Scion hints at xB's big brother
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Scion hints at xB's big brother
Scion hints at xB's big brother
By Mark Rechtin
Automotive News / March 28, 2005
http://www.autonews.com/article.cms?articleId=52374
RPM
By Mark Rechtin
Automotive News / March 28, 2005
Originally Posted by Automotive News
NEW YORK -- Toyota's Scion youth brand unveiled three concepts for future products: a possible heir to the xB and scale models of a minitruck and three-door fastback.
While officials cautioned that the possible xB heir, the t2B, was an exploratory design study, Scion Vice President Jim Farley said: "If we wanted to, we could make this. The question is how we can make sure it's affordable, $15,000 or $16,000."
All three vehicles are sized to fit on Toyota's Avensis platform, which also spawned the Scion tC coupe.
The t2B - which stands for "Tall Two-Box" - has an engine bay sized to fit the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine used by the tC and Toyota Camry.
In creating the t2B, Scion made a vehicle that could be the xB's bigger brother. But Farley noted that bigger may not necessarily be better.
"One reason we've sold the xB so well is because of its compact overall length," he said. "It gives you a real parking advantage, and it's small outside but big inside. If we make it big outside, do we lose that surprise when you get inside?"
Scion plans to show the t2B to owner groups at car-club meetings around the country. Some meetings are attended by more than 1,000 owners, Farley said.
While officials cautioned that the possible xB heir, the t2B, was an exploratory design study, Scion Vice President Jim Farley said: "If we wanted to, we could make this. The question is how we can make sure it's affordable, $15,000 or $16,000."
All three vehicles are sized to fit on Toyota's Avensis platform, which also spawned the Scion tC coupe.
The t2B - which stands for "Tall Two-Box" - has an engine bay sized to fit the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine used by the tC and Toyota Camry.
In creating the t2B, Scion made a vehicle that could be the xB's bigger brother. But Farley noted that bigger may not necessarily be better.
"One reason we've sold the xB so well is because of its compact overall length," he said. "It gives you a real parking advantage, and it's small outside but big inside. If we make it big outside, do we lose that surprise when you get inside?"
Scion plans to show the t2B to owner groups at car-club meetings around the country. Some meetings are attended by more than 1,000 owners, Farley said.
RPM
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What's this about? I am seeing somewhat the same thing here:https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53598
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Originally Posted by VanillaRice
What's this about? I am seeing somewhat the same thing here:https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53598
This post is about how Farley's new follow-up comments affect xB owners and the future of the xB. That's why I placed this news story in xB General Discussion instead of Concept Vehicles.
Thanks. RPM
Got it. Sorry!
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Sigh...
If the goal then becomes to make it fit the 16 - 17k range, I think it will become less impressive.
For as much as I like my box, I spend a lot of time planning out a revamping of the interior. Not to mention how peeved the quality of the ride makes me.
While I don't want the T2B to be luxury car range, I really don't want more hollow plastic interiors and Cali-lo-lo like riding when I hit bumps in the road.
Oh well.
For as much as I like my box, I spend a lot of time planning out a revamping of the interior. Not to mention how peeved the quality of the ride makes me.
While I don't want the T2B to be luxury car range, I really don't want more hollow plastic interiors and Cali-lo-lo like riding when I hit bumps in the road.
Oh well.
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Re: Sigh...
Originally Posted by Yng_Lrd
If the goal then becomes to make it fit the 16 - 17k range, I think it will become less impressive.
For as much as I like my box, I spend a lot of time planning out a revamping of the interior. Not to mention how peeved the quality of the ride makes me.
While I don't want the T2B to be luxury car range, I really don't want more hollow plastic interiors and Cali-lo-lo like riding when I hit bumps in the road.
Oh well.
For as much as I like my box, I spend a lot of time planning out a revamping of the interior. Not to mention how peeved the quality of the ride makes me.
While I don't want the T2B to be luxury car range, I really don't want more hollow plastic interiors and Cali-lo-lo like riding when I hit bumps in the road.
Oh well.
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Exactly.
If they make it bigger and heavier and more expensive they will be moving it upmarket where it will have to compete with a lot of other cars.
At the $14,000 price point there is nothing remotely like an xB and it can't be touched for value.
I just hope all the whining from people who expect $20,000 car NVH isolation and power and features in a $14k car doesn't get to Scion and get them to price these cars out of their market. It would be a real shame.
If I wanted an xB that weighed 3000 lbs and had 160 hp for $17k, I'd buy a Honda Element or something.
If you don't like economy cars, don't buy one.
The stiff low-rider suspension you're griping about is what makes the car handle so well stock. You can put some Echo springs on if you don't like it and it will soften right up. Promise.
Leave our Scions alone. I think the tC is attracting the wrong kind of people to Scion. Spoiled rich kids and the like, who want a Lexus for $20k. Go buy an RSX and leave Scion to the enthusiasts who want edgy JDM style mini-cars.
Maybe I'm mistaken, I though that is what Scion was going to be about. Different than Toyota was supposed to be the idea, was it not?
If they make it bigger and heavier and more expensive they will be moving it upmarket where it will have to compete with a lot of other cars.
At the $14,000 price point there is nothing remotely like an xB and it can't be touched for value.
I just hope all the whining from people who expect $20,000 car NVH isolation and power and features in a $14k car doesn't get to Scion and get them to price these cars out of their market. It would be a real shame.
If I wanted an xB that weighed 3000 lbs and had 160 hp for $17k, I'd buy a Honda Element or something.
If you don't like economy cars, don't buy one.
The stiff low-rider suspension you're griping about is what makes the car handle so well stock. You can put some Echo springs on if you don't like it and it will soften right up. Promise.
Leave our Scions alone. I think the tC is attracting the wrong kind of people to Scion. Spoiled rich kids and the like, who want a Lexus for $20k. Go buy an RSX and leave Scion to the enthusiasts who want edgy JDM style mini-cars.
Maybe I'm mistaken, I though that is what Scion was going to be about. Different than Toyota was supposed to be the idea, was it not?
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Correct on EVERY point, Rion.
I got an xB 'cause I *wanted* a Tokyo 'city car' - a genuine 'econo-box'...
The t2B could easily be the upscale Toyota marque vehicle for folks to move to when they finally want to step up from the xB, but it is certainly NOT an xB substitute... And, of course, some of us may not WANT to move up. :D
I got an xB 'cause I *wanted* a Tokyo 'city car' - a genuine 'econo-box'...
The t2B could easily be the upscale Toyota marque vehicle for folks to move to when they finally want to step up from the xB, but it is certainly NOT an xB substitute... And, of course, some of us may not WANT to move up. :D
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I could move up, so to speak...(I'm moving on up, to the east side, to that great big t2B in the sky...)
But I like my SCION (s) for what they are, and that is a great car, for the money, that leaves you money, to spend on your honey.
But I like my SCION (s) for what they are, and that is a great car, for the money, that leaves you money, to spend on your honey.
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Originally Posted by Tomas
Correct on EVERY point, Rion.
I got an xB 'cause I *wanted* a Tokyo 'city car' - a genuine 'econo-box'...
The t2B could easily be the upscale Toyota marque vehicle for folks to move to when they finally want to step up from the xB, but it is certainly NOT an xB substitute... And, of course, some of us may not WANT to move up. :D
I got an xB 'cause I *wanted* a Tokyo 'city car' - a genuine 'econo-box'...
The t2B could easily be the upscale Toyota marque vehicle for folks to move to when they finally want to step up from the xB, but it is certainly NOT an xB substitute... And, of course, some of us may not WANT to move up. :D
Yep. I think most of us could afford for than an xB, I know I could have. I actually looked at the Element, but the low price, lightweight and raw unfiltered fun aspect of the xB is a huge part of what attracted me to it. Sure, I could afford a $5-600 car payment like most people buying a new car but $300 a month for a car I like more is sooo much nicer. This is a car payment I never resent when the bill comes each month. I almost feel guilty, like I should be sending Toyota an extra $100 or so to pay for the value I got.
It's great.
In this day and age when everything is getting bigger and heavier and more bloated and feature-laden, I think most people are forgetting the joy of tossing a light little car around a corner and whipping into a parking spot that the average sedan would barely squeeze into with a 3 point turn.
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Originally Posted by Rion
Yep. I think most of us could afford for than an xB, I know I could have. I actually looked at the Element, but the low price, lightweight and raw unfiltered fun aspect of the xB is a huge part of what attracted me to it. Sure, I could afford a $5-600 car payment like most people buying a new car but $300 a month for a car I like more is sooo much nicer. This is a car payment I never resent when the bill comes each month. I almost feel guilty, like I should be sending Toyota an extra $100 or so to pay for the value I got.
It's great.
In this day and age when everything is getting bigger and heavier and more bloated and feature-laden, I think most people are forgetting the joy of tossing a light little car around a corner and whipping into a parking spot that the average sedan would barely squeeze into with a 3 point turn.
It's great.
In this day and age when everything is getting bigger and heavier and more bloated and feature-laden, I think most people are forgetting the joy of tossing a light little car around a corner and whipping into a parking spot that the average sedan would barely squeeze into with a 3 point turn.
The last vehicle to capture this kind of excitement and versatility was the Suzuki Samurai. $8000 for a 4WD convertible?! It was the most fun I've ever had with a vehicle. Unfortunately, Suzuki was partially bought by GM, who then immediately went "upscale" with their SUVs. Once Samurais left the scene, the price of other bare-bones 4x4s (specifically the Wrangler) skyrocketed.
I'm hoping that Scion produces an xB that is a throw-back to the old Toyota Land Cruiser... with an off-road slant instead of the urban hip-hop appeal. I'd trade my xB in a heartbeat for that if they ever did that!
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