Section: Scion
Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 25th, 2008 4:00 PM
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Automotive industry indexer J.D. Power has published some sales figures for Scion that back up recent news that Toyota’s youth brand may be loosing a bit of traction.
Scion has added numbers to the Toyota sales behemoth for the last five years, but recently those sales have started to flag. The sub-brand saw sales grow from 10,898 units in 2003, to as high as 173,034 in 2006. But last year deliveries of Scion products fell to one-fourth to 130,181 units.
(Click through the jump to read more or check out Scion’s newest stab at renewal, the Hako concept.)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 20th, 2008 10:00 AM
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Scion has pulled the sheet off of its newest concept car, the stunningly orange Hako Coupe. The automaker isn’t pulling any punches with the hyperbole surrounding the concept’s radical styling either, describing it at one point as “The sporty version of a box.”
That box was inspired by Scion’s own “iconic” xB, as well as drawing from the youth cultures of both the U.S. and Japan. In this case “youth” seems to translate into lurid colors, a chopped profile, and a darkly smoked glass house. There’s also a “gaming theme” in the orange driver’s seat, which entails a joystick inspired shift lever, and a track-ball mounted on the steering wheel to navigate the Scion’s entertainment system.
Check out the racy concept in our live and stock image galleries below, or click through the jump to read the official Scion press release.
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Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
March 7th, 2008 4:00 PM
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So, you’ve got your Scion xB tricked out. It’s almost as tricked as you could ever want it. Except, you don’t have replica BMW M3 shift paddles. Well, now you can complete your quest.
These Cosmo Dynamic faux paddles are fitted for the Toyota Yaris, Scion xB, and Scion tC. They are made from high-quality aircraft aluminum. Keep in mind, these paddles don’t actually give you the BMW M3’s SMG Drivelogic six-speed manual tranny. You’d actually have to buy an M3 for that – they only provide the look.
Hurry, the Buy It Now price is only $9.99.
+ eBay: M3 SMG LOOK SHIFT PADDLE FIT TOYOTA YARIS SCION XB TC
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
March 6th, 2008 9:30 AM
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Toyota announced it will unveil an all-new Scion concept at this month’s New York Auto Show, the Hako Coupe Concept. The concept – which Toyota says is the “sporty” interpretation of the box – was designed by the company’s Tokyo Design Division.
We’re not really sure what to expect on this one. It may be similar to the Fuse concept Toyota brought to New York two years ago, but it may be something completely different. We’ll know in two weeks. Until then, enjoy this teaser pic.
(Press release after the jump)
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Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 4th, 2008 9:00 AM
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Toyota conceived of its Scion brand as a way to capture the youth market and build tomorrow’s base of Toyota customers. While that plan had worked quite well for the first few years, and models, the automaker has faced a sobering loss of sales in the last year or more.
While Scion was able to hit monthly sales numbers of 15,000 and 20,000 on a regular basis during the early years of its existence, the figures over the recent past have fallen off. In fact, the year-on-year sales for the brand have dropped for 16 straight months. Scion recorded a low of just 7,782 units shifted in January of 2007.
(Click through the jump to read on.)
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Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
January 19th, 2008 8:30 AM
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Toyota has confirmed that they will be unveiling a new Scion concept in March at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.
They also confirmed with Edmund’s Inside Line that they will be making no debuts at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show – including Scion and Lexus. The NY Auto Show has seen much of the Scion debuts in the past, such as the 2006 Scion Fuse concept (seen above).
+ Edmund’s Inside Line: 2008 New York Show Preview: Scion Concept Bound for Big Apple
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Written By: Steven J. Ewing
January 14th, 2008 2:39 PM
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Toyota’s Scion xB was completely redone for 2008, boasting more power, larger dimensions, and a love-it-or-hate-it appearance. (Typical Scion.) The last-generation xB was offered in a limited-run Release Series 3.0, easily recognizable by its lime green exterior color.
Scion debuted its xB Release Series 5.0 at the North American International Auto Show this week, featuring a Gold Rush Mica paint job, KenStyle body kit, body-colored rear spoiler, updated wheel covers, and a power moonroof—a new feature to the xB. Body-colored interior accents have been added, as well as gold stitching in the seats. Expect to pay just above $18,000 for a manual-equipped xB 5.0. Only 2500 of the oddly-colored xBs will be built, so get your orders in now.
For more information, click through the jump to read Scion’s press release. Click the images below to open a high-resolution gallery.
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Written By: Evan McCausland
December 17th, 2007 1:00 PM
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Although we knew Scion’s xB had some aviation heritage (it’s Japanese-market name being bB, or “black box”), this particular 2008 example soars to new heights.
(Click through to see more on the seaplane-themed Scion)
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Written By: Steven J. Ewing
November 1st, 2007 8:00 AM
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Oh, Scion. As if outfitting an xD with a functional crane game wasn’t enough for this year’s SEMA show, Scion announced a new partnership with Ridemakerz this afternoon. Ridemakerz, for those of you in the dark, is a company that allows people of all ages to build and customize their own model cars online or in one of the two retail stores found in the U.S.
“Scion is iconic for the ways in which our customers make customization happen, and we and Ridemakerz both look at cars as canvases for self-expression,” says Scion national marketing and communications manager, Lisa Materazzo. Scion has produced three “canvases” based on the 2008 xB which Ridemakerz customers can outfit any way they want them. The overall goal of this partnership is to bring Scion into what executives call the “generation-Z” market, being kids in their early teens. Scion hopes that by putting their brand out in a more accessible and customizable manner for the younger generation, these kids will aspire to own a Scion of their own in the future.
At the lunch conference, the WINDING ROAD team was able to start with a “blank canvas” xB and customize it through the entire Ridemakerz process. It starts by choosing a body style, adding a chassis, selecting wheels and tires, adding custom exhaust or lights, and finally ends with an array of decals that can be added on to the car. We found the overall experience to be quite entertaining, and we are told that there are more than 649 million different combinations for putting these model cars together.
Click through the jump to read Scion’s official press release and click the photos below for a first-hand look at our experience with the Ridemakerz customization system.
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Written By: Steven J. Ewing
October 30th, 2007 4:37 PM
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What would the SEMA show be without a strong representation from Scion? After all, the trio of Toyotas are some of the most customized vehicles running around the streets of the United States.
One feature that caught our eye was the fully-functional crane game worked into the back of a 2008 xD. The rear quarters of the diminutive five-door had been molded into a bay filled with small Scion plush toys. The skilled hand-eye coordination of the WINDING ROAD team allowed us to walk away with a yellow plush xB which will surely find a welcome home amongst the other automobile paraphernalia in our Ann Arbor offices.
(Be sure to click the images below to open a high-resolution gallery from the Scion crane game.)
+ WINDING ROAD: 2008 Scion xD Road Test
Written By: Peter Nunn
August 1st, 2007 4:32 PM
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Toyota has absolutely no plans to launch a Scion-type youth division in Japan – yet. Nonetheless, Toyota is now ready to roll with this fully redesigned ist, a compact urban crossover aimed at Japan’s very own brand of Gen Y fashionistas.
Yes, this is the Japanese-speaking version of America’s 2008 Scion xD. The quaintly (some would bizarrely) named ist gets a different front-end to the Scion. It also gets right-hand-drive steering and choice of both 1.5-liter (109 brake horsepower) and 1.8-liter (132 bhp) engines and optional all-wheel drive. Regardless of these differences, its mission to rev up the bottom end of the market is pretty much the same.
Taking an exchange rate of ¥118 to the dollar, the ist hits the road for $14,059-$16,907 in Tokyo and true to form, there’s already a factory-penned Modellista alternative version for those who like their ist looking a tad more funky and aggressive.
Will it fly? In Japan, the decision to shift the car upmarket and widen it (versus the 2002 original and Scion xA) may prove controversial, but of course, all that’s tied in with the perceived needs and wants of the U.S. market. (Toyota believed the first car was too small).
Sales ambitions are modest – just 2000 units per month – so consider this very much a niche player for the mighty Toyota machine. But as a package, is it cooler than the Scion? What do you think? Have your say in ‘Comments.’
(Click on the thumbnails below to launch a small gallery)
Written By: Chris Paukert
June 23rd, 2007 10:50 AM
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Richard Blackburn of the Sydney Morning Herald has picked up on what he believes is the start of a major trend in automotive design: Boring is the new sexy. How’s that? The writer maintains that many cars are set to undergo a drastic bland initiative. He sees young buyers as being turned off to the sleek and sporty, and expects for these youthful consumers’ love of electronics to influence the design of their rides.
Blackburn quotes Nissan designer Stephane Schwarz as saying: “Personally, I don’t believe in delivering just dynamic shapes and horsepower. These cars will always exist because we all love to have a go at sporty cars on a winding road. This will survive but next to it we will have lots of products on wheels.”
By “products on wheels,” Blackburn believes Schwarz is foretelling the coming of more utilitarian vehicles like the Nissan Cube. Here in the States, other examples would include the Honda Element and Scion xB.
Editor’s Note: Many of the Scion xB and Honda Element owners we’ve talked to prize their vehicles’ nonconformist aesthetic even more than the utility such shapes offer. We can’t help but wonder if the whole “product on wheels” trend will ebb once cubism (and utilitarianism) becomes a common design tool. That is, once every automaker is marketing a practical box car, will their uniqueness be compromised to the point that their sales go away?
What do you think… is sexy sheetmetal passé? Are the next generation of consumers really disinterested in sporting machinery? Do young consumers really view cars as “products” and not objects of passion? Have your say in “Comments.”
+ Drive.com.au: Coming soon: Bland Motors Inc.
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