Five years of Scion

Wow -- it's amazing to me that Scion has already been around for five years. It seems like just yesterday that I was lusting after the bbX concept, hoping that the JDM Toyota bB would come over to the U.S. Low and behold, it came, and I bought one after seeing an xB at the Chicago Auto Show.

I giveToyota a lot of credit for taking a risk with the Scion brand, the xA and xB in particular, as there were few other subcompacts on the U.S. market at the time, sans the Aveo, Accent, and Mini. The xA and xB were, in my opinion, partially responsable for making subcompacts into something other than just "economy cars."

I miss my xB sometimes (pictured above; overall it was a great vehicle. Now if they'd just bring over the new JDM bB! (Hey, it worked the first time, let's try it again, Toyota!)

To mark Scion's 5th year in the U.S., below are a couple of links to my favorite Scion-related Web sites.

LINK
Scionlife.com
Clubxb.com
Scion.com

The Great Toyota Cut-And-Paste: The Great Wall Florid

Chinese autocopier ... er ... automaker Great Wall showed yet another vehicle that not only knocks off one vehicle, but two (actually more than two). The Florid (I think they forgot the "a" at the end), has a front end similar to a Toyota Yaris, and a rear end that looks like a Scion xA. On top of that, the vehicle has headlights that mimic the JDM Toyota Ractis. Talk about killing 2-3 birds with one stone. It's supposed to be released this year according to Automotive News.



You can check out Great Wall Motors' Web site at www.gwm.com.cn/eng. Be sure to click on the "models" page, and check out the "Hover." Who wouldn't want that?

Scion in a slump?

A recently released Autoweek article entitled "Scion hits a wall", states that 2007 Scion sales fell almost 25%. The article talks about various reasons why. However, none of them mention the possibility of the now portly xB and new xD sedans simply being unappealing to consumers.

As you may know (assuming anyone is reading this), that the second-gen xB gained a staggering 600 lbs. in its redesign. It also went from 1.5 liters to 2.4 liters and went from an EPA rating of 27/32 to 22/28, respectively. These changes were apparently what customers wanted "fixed" according to Farlon Smith, general manager of Beechmont Toyota-Scion in Cincinnati.

However, with the lower sales, one has to wonder, is it simply that people liked the smaller subcompact 2004-2006 xB and xA more than the new, larger and more powerful xB and funky-styled xD?

A visit to Scion enthusiast sites such as Scionlife.com or ClubxB.com will yield many a polarized owner. It seems many people resent Scion for getting rid of the original xB for the new xB. Many (including myself), wish the replacement for the old xB would've been the new Toyota bB from Japan (see below), which more closely follows the first-generation Scion xB's shape. In fact, the first xB in the U.S. was essentially the same car as Japan's bB.
However, due to the complaints of the xB being too small, we get the bloated xB.

The xD (see below), is a new design to replace the xA, which I also liked. The xD isn't so bad. However, I'm not 100% sold on the design, and I think that many others feel the same way. At least it's fuel economy is better. It is certainly smaller than the new xB, and is based on the Yaris' chassis.


When it comes down to brass tacks, I'm simply speculating on the idea that one of the reason's Scion is in sales slump is due to it's currently unappealing lineup. I don't work for Toyota, so I really don't know. However, I can tell you this: I bought a Yaris to replace my 1st-gen xB, and it seems many other car shoppers are opting for the smaller, more fuel-efficient Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and the Korean makes, too rather than the Scion brand. Perhaps that new bB isn't looking so bad after all, eh Scion?