of a 1.8L TDI (turbo direct injection) engine, says Volkswagen sales rep Kevin Hartle.

The new engine, which replaces last year’s 2.5L 5-cylinder powerplant, makes for lighter weight, better fuel economy and better torque.

Hartle added that a new suspension (the MultiLink Independent Suspension System) makes for a smoother, more comfortable ride and better handling.

The upscale 2.0L turbodiesel Jetta also has some upgrades, including heated mirrors, power-adjustable side view mirrors and floor mats.

The new Jetta’s base price of $22,640 is unchanged from its predecessor, and the diesel model has been reduced in price to $23,290 from $25,000-plus last year.

Hartle added that Volkswagen’s new 2014 Tiguan, which also recently arrived in the showrooms, is little changed from last year.

On all Tiguan trims, drivers can opt for the Convenience Package, which includes Bluetooth connectivity, roof rails and tinted windows. The R-Line Package, only available on the Highline trim, includes body-coloured side skirts, black roof lines, a squared-bottom sport steering wheel, paddle shifters and stainless-steel pedals.