Scion unveils rally-bound 2013 xD

Jan 26, 2013, 4:03pm ET

The xD will compete in the 2013 Rally America National Championship.

Toyota's Scion division has revealed the race-bound xD that will compete in all seven events of the 2013 Rally America National Championship.

An evolution of last year's race car, the 2013 xD gains minor exterior modifications such as two rows of LED lights up front and a slightly different livery.

The big changes are found by looking under the car. Engineers have fitted the xD with a new suspension setup that makes the hatchback more responsive to drive over rough terrain while giving it considerably more ground clearance than its regular-production counterpart.

Scion says that the engine's power output has been raised but precise details are not available. All that is known is that the rally car is powered by a turbocharged version of the xD's 1.8-liter four-cylinder mill.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a new-for-2013 dog engagement transmission which has straight-cut gears instead of helical gears, reducing wear and friction inside the gearbox.

The race-bound xD is scheduled to make its competition debut at the Sno*Drift Rally that is taking place this weekend in Atlanta, Michigan. It will be driven by Andrew Comrie-Picard, a Canadian pilot that finished second overall in the two-wheel drive category of last year's season.