Scion has announced pricing for its 2014 tC and iQ models, along with its 10 Series Edition models which celebrate the brand’s 10th anniversary.

Updated for the 2014 model year, the new tC debuted earlier this year at the New York Auto Show with more aggressive styling, an upgraded interior, and an enhanced driving experience. The 2014 Scion tC will start at $19,210 for the manual and $20,210 for the automatic.

As for the 2014 Scion iQ, the Japanese automaker added the new Scion Display Audio while everything else carries over from the 2013 model year. Pricing for the 2014 Scion iQ starts at $15,665.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Scion FR-S Series 10 Video, First Look

Those interested in the Limited 10 Series Editions will be glad to know that they don’t demand a huge premium over the standard models. The tC will start at $21,440 and $22,440 for manual and automatic, respectively. The iQ will be $17,850 while the Scion xD manual will start from $18,155. Those looking for an automatic Limited 10 Series xD will have to pay at least $18,955.

Fans of the xB Limited 10 Series will have their pricing starting at $19,210 for the manual and $20,160 for the automatic.

The sporty FR-S starts at $27,425 for the manual Limited 10 Series while the automatic is priced from $28,675.

All listed prices exclude a $755 delivery, processing, and handling fee.

Discuss this story at ScionForum.com

Scion has announced pricing for its special 10 Series FR-S, which carries a $2,170 premium over the normal manual model, excluding delivery fees.

For the price, buyers get a special package celebrating the brand’s 10th anniversary. Those enhancements include dual automatic climate control, HID headlights, LED daytime running lights and 17-inch wheels.

The cabin gets a frameless rear view mirror, a dashboard electroluminescent panel, an illuminated shift knob on automatic models and glowing front and rear badges.

Scion is asking a $1,250 price increase for the automatic transmission and glowing shift knob, all of which bring the price to $28,675.

SEE ALSO: Scion FR-S ’10 Series’ Gets Grown-up Features

Of course, both models (and every one of the Scion 10 Series cars) come in special “silver ignition” paint.

With the extra goodies intact, you might already be wondering how the special Scion stacks up to its Subaru BRZ sibling, which comes with more equipment. Many of the same features come on the top spec Subaru, although the blue glowing bits and special paint are Scion exclusive.

Subaru’s car still costs $70 more, but it has an advantage: at that price it comes with leather seats.

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GALLERY: 2014 Scion Series 10 FR-S

Discuss this story at FR-SForums.com

Ah to be young again. AutoGuide’s nationally recognized, board-certified Oracles remember their youth vividly… it was terrible. People often say age is just a number and you’re only as old as you feel, unfortunately they were born wearing elastic-waist jeans and Science Olympiad fanny packs. Gingivitis arrived when they were in middle school.

The Oracles may be human versions of Grumpy Cat but that doesn’t prevent them from doling out the best automotive advice on the Cyb3rw3bz. Their careful guidance is so coveted, so sought after, they’ve attracted some unwanted attention, or so they think. They’re convinced the federal government is watching their every move.

When they’re not installing blackout curtains or cowering in their survival bunkers the Oracles do find time to help others; it’s their job after all. This week faithful reader Tony is in need of some automotive guidance so to speak.

According to his electronic-mail correspondence he and an unnamed male sibling are looking for a new vehicle. They want something quick, fun and functional, but still affordable. They’re looking for something to really get their “blood pumping.” Initially the Oracles suggested Madame Genevieve’s burlesque house but since Tony and his bro probably aren’t from the late 1800s they retracted that recommendation. These young guys are looking for a little automotive action.

For the Oracles all this talk of youth brings up some not-so-fond memories, of band camp, and scalding fondue, of summers at their uncle’s cabin as well as chains and a water heater painted with a clown face… Putting the past behind them, here are their recommendations for Tony and company.

Suggestion #1: 2013 Scion FR-S – $25,255

When it comes to practical and entertaining the Oracles were really pushing for the Plymouth Sundance; it’s one of their favorite vehicles ever built, but unfortunately Ask AutoGuide only applies to cars that are in production. When reminded of this technicality they collectively shouted “POPPYCOCK!” But not even out-of-vogue phrases projected at louder-than-appreciated volumes are enough to change the rules; they still lament the fact that Chrysler let such a magnificent car die.

Back on track their first recommendation is the 2013 Scion FR-S. This alphabetically named vehicle is a thoroughly modern take on the traditional sports car. It’s light on its feet, rear-wheel drive and affordable, plus the legendary quality of Toyota and Subaru are baked right in, like carrots and peas in a chicken pot-pie. When considering the fun-to-money ratio Scion’s FR-S is hard to beat. Base price for the car is a little more than $25,000, including ancillary charges.

In a lot of ways this little coupe is like buying filet mignon for the price of Jimmy Dean Maple Links. It delivers Porsche-grade driving dynamics in a stylish package just about anyone with a part-time job could afford. Would you like fries with that? Of course, and some extra ketchup!

The FR-S is powered by a 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine that puts out 200 horsepower. That’s not a lot by today’s standards but it is enough to move this little car right along.  It can be matched to one of two six-speed transmissions, a proper manual or a pursuer-grade automatic.

Of course the driver-shifted gearbox is the only way to go for maximum fun. Part of what makes this seemingly overmatched combination so enjoyable is that you really have to wring the powerplant’s neck to extract the best performance; it’s like squeezing the water out of a brick of cheese. The FR-S is the sort of car that has to be kept on the verge of boiling over, but that’s ok because it enjoys the abuse and you’ll love dishing it out.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Scion FR-S Review

As with anything in life there are a couple minor downsides to Scion’s sporty coupe. First, the FR-S isn’t all that quick. It’s got a tremendous chassis and world-class driving dynamics but the average minivan is probably faster in a straight line. Also, it’s not that practical. Tony and his significant sibling are looking for function to go with their fun, and that’s something the driver-focused FR-S just can’t deliver. Lastly, the fuel economy isn’t terribly good. The car only stickers at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway for the manual.

Suggestion #2: 2013 Ford Focus ST – $24,495

When it comes to practicality the 2013 Focus ST brings all the boys to the yard by drinking the Scion’s milkshake, for breakfast… or whatever the kids are saying these days. This enthusiastic Ford is only offered as a hatchback, which means it has more interior space than the typical Manhattan apartment. It’s designed to haul lots of crap, and haul it does.

The ST offers nearly 45 cubic feet of volume in its cargo hold, enough room for several crates of used books, a dedicated set of wheels and tires for winter driving or even a two-year supply of sauerkraut for the average Polish immigrant family. The Oracles say all food should be packaged in vacuum-sealed bags.

Of course the FocuST hauls more than just boxes of junk and stinky food; you can add ass to that list as well, which may or may not reek like kraut. Another area where this car tops the Scion FR-S is in the engine department. The Ford is also powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but this one is not working alone, it has a helper monkey of sorts in the form of a turbocharger. This highly evolved automotive primate helps the Focus ST’s powerplant deliver 252 horsepower with a truck-like 270 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers imbue this hot-hatch with brisk acceleration at just about any speed. A six-speed manual transmission is the only gearbox offered.

Aside from brute power this car can also dance.  Thanks to a willing chassis it’s more fun to throw around than your spouse on your wedding night (we’re talking about dancing, of course). Ford engineers exhaustively tuned the car’s suspension and sprinkled some other magic dust on the undercarriage to make it feel a little bit like a rear-wheel drive vehicle. The magic works, but some of the dust might have been the chief engineer’s dandruff, because ultimately it’s still a front-driver.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Ford Focus ST Review

With significantly more power and a curb weight that’s nearly 500 pounds greater you’d think the Focus would swill fuel like Ted Kennedy attacking an open bar, but you’d be wrong. According to the EPA this Ford is actually slightly more efficient than the Scion. It should be able to go 23 miles on a gallon of fuel in urban conditions and up to 32 on the highway. Of course if you call on the services of the engine’s simian assistant you mileage will drop faster than a ballistic missile on final approach.

What’s not to like? Well, the styling isn’t for everyone. The Focus ST’s front end looks like a whale shark’s mouthparts, gaping and billowy. It’s probably a filter feeder as well, gobbling up flocks of monarch butterflies and other insects as it tools around. Does the intercooler still work when it’s caked in dead bugs?

SEE ALSO: Focus ST Handling Secrets Revealed

Base price for the ST is about $24,500, slightly less than the Scion. One standout feature is Ford’s Tangerine Scream Tri-Coat paint job, the car’s signature color. It’s a $595 option and is sure to attract more attention than a “free candy” mural painted on the side of an ’87 Econoline van. Still this car is a great choice that checks all the right boxes.

Suggestion #3: 2013 Hyundai Veloster – $22,895

So far the options presented by the paranoid and anxious Oracles have cost around 25 grand. Both the Scion FR-S and Focus ST, while far from pricey, aren’t exactly pocket change, either. If Tony and his brother are looking to save a little scratch without sacrificing fun or function they should also consider what’s behind door No. 3.

If there were an award for “Most Asymmetrical Car” Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo would sweep the podium. Throwing equilibrium a curveball it features an odd number of doors. There are two access portals on the passenger-side of the vehicle but only one elongated entrance for the driver. How’s that for funky?

Landing somewhere between the cavernous Focus and cramped FR-S, Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo offers up nearly 35 cubic feet of maximum storage space, but like a sketchy payday-advance loan there’s a catch. Isn’t there always? The car’s glass-covered hatch is designed to crack skulls, literally. Don’t slam the trunk lid if there are passengers in the back seat. Anyone parked in the rear that’s taller than an atypically stunted little person is liable to have their skulls bashed in by the glazing. Headroom is severely constrained and the rear window actually extends above the passengers’ noggins. The car should come with avalanche warning stickers.

Behind Hyundai’s increasingly prominent hexagonal grille is a mini version of the Focus’ EcoBoost engine. The Veloster is powered by a 1.6-liter turbo four that belts out a respectable 201 horsepower with nearly as much torque. Driving dynamics aren’t the best, however, and compared to other hot hatches it’s at the bottom when it comes to handling.

It’s an attractive little package and it’s pretty thrifty as well. Fuel economy is 24 city, 35 highway, the best in this comparison.

And just like the Scion drivers have a choice of transmission. A six-speed manual is standard fare while an automatic unit with an identical gear count is $1,000 extra.

SEE ALSO: Hyundai Veloster Turbo Review

As usual pricing is Hyundai’s biggest advantage. Out the door the Veloster Turbo’s base MSRP is just $22,895, including shipping and handling charges. That’s appreciably less than the competition, and the difference is a good amount to invest in a Roth IRA for retirement.

Counting the tallies Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo is a tidy, stylish little vehicle. It offers a blend of performance and utility that falls somewhere between the FR-S and Focus. You could call it Goldilocks, but don’t; why would it cavort with porridge-eating anthropomorphic bears?

DISHONORABLE MENTION

So far the Oracles have presented a handful of competent cars for Tony and his bro-man to ruminate on, but of course there are others worth touching on, if only briefly. Here are some vehicles worthy of dishonorable mention.

The Volkswagen GTI is perhaps the quintessential hot hatchback; it essentially invented the segment back in the early 1980s. Today it offers a luxurious interior and a lot of other niceties but with only 200 horsepower on tap it’s not all that fast. The sensei has been surpasses by his students.

There’s also the Mazdaspeed3. We don’t want to spoil anything, but the AutoGuide crew recently did a comparison with the Focus ST and after you watch it, you’ll understand why it’s on the dishonor list.

On paper the Subaru Impreza WRX makes a compelling argument, but in practice things fall apart (not to be confused with Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s novel of the same title). It delivers a 265-horsepower knee to the groin along with permanent all-wheel drive, but the fuel economy is nothing to boast about and the interior is about as inviting as an airplane restroom.

Also worth mentioning is the Honda Civic Si. This car was once a benchmark in the sport-compact class. In years past they featured screaming VTEC engines and lightweight bodies, a formidable combination. Unfortunately that’s no longer the case. The car is a textbook example of how Honda has lost its way. The current Si should really be called the SiGH. This car is but a shadow of its former self. What does it tell you when Honda’s sporty offering isn’t even one of the finalists?

DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS

The Focus ST is a great all-around option that does everything well. It’s swift, practical and thrifty. If you can get past the styling it’s a great choice, but it’s also front-wheel drive. If Tony’s really after driving fun a car that pushes from behind is better than one that pulls from the front.

The Hyundai Veloster Turbo makes nearly as compelling an argument as the Ford, and it’s a couple grand cheaper. What it lacks in performance it makes up for in value. But Tony is looking for fun, not a Corolla.

Once again the Scion FR-S takes home gold. Late last year it won AutoGuide’s 2013 Car of the Year Award and on top of that Features Editor Sami Haj-Assaad decided to take one home. What does that tell you when a member of our staff buys one?

SEE ALSO: AutoGuide 2013 Car of the Year

As always, good luck Tony in your quest for a new car and thanks again for taking the time to Ask AutoGuide.

If you need a little assistance shopping for your next vehicle feel free to do the same. Send a short message to ask@AutoGuide.com. Let us know the basics of what you’re looking for. How many seats do you need? What size of vehicle do you want? How much are you willing to spend? With some of those fundamentals out of the way we’ll get busy to come up with two or three must-see vehicles that you’ll have to put on your test-drive list.

The name Cooper might not bring up mental pictures of high-speed racing like Formula One or NASCAR, but the company certainly knows what it’s doing when it comes to a high-performance street tire.

Providing tires for racing series throughout the world, like the British Formula 3, and the US F2000 racing series, Cooper has experience making tires that stick. They also have some experience torturing tires, providing rubber to a number of Formula D drifting teams.

With that in mind, we set out to test Cooper’s new Zeon RS3-S ultra-high performance summer tire on a car down for its drift-ability, the Scion FR-S.

WHAT IS A ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRE?

An ultra-high-performance (UHP) tire is meant to provide the ultimate levels of grip and handling in dry, and even a bit of wet. They’re not at all made to deal with snow and ice, and colder weather will turn them into hockey pucks. With an asymmetric design (meaning they have a different pattern across the width of the tire) and a square footprint, the Zeon RS3-S tires aim to put as much tire on the road, so that you’ll have grip no matter the circumstance.

If you’re used to looking at all-season tires these UHP ones will look a little bare. There’s no siping to deal with snow and slush. However, there are a few important features in the design of the rubber. Closer to the outside of the tire, the tread blocks are thick, helping to optimize grip and handling, while reducing noise. There are also larger tread patterns closer to the outside of the edge to improve high-speed stability. On the inner half of the tire, the tread is optimized for wet conditions with multiple lateral grooves. It’s also important to point out the large ‘spine’ that goes all the way around the tire, which helps prevent hydroplaning.

For specs the Coopers have a 300 tread wear rating, AA traction rating and A temperature rating, they are also available in W and Y speed ratings. Other UHP tires feature better tread wear ratings, so the Cooper offerings might wear out sooner than the competition. In terms of appearances, the Coopers look slick and clean, making your sports coupe or sedan look serious with these equipped. Our test car was equipped with 215/45/17R  (which is the OEM size for the FR-S) and were wrapped around a gorgeous set of  17″AXIS Xplode wheels, available exclusively from Tire Rack.

FAST FACTS

1. The Cooper Zeon RS3-S tires are available in a number of sizes from 17 to 20-inch diameters.

2. Widths range from 205 to 275.

THE COMPARISON

For reference, we have a set of Michelin Primacy HP summer tires, the stock rubber on our Scion FR-S test car. As the OEM choice for both the FR-S and BRZ, the tires are fairly quiet, and provide little rolling resistance, which leads to better fuel economy. At the limit, the stock tires give up quite easily, however, and will quickly send the rear wheel drive Scion and Subaru into a hero-esque drift. Surprisingly, they’re also only rated at a 240 tread wear meaning they should deteriorate at a faster rate than the Coopers.

Tested at our usual track, we managed a 1:28.627 lap time. The Michelin’s aren’t ideal for quick times but they do make the car fun to drive, letting you hang the tail out easily but also recover with little effort. What we wanted to see is how much extra grip the Coopers would deliver and if these UHP tires would stop the car from drifting entirely, diminishing the fun-to-drive nature of the car.

ON THE TRACK

After having loads of fun (sideways) in the Scion FR-S on the Michelin Primacy HP tires, we switched them out for the Cooper Zeon RS3-S tires. Immediately, the extra grip from the Cooper tires could be felt through acceleration and braking. The new rubber also grips considerably better and holds on much longer than the Michelins in the high speed corners. Steering response is improved, making the sharp FR-S feel even more agile.

It’s at the absolute limit that the Coopers act particularly interesting for a UHP tire. Where many affordable alternatives hold on to their limit, then break loose without warning, the Zeon RS3-S provide a considerable amount of audible feedback before the car gets sideways, and is easily controllable once you reach the limit. In fact, the best way to describe the Zeon RS3-S tires is that they’re like the Michelin Primacy HP tires but with a higher limit.

The Cooper tires whipped the FR-S around the track in 1:26.607, about two seconds faster than the Michelins, and it’s no surprise why. With much stiffer sidewalls and sticky rubber keeping the FR-S planted to the track, the little Scion is able to accelerate sooner when exiting a turn.

The new tires resulted in greater lateral and longitudinal G’s on the aftermarket tires. Even better was how composed the car is when trail-braking (braking and turning at the same time.) In every measurable statistic, the new Cooper tires are an improvement over the Michelins. Even braking feels better, and we ended up braking later for turns than we did on the stock tires.

The extra grip is much appreciated, and it’s amazing how a set of tires transforms the car, getting it around the track much faster than before. It’s also worth mentioning that the Cooper Zeon RS3-S are cheaper than many of its rival UHP tires (a quick online search found them half the price of the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2.)

While prices will vary, we found the Coopers for as little as just over $100 a tire, whereas the stock Michelins run $198 a piece.

MINOR ANNOYANCES, IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE

Off the track the Coopers are significantly stiffer than the stock Michelins we had on the FR-S. While this certainly helps in high-speed cornering, it was a noticeable, if minor annoyance on the road.

Confidence in the rain and wet conditions is, however, quite high, something that’s not common for UHP tires. Finally, tire noise was about the same as the stock Michelins, which isn’t bad at all.

Overall, we drove away impressed with Cooper’s Zeon RS3-S UHP tire. Not only did it make for a noticeably faster car, but in our test it retained the Scion’s carefully planned and extremely unique driving dynamics too.

Hatchbacks have a ton of versatility and use, and they’re also quite affordable, not to mention fuel efficient.

When it comes to the most affordable hatchback, there’s quite a few options out there. Unlike the Honda GEAR concept pictured above (which could preview a new affordable subcompact for the Japanese brand) all the cars on this list are easily attainable, and are competitively priced. Our top ten is seperated by a slim $4,000 margin from cheapest to most expensive. Check out the whole list, and see which cheap hatchback is the right choice for you!

“The car just comes alive with a nice set of tires.” Those are the words of Toyota VP Bob Carter, which were ringing in my ear after a chat I had with him at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Eager to test his theory I sourced a set of wheels and tires for my FR-S, and after a long winter, swapped out the winter setup. Those basic looking steel wheels, and the Vredestein winter tires that turned my little Scion into a mountain goat during the cold season are now safely in hibernation for the rest of the year.

The stock wheels aren’t particularly ugly, but they aren’t nearly as modern or aggressive as the car itself. Solving that are a set of AXIS Xplode rollers we picked up, which are available exclusively through Tire Rack. You can see AXIS’ great selection of wheels right here.

To be honest, I loved the design and black color but worried the blue spoke detailing would clash with my Ultramarine paint. Those fears subsided when the rims arrived at the office. And once mounted on my car, the color combo came together perfectly.

COOPER WHO?

As for the factory Michelin Primacy HP rubber, it’s not particularly impressive at all. The tires slip and slide in spectacular fashion, but when it comes to serious driving, they’re missing the all important element of grip.

Fortunately, I’m rectifying this problem with a set of ultra-high-performance summer tires from Cooper: the Zeon RS3-S.

True, Cooper might not carry the big-brand cachet of Pirelli, Michelin or Bridgestone, but that doesn’t mean they won’t stick. Cooper still has plenty of motorsport experience to look back on, including providing tires for a few Formula D drifting teams.

To see how big a difference just a set of tires can make we brought both the stock Michelin Primacy HP summers and the Cooper Zeon RS3-S UHP tires to the track. Looking to keep the variables consistent, they’re both sized 215/45R17. I even sourced a professional driver to add some lap times to my impressions.

At our usual AutoGuide test track I met touring car and time attack driver Dave Pratte. Dave showed me his method around the track, which is best described as buttery smooth and fast. His wizardry on the stock tires is certainly impressive, though after a long winter the “green” track with little in the way of laid-down rubber showed times that were about two seconds off past experiences with other FR-S and BRZ models, with a best time of 1:28.627.

Swapping out the factory equipment for my new Cooper/AXIS shoes it was my turn to take my newly dressed Scion on the track solo to see first-hand what the upgrade felt like.

Sure enough, they were sticky, in just the right way too. Every sense of the FR-S was heightened. Braking was noticeably better, acceleration out of corners was better with more front-end grip to point me in the direction I wanted and more rear-end grip to put the power down sooner. Steering response was also sharper than ever before.

My first few laps painted me impressed. An obvious improvement, I wanted to know how much.

I found Dave in the paddock and told him my thoughts on the new rubber. A few moments later, I was in the passenger seat again with Dave rocketing towards the first corner of the track. With a steely focus, he turned the car right into the apex, and sure enough, the car held on. This happened a few more times, and Dave seconded my thoughts of an improved car.

Under his smooth direction, we made up two solid seconds around the track with a best time of 1.26.607, though Dave indicated a faster lap would be possible with a bit more time.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Last year when we track tested the Scion FR-S and Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec, the Hyundai came out on top with the faster lap time by just over a second. We credited the tires for the result and indicated that for the price difference between the two cars a set of UHP tires could likely be fitted to the Scion to reverse the results. Now that appears to be exactly true, with a two second improvement putting the FR-S in the lead.

For the skeptical few, Dave fortunately had an AiM Solo data acquisition system which provided the information in handy graphs and charts. The chart showed that there was a noticeable improvement in grip through a tricky part of esses on the track, as well on the highest speed corner on the track, where the new tires allowed him to go flat out with confidence. In comparison, doing so on the stock tires would result in a drift and slide the off the racing line.

The data also proved that the tires helped in the braking zones before a few of the turns on the track, and that we were also able to accelerate sooner in the turns. Dave was also able to more effectively trail brake going into the corners, an advanced racing technique which helps get a faster time around the track.

BUT DOES IT STILL HANDLE LIKE AN FR-S?

For those worried that new sticky tires would diminish the tail-happy nature of the FR-S, have no fear. These Cooper Zeon RS3-S tires seemed perfectly at home on the Scion. There is still plenty of opportunity for tail out action, and the tires provide the same, if not more feedback to the driver as the stock Michelin Primacy HP tires. They screech at the limit, and break free progressively, allowing for easy recovery when the going gets hairy. It’s now my decision if I want to go fast, or go sideways.

Complaints? They’re few. My neck was stiff for two days from the g-forces. The stiff sidewall of the tires, making for sturdier cornering, also results in a rougher ride around town.

As for the wheels, the compliments keep pouring in, with the only critics claiming they’re too “glossy.” Or at least that’s what they did say before a track day’s worth of brake dust. On the track, spectators even commented that they glow blue a little bit.

Without a doubt, the VP of Toyota was dead on. The track proved him right, although I would have appreciated a little warning about the sore neck.

Toyota Europe has filed some renderings of the FT-86 Open Concept for patent application, revealing for the first time what the coupe will look like when the cloth top is closed.

The soft top roof mimics the coupe in shape, though it does give the car a different feel when it comes to style. These patent filings are strictly black and white, so color options for the roof are not yet known.

SEE ALSO: Subaru BRZ Convertible Info

The filing of these patents also points towards production for the Toyota GT86 convertible. Whether or not a drop-top version will transfer over to the Subaru BRZ or Scion FR-S in the U.S. is still unconfirmed, though it seems more likely for the Subie than the Scion due to cost. The BRZ sells at a price premium over the FR-S, and Subaru isn’t constrained by being a brand based around low-priced cars.

GALLERY: Toyota FT86 Open Patent Filings

[Source: Car & Driver]

Discuss this story at fr-sforum.com

Lets face it, two-doors cars are more fun and better looking than sedans. But you don’t have to break the bank to drive around in a stylish coupe.

We have a list of the top 10 most affordable two-doors, starting at just under $26,000. We had to draw the line and not include any hatchbacks, like the Scion tC or Fiat 500. Still, you’ll find plenty of big and small coupes in this list, each providing great looks or driving dynamics.

Scion could be considering a change in its brand direction in an effort to reinvigorate sales and seek new customers.

Where would that change go? Farther market to the burgeoning entry-level luxury segment — something the German brands are already starting to milk. It’s a conversation that originally started with the brand’s birth: to aim Scion vehicles at budget-savers from Korea or the low end of the luxury market.

“We were torn at what direction to go,” Toyota’s North American CEO, Jim Lentz said to Automotive News. “We could go any of those directions.”

SEE ALSO: Toyota FT-86 Open Concept Previews Scion FR-S Convertible

The FR-S took Scion to a more expensive level, and there’s more potential for that to grow with the Toyota-badged convertible version of the car shown last month in Geneva. But bringing the convertible over to Scion would mean a price increase creeping into the high 20,000 range.

When Scion launched, budget vehicles were available for around $13,000. While there are still cars priced at that level, Lentz said the market is moving up. ”Today it’s hard to find much value below $18,000 to $20,000. There’s going to be a big need in the $25,000 range for a fun-to-drive, nice-looking, value-oriented product.”

While it isn’t clear yet if moving to a more expensive model range will really help Scion, the flexibility is there. A rear-wheel drive vehicle could easily spawn from the FR-S while less expensive front-wheel drive cars to compete with Mercedes’ new CLA would also be easy for the brand to cobble together.

[Source: Automotive News]

Discuss this story at FR-SForum.com

Scion loves to celebrate anniversaries, and for the upcoming one-year milestone of its FR-S sportscar, the brand made some interesting changes that will make the RWD drift machine really stand out in a crowd.

While disappointingly, the 2014 doesn’t feature performance features, it is still packed with some nice touches, such as LED headlights, push button start and dual-zone automatic climate control. Those features are also available in the Subaru BRZ, so in order to differentiate, Scion made its special edition model in an exclusive Ignition Silver paint scheme. The FR-S also gets glowing badges, and a solar-powered illuminated shift knob.

SEE ALSO: Scion FR-S “10 Series” Gets Grown-up Features

Take a look at the new special edition FR-S in the video below.

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GALLERY: 2014 Scion FR-S Series 10

Discuss this story at FR-SForums.com

To celebrate a decade in business Scion introduced new special edition 10 Series models of all of its vehicles today at the New York Auto Show, including a Scion FR-S 10 Series.

Offering some of the more grown-up goodies already available on its sister car (the Subaru BRZ) the 10 Series FR-S gains dual automatic climate control, keyless access with a push button ignition and HID headlights with LED daytime running lights.

Complete 2013 NY Auto Show Coverage

Other Scion-esque goodies include a glowing blue Scion badge as well as a solar-powered illuminated shift knob and silver seat belts. All 10 Series models will come painted in a high-quality Silver Ignition paint.

In addition to those add-ons, all 10 Series models (xB, iQ and xD) will gain unique graphite colored wheels. Plus, when the driver enters the car, the Scion name will be projected onto the dash before fading to reveal a number 10.

In total, just 10,000 10 Series models will be produced and will go on sale in June.

GALLERY: Scion FR-S 10 Series

GALLERY: Scion 10 Series Vehicles

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Scion’s tC is a bit of a bore next to the FR-S, but the brand is aiming to inject a little more excitement into its front-wheel drive three-door car. 

Despite that, the 2.5-liter four cylinder engine remains unchanged with 179 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed manual remains in place, but the automatic with as many gears has been improved with shift times twice as fast as before. It also borrows rev management technology from the FR-S to blip the throttle before a downshift.

Apart from that, there aren’t any major mechanical changes, but Scion says the handling will improve thanks to modified sway bar, tweaked shock absorbers and extra spot welds for a stiffer body.

2013 NEW YORK AUTO SHOW COMPLETE COVERAGE 

While modifications to the body aren’t drastic in terms of overall shape, its front fascia looks much meaner than before. Sharp angled pieces protrude into the headlights to give a look akin to the new Lexus IS while a gaping grille seems influenced by Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo. The fog light bezels are als revised with a more vertical shape sitting in front of the new 18-inch wheels.

The cabin also gets a series of enhancements including a 6.1-inch touchscreen — something that will be standard in all 2014 model year Scions. A “BeSpoke” premium audio system is also optional and comes with navigation as part of the package along with Aha internet radio.

GALLERY: 2014 Scion tC

GALLERY: 2014 Scion tC Live

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