Future Products—Scion
The wedge is out, but box will stay

By AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Published 08/16/06, 8:04 am et


xA: Expect a spring 2008 redesign of the xA, which is the U.S. version of the Japan market ist.

Don't expect the wedge shape to continue. The xA could be a U.S.-only vehicle derived from the ist platform, or it could be something pulled from the Japan product portfolio.

xB: Scion boss Mark Templin says: "We should always have a box. The box can evolve and improve, but the concept of a box will not change." That may mean the current xB sticks around as a heritage model and will not become the redesigned bB seen at the 2005 Tokyo show. A new powertrain is scheduled to come in spring 2008 for the 2009 model year.

tC: Expect a five-year model cycle with a redesign arriving in early 2009 as a 2010 model. For a hint of future design ideas, check out the Fuse concept coupe from the New York auto show.

xD: Do not be confused by the stretched version of the current xB that has been snapped by spy photographers. That vehicle is a mule for a future Scion vehicle, based on the Corolla platform with more horsepower. The xD likely will be a variation on the Toyota Matrix theme. It will arrive in the 2008 model year. Scion has applied for a trademark on the xD name.

i do believe this is a repost.

I never heard of the xD before. Awesome.

a soft chant in the background......box... box... box.... :P :P :P

interesting....

a lot of that is vague a white lies.

^ strong words hotbox!

How do you know they are lies?

sounds legit to me, i'd love to see what the future holds for our rides =)

I know I have seen plenty of people talking about how the xB was done after this model year. I just got my xB and love it so far, and the idea that soon they wouldn't be available, and if anything would become even more unique crossed my mind. But honestly I would hate to see out beloved box have such a limited lifespan in the US. I really think without the xB, Scion might not have taken hold here in the US. Not trying to down any xA or tC owners, but the box has become iconic for the brand and I think Toyota probably realizes that it is too early to leave it behind.

(been drinking a few beers, so if this sounds like rambling.. it probably is) :P

I am really hoping for the new bB model from Japan coming here. It's quite radical and nothing else looks like it.

I am confused, a while back it was announced that there will not be a fourth model in the scion brand, and now they are saying the box is here to stay and not to get the current spyshot mixed as being the next xb? I don't know someone tell me what is happening.

Basically, we'll know when it happens. :D

Tomas

good point there tomas! :bow: i guess ill have to get my box asap... dang i cant believe how much i want an xb...

oh i know. and the current japan bB will never hit us shores. least not unless they use it in like 5 years after the fact.

the xB's replacement is prettymuch all set in stone , there's multiple ones used for testing and such , some are hand made others are not.

Maybe Scion WILL bring the new bB here for 2008...you never know.

ive been told by several people the tC will stop production mid next year for a redesign in late 08. and ive also been told the bB will never see the light of day here....

While any of those things we are 'told' might be true, I've also been told that Elvis is alive. :)

We'll know when it happens - or doesn't. :)

Tomas

hey there is a director paying $3,000,000.00 if elvis is found alive go have fun tomas.

I already turned Elvis in, and am counting my money right now....
As far as the future of the xB- I know whats coming, but it'll cost you alot more than 3mil to get it out of me.
Don't expect anything big in the next 2 years. It's easy to say you're only going to make a car for three years when you haven't even released it, but no car company is going to stop making their biggest seller just in order to have some stupid 3 year gimmick.
Even cool marketing people with their rimless glasses, and starbucks addictions know that a cool image that doesn't make money means being unemployed.

i follow my own cool...

Yes, saying "We won't keep any model past three years" is easy before a model you didn't even expect to sell near as well as the ist/xA takes off and becomes the icon for the entire marque.

The suits in Torrance still might folllow through and kill the box at this model change, but at the same time, it must be deucedly difficult to kill something your factory can't even make enough of...

Like I keep saying: We'll know what's going to happen when it happens - or doesn't. :P

Tomas
__________________

"I'm not marching to a different drum, it's the same drum, I just don't have any rhythm...http://tijil.org/stickguy.gif"

Doesn't the tC sell more, and kind of fit the market Scion was after, the young hipsters?

i guess we just gotta wait and see what happens

i guess we just gotta wait and see what happens

and Wait, and Wait, and Wait :tap: :tap: :tap:

Doesn't the tC sell more, and kind of fit the market Scion was after, the young hipsters?
The tC and xB have about the same overall sales volume, but the xB is 'that weird box' so identified with the Scion name.

Toyota originally expected the xA to outsell the other two models, but we can see how well their marketing department guessed on THAT one. :P

The xA is a fine little car, but just not 'weird' enough to capture the imagination. The tC is an excellent piece at a great price, but there are other cars that, at first glance, especially by non-Scion-owners, look similar to the xA and tC.

There is nothing else in this country that looks like an xB. :D

The marketeers didn't expect the xB to sell well at all, but for some unfathomable reason (actually a bunch of them) it 'caught on' and they sold all they could build.

Trust me, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Subaru, Honda, Nissan, and even Toyota ALL wish they had a model that was essentially sold before it was delivered to the dealer's lot. :)

It just might be a little, tiny bit too early to discontinue such a unique and good selling model. If it IS discontinued, they have to hope that whatever replaces it grabs the imagination like the xB did, or it will be just another Echo sedan - a good car for the money, but not one that gets people excited.

(Remember, before the Xa, xB, and tC came along, the Echo was Toyota's attempt to capture 'The Young Adult Market' with a low priced, high quality unit. Thing is, it was as exciting as cold porridge, and just didn't cut it. Same chassis, different 'feel' to the design, and *POOF!* The Box arrived. What was even more fun, is that it caught them totally by surprise.) :lol:

Be interesting to see how well the next "let's bet the company on THIS model" comes out. :)

Tomas

i woudl by a facelifted xB with a 1.8l in it, in aheartbeat.

The xD lives! prototype shown to dealer reps about a week ago. Lower profile (a couple of inches) wider, will be capable of housing a stock Camary four to about 160HP, front inspired by the japan issue bB with design touches for the USA. Pictures not allowed at the session, you must rely on the description from your local dealer -- so take this with a grain of salt -- Howard from Gilroy Ca

I am confused, a while back it was announced that there will not be a fourth model in the scion brand, and now they are saying the box is here to stay and not to get the current spyshot mixed as being the next xb? I don't know someone tell me what is happening.

did you not read the hole thing the xd is the 4th model :yawn:

Actually the impression I got was that xD would replace the xB!
Howard from Gilroy Ca.

xB is as unique and classic looking as the original VW bug.
I never saw an uglier rear end than that of the Echo.

Any future box could be swoopier or have tiny windows for blind-spotting the driver, or look more Darth... but hell, it won't be -better- than the current styling.

All this to say: I can't quite imagine how Toyota can improve on the box's styling in any, any, any substantive way. Can you?

General questions for anyone:
How would you change the box's L00K, without screwing up its practicality, blind-spotting the driver, adding weight or complications?

put the 1.8l ~130hp engine in it...put the foglights someplace that they are functional and ill trade mine in 2morrow.

Wow the xD is replacing the xA! shock and surprise.
Howard from Gilroy Ca

I am confused, a while back it was announced that there will not be a fourth model in the scion brand, and now they are saying the box is here to stay and not to get the current spyshot mixed as being the next xb? I don't know someone tell me what is happening.

did you not read the hole thing the xd is the 4th model :yawn:

:no: :no: Excuse me for living, this comment was made before we found out that Scion went to register xD as trademark, thank you very much and this was posted after an article plus a post which states there is no decision for a fourth model. Run your eyes on this buddy:

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=105398&highlight=jim+press

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :P

a dealer from here in NM just got back from a Toyota Dealer Meeting in San Antonio, TX i thnk and told me that he got to see the RS 4.0 xB, the new xB, the new xD and the Fuse concept! He said phots were not allowed so he couldnt give us any pics. He is going to e-mail me and give me any info he can on the Scions for next year. :clap:

this is intense, im just upset that my box wont have the power of an 08 or 09

o well

put the 1.8l ~130hp engine in it...put the foglights someplace that they are functional and ill trade mine in 2morrow.

and keep the weight the same

^agreed.

Well i got some more news! here is the quote:

"The new xB looks appears longer, lower, and more aggressive. It is
definitely sleeker than the current xB. It gets the 2.4L engine and
headlights that wrap around the side of the vehicle. It had the
single rear back up light from the concept vehicle, but I don't know
if that will carry over to the production vehicle. A few years ago,
when I saw the FJ cruiser for the first time at an auto show it had
a front and rear winch built into it. However they didn't produce
it with this option.

Talking about the FJ cruiser, there is going to be special edition
FJ that is black on black (no white roof).

As for the RS xB, the paint is the coolest thing about it. I
thought it was going to be a crappy, dull bronze. Instead, the
paint is a cool metallic that changes color depending on the angle
you look at it. Straight on it looks copper, but at an angle, it
looks gold or green.

Rumors I heard: They not going to make '07 xA's or '07 xB's.
Instead they are going to skip '07 and just build '08 xB's and
xD's. The xD should replace the xA. And for the the most part, the
xD looks like a stretched xA. The xD from the front looks a little
like a tC with an under-bite. The headlights especially look very
much like a tC".

You would think the xB RS4 would be a 2007................

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=138023

Sorry, Chris, but I had to unlock this. The link you provided is for the xD. There is more news and discussion going on here than just the xD.

BAH!