The RSC combines a sporty two-plus-two car body with four-wheel drive hardware and styling cues that result in a fresh variation on "rugged vehicle" thinking. The fuselage body design combines muscular wheel flares with edgy mechanical forms that communicates a built-for-abuse durability. The look is assembled or constructed, rather than organic.
The interior of the RSC was designed to convey the sparse, functional simplicity of a race car. The look and feel suggests the notion that serious work takes place in this cockpit and that weight savings and accessibility take precedent over amenities.
The instrument panel has a sophisticated, hand-crafted appearance: built in a race shop, rather than an assembly line. The large metal face-plate with round inset instrumentation communicates precision and ruggedness. The high-mounted sequential shifter is proposed, based on rally-car influence, as are the GPS monitor and lightweight carbon-fiber-backed racing seats with full harness restraints.
With the unveiling of the RSC at the Chicago Show, and the world premiere of the all-new Matrix last month in Detroit, Toyota's commitment to young new-car buyers is more apparent than ever. Much of the same thinking that went into the development and design of the Matrix went into the development of the RSC. Both vehicles were designed at CALTY. Both were developed to push the hot-buttons of young buyers by combining high performance, high image and high utility...with affordable pricing.