Toyota Putting the Brakes on Scion?

 

 Toyota Regroups

I can't recall exactly where I read this but I recall seeing somewhere that Toyota was backing off of Scion new development and feels that the brand has begun to occupy the same market space as Toyota vehicles. This is the reason, so the logic goes, that Scion is not seeing any new vehicles being developed in the next few years and Toyota dealers are supposedly not being penalized if they choose to drop Scion.

What is the Truth?

Is there any truth to this? Is Toyota about to make the same kind of monumental mistake that Honda did when it try to re-brand Acura and killed the Legend, Vigor and Integra? I certainly hope not but all signs point to yes as Toyota struggles to re-invigorate itself at the expense of one of the coolest marque to come out of Japan in decades.

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A Scion Truck - Is It Possible?

A Scion Truck - Is It Possible?

There has been a lot of talk recently about whether Scion will ever be producing a new truck. According to one poster on Scion Life forums who works at a dealership, he was told by his boss that Scion would be releasing a pickup called the XP for 2014. Still, a quick search under the word brought up only xB conversion kits.

A Pickup Truck by Scion

According to one site I found, however, there is such a vehicle in development. The sit reads as follows:

The original project was started by Toyota four years ago when it first revealed the A-BAT Conceptor Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck, a unibody compact pickup that was powered by a Prius-like hybrid powertrain. ... A unibody “truck” that is designed more as a lifestyle vehicle...and could [italics mine] also be rebadged as a Toyota model and sold overseas. With Toyota currently offering both a 4-cylinder and a V6 in the RAV4, this might also make way for Scion’s first-ever six-cylinder model. Like other Scion vehicles, an A-BAT pickup would be powered by a conventional gasoline engine, but Toyota could also receive a version with a gas-electric hybrid powertrain to sell under its Prius line of vehicles.

So, it appears to be the real deal and is not simply a rebadged Toyo but an actual Scion model. I suppose only time will tell but it is an exciting turn of events for the brand.

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Scion - An Incredibly Brief History

Born from Toyota, Made for the Youth

Scion, as everyone knows, was a marque devised by the wildly successful Japanese automaker Toyota in order to capture the hearts, minds and checkbooks of today's youth. And, by every indication, they have succeeded. So it was that in 2002 Scion was born and has been producing heavy hitting, tuner-minded vehicles ever since.

New Models and Pure Prices

The first models fielded by Scion were the xB and tC (both originally conceived under much less attractive names such as the bbX and the ccX) and were soon follwed by the xA and the xD. Perhhaps one of Scions biggest marketing advantages is the "Pure Price" program which gives buyers the total price (includng title, tax and insurance) upfront so they can make a quick buying decision. In additon, the trim levels are incredibly customizable making each Scion a completely personalized car.

Onward and Upward

As Scion passed its first decade things were looking up for the company and they continue to put out amazingly well-designed and dependable vehicles. In fact, in some cities such as Chicago most of the taxi cab fleets are made up of dependable xBs with incredible carrying capacity and great MPG.

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Woodgrain Dash Kits in a Scion?

Woodgrain Dash Kits in a Scion?

Yes, it may sound strange at first but a wood grain dash kit CAN work in a Scion--you just have to be a creative thinker. Yes, I know the new FR-S is all about satin silver and matte blacks but just think of it in a Honey Burlwood or Japanese Cherry wood grain.

How to Make It Work

The most important thing is to consider when attempting use use a wood grain dash kit from Rvinyl in any tuner car but especially in something like the Scion FR-S (aka Toyota GT86) is that you want to go as far as possible from the color scheme in the vehicle at hand. In other words, no Ebony and no Blackwood. You will want to go with the loudest, most obviously wood grained dash kit you can find.

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The Scion FR-S Custom Dash Kit

Rvinyl to Release the 2013 Scion FR-S Custom Dash Kit

Scion Dash Kits are designed for DIY Dash Kit installation, if you can apply a decal you can install a Rdash auto trim kit.  Scion Dash Kits apply just like a "skin" or decal to the interior dash panels of your  Scion's trim. Designed to accent the interior of your Scion's OEM dash parts, our kits are the least expensive dash kits available in popular finishes such as red, blue yellow, carbon fiber, aluminum and even exotic wood grains. Customize your Scion with this DIY auto accessory.

When the Scion FR-S was first announced, gearheads globally had to sit down and hide their excitement beneath a cushion. Toyota would certainly go back to the RWD performance car scene by having an affordable, enjoyment vehicle -- similar to the MR2 had been previous to it started performing a frog impression.

Toyo would hook up with Subaru for making the final mix off Japanese fun. Subaru would donate the Boxer engine and Toyota the RWD know-how. Together they'd rule the whole world. The combination will give both firms a product to be proud of -- Subaru, with the BRZ, would enter the RWD market; Toyota would be back on point. Today we'll be concentrating on the Toyota.
Toyota gets back in the game with the FR-S

It's a looker, no doubt. It looks like a real sports car should: vaguely phallic, with a hint of approachability. You do not look at it and immediately assume a tosser supports the keys. Inside it's all performance car: lots of racy fonts, tactile plastics, sculpted seats up front, and chairs only really suitable for weeble-wobbles and shopping in the back. It's aesthetically pleasant and doesn't appear to be it'll date too badly. The rimless rearview mirror is quite cool, too.


To drive, it was certainly worth all the excitement. Its 2.0-litre Boxer engine pumps out a relatively meagre 197 bhp, but that's enough to get you going at a fair lick. You can also easily have fun with the back end if you're that way inclined.


Bends are no problem for the GT 86 -- its chassis is perfectly suited to being flung into a bend and keeping you there. You'll be flattered by its handling, charmed at times. It feels light, nimble, quick...and many other words that can be translated to "awesome."
What's all the fuss about? Toyota's brought the sports car back, that's what. And it's better than ever.