Our man Damon Lavrinc is at the media introduction of the 2012 Scion iQ, and he reports that the diminutive hatchback will be priced from $15,995 (including destination charges) when it hits U.S. showrooms. Scion now says the iQ’s U.S. launch, which has been postponed on numerous occasions due to various issues including the March 11 quake in Japan, is set for this fall. Officials say the microcar will actually be launched in four phases, with the West Coast getting the iQ in October, followed by southern states in January, then the East Coast and, finally, the Midwest.

In typical Scion fashion, word is that base models are well equipped and there are few options. The base stereo includes Pandora integration, and an uplevel model will be available with navigation. As with all Scions, loads of accessories (i.e. springs, body kits and wheels) will be available for the iQ.

For comparison, the iQ’s $15,995 price tag means that it’s slightly more expensive than both the $15,500 Fiat 500 and the $14,730 Mazda2, both of which off significantly greater utility. There’s still no word on EPA mileage estimates for the iQ.

Nothing says “I wanna go fast” like a big red button with “Engine Start” printed on it. It’s a law of science: if a vehicle features a red start button, it goes like a scalded cat. With that in mind, the 2012 Scion tC Series 7.0, which Scion hopes will attract Monster Energy swillers away from souped-up Honda Civic coupes, features just such a button (but no powertrain upgrades to back it up). It’s also got a bone-obliterating stereo and body-color interior accents.

Outside, you get gloss black 17-inch wheels, and a special, Series 7.0-only yellow-orange paint scheme. And how about an endorsement from the ruler of Mount Olympus himself? Hop the jump for the bolt thrower’s take on the new tC.

According to Automotive News, Scion is in the midst of rethinking its company strategy to help pull theToyota offshoot out of its current sales slump. Originally, the automaker’s executives envisioned a brand with quick product cycles that promised to keep its hardware fresh and interesting.

Unfortunately, that whole recession thing happened. Scion has since stretched its refresh cycle to save on cash, but it sounds like the brand also has plans to attempt to appeal to an audience outside of its current demographic. Apparently, Scion may even probe into the death metal scene to rummage up buyers.

The Japanese brand originally marketed heavily to the alternative and hip hop music base, but other brands have since caught on to the strategy. That helped to turn those genres more mainstream, so Scion is headed back out to the fringe.

In addition, buyers can expect to see two new models in Scion showrooms soon, including the $20,000-plus model based on the FR-S Coupe Concept and the iQ minicar. Somehow, we have a hard time picturing death metal junkies driving around in customized iQs, but what do we know?

Concurrent with its debut at the New York Auto Show, Toyota has released two videos (one long, one short) of the Scion FR-S Concept. While neither of them show the “friggin’ really sweet” Scion in motion, you do get a tantalizing glance at the promised front-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe’s spectacular Lexus LF-A-aping curves.

In true car porn fashion, there’s no curve left unexplored, and there’s more than one longing look at the concept’s lewd 20-inch centerlock wheels and massive 18-inch carbon ceramic brake rotors. There’s no indication how much of this will actually make production, but we can almost guarantee Toyota will have ditched the 18-inch brakes by the time the 2.0-liter four cylinder-powered FR-S goes on sale, whenever that is. Check out both videos after the jump.

Historians William Strauss and Neil Howe are known for their theory that America goes through a repeating cycle of four periods: a High, an Awakening, an Unraveling and a Crisis. Depending on who you believe, we could be in an Unraveling period about to fall headlong into a major crisis, which our two historians call the Fourth Turning. But if we persevere and turn the corner, we’ll find ourselves back in High times once again.

We reckon the Scion brand is in about the same spot. It hasn’t had much positive to report lately, so the redesigned 2011 Scion tC gives the brand something to talk about while it works out how to improve on its initially strong showing in the U.S. Does the new tC portend a return to High times for Scion, or is it leading a parade lap right into the Fourth Turning?