The Rally America National Championship has long been a series dominated by the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The Impreza’s run was unceremoniously stopped last year by the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, setting the stage for a highly competitive 2011 season. One car that’s looking to gate crash the proceedings made its debut at the 2010 SEMA Auto Show courtesy of 0-60 Magazine.
The popular auto mag unveiled the Scion xD Tarmac rally car that’s expected to make its rally debut at the 2011 RANC. This isn't the first time 0-60 went to SEMA with their own custom-built Scion->ke79 rally prototype, having done the same thing last year. This time around, the car will be driven by Christopher Duplessis, who, incidentally, is the brother of Forest Duplessis, DirtFish Rally School’s chief instructor.
Judging from the looks and specs of the xD Tarmac, it looks like 0-60 Magazine did a splendid job turning this car into a full-fledged rally contender that’s poised to get down and dirty with the Imprezas and Evolution X’s of the Rally America National Championshp. Whether it’s overall build will translate to success on the dirt road remains to be seen. That’s something that we’re going to have to stick around and pay close attention to when the season officially opens later this year.
2011 Scion xD Tarmac by 0-60 Magazine
- Make: Array
- Model: 2011 Scion xD Tarmac by 0-60 Magazine
- Engine/Motor: 1.8 L four-cylinder engine with dual Variable Valve Timing
- Horsepower: 128 horsepower
- [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Exterior and Interior
Design Fabrication put in a number of additions on the Scion xD, including Lexan windows, front fender aerodynamics, rear bumper aerodynamics, a custom front carbon hood, a custom rear carbon hatch, and custom headers. There’s also a new front lip spoiler with five axis models, an APR performance wing, a custom carbon GT airfoil, a Vermont Sports Car Carbon Light Pod, PIAA high-intensity lights and bulbs, paint and body by Balistek Autobody, and graphics courtesy of S and A Designs.
In the interior, we can find a race-spec race cage, a suede dashboard, Pro ADV and S2000 racing seats, and a rally steering wheel with quick release hub seat belts and harnesses.
Performance
In order to upgrade the Scion xB and turn into a fully-fledged rally car, 0-60 Magazine gave it a Quaife and ATB Helical LSD Differential, a GReddy performance exhaust system, and a Motul lubricants in the form of motor oils, brake fluids, transmission fluid, LSD fluid, and cleaning materials.
Pricing
The Scion xD Tarmac rally car is expected to be armed and race-ready by the time the 2011 Rally America National Championship hits the ground running. No word on how much the car’s going to cost, though.
Competition
Its entry to the 2011 Rally America National Championship will see the 0-60 Magazine-built Scion xD Tarmac compete against a number of vehicles, the likes of which include rally-spec versions of the dominating Subaru Impreza WRX STI and the defending champion Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
