It would probably look better if the back was actually the front and vice versa.....that windshiled is TERRIBLE...ewww

 

I dig the windsheild, i think it could use a bit more of a rake to give it some more effect + reduce rock chipping, but other than that, it's cool

 

who designs this crap autistic nikkuhs?...

 

I hope the windshield comes with wire mesh screens, placed a couple inches in front...

 

Wouldn't it be cool if there were two windshields pressed against each other and the one in the front kind of raked forward to create a front glass spoiler of sorts when driving at higher speeds?

 

*raises hand* As a tC owner, yup, you're right on the money. I think that the hardest part for scion is that they had a lot of initial success with the xA/xB/tC. Now they're trying to do 2nd gen vehicles, they're having an almost impossible time matching the success of the first ones (think about how movie sequels are almost guaranteed to be worse than the original). They have to not only appease the current group of scion owners, but they also have to try to draw in new buyers to grow the brand. I bought a tC 3.5 years ago, and it was the perfect car for me at that time. Cheap, fun, awesome value, reliable and fast enough for me. Scion succeeded in it's goal of roping in new buyers to Toyota.

However now, a few years later, when I go looking for a car I'm probably not going to be looking at any of the current crop of Scions, but much, much worse, I'm not interested in any of the new Toyota's that are out now either. I want a small, turbo hatchback in the low-20s. Something a little more "grown-up" than the current tC, nicer interior, lighter weight and a nice fast turbo engine. Think Mazdaspeed3, Mini Cooper S, GTI, new Fiat Abarth 500 (if they ever bring it here, PLEEASE!!), etc. Scion was originally designed to be the entry for new buyers to Toyota, but there's NOTHING to fill the gap between small, cheap, funky Scion and expensive, stodgy, OLD Toyota.

Toyota *needs* that turbo hatchback, they *need* a RWD coupe, they *need* an economical, low 20s v6 small sedan, they *need* a funky small pickup truck. They just don't have to be Scions. Fine, keep Scion as the sub-18k, small, funky economical cars that people love. Just offer SOMETHING from Toyota to fill in that gap between the two brands. Would any of the people clamoring for a small v6 sedan complain if it was a Toyota? Maybe do a small, turbo hatchback under the lexus name (a la RSX)?

I hope that Scion corporate is reading this thread, and realizes that sometime's they're almost trying too hard to reach too many people. In trying to reach that small family demographic, they pretty much destroyed the xB. In trying to get that premium hatchback buyer, they alienated the people who bought the xA for its low price and it's great gas mileage. In trying to make things funky again, they may have just ____ed off any of their current tC owners (if this replaces the tC)?

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now. If Scion Corp is reading this, make the new Hako a little more palatable (some of the raked photochop concepts in this thread look great!), keep it as a TINY two door (wheelbase is 94.5", so that's the old xA/xB platform?), and either drop a reworked 1.5/1.6 or maybe even the 1.8, and have it be a fun, small, great little two door with some character. Hopefully it'll come in at that 2400lb mark or so, and it'd probably do very well.

 

Where and when can i order one? I'd buy it for sure.

 

I hear Scion saying that the Hako windshield is thicker, an essence acknowledging the much greater potential for damage from perpendicular strikes, but thicker or not, it will chip like any other glass even if one doesn't get penetrating hits.

With a short hood for protecting it and it's low mounting, the windshield would be scarred beyond help in short order.

I appreciate the design attempt, but prefer more of a blank slate to work with and definitely form follows function as opposed to the designers saying "here's what it will look like, make it usable" to the engineers.

Bottom line, when Vanilla, my xB, needs replacement, I am hoping someone will be selling a UUV (Urban Utility Vehicle), or city car, like the original xB. I would prefer it to be Scion/Toyota, but I will buy what meets my needs.

Scion: I'm still waiting for the Materia to show up as a proper replacement for the original xB - a City Car, not a highway cruiser.

 

first off, why the sigh?
this movie title best fits this emerging trend


the whole muscle car/hot rod car scene is such an embedded part of our automotive history and american culture. FWD, 4cyl japanese interpretations are a poor execution.

wow, that sounds like something straight out of a product planning meeting...
i'm sure most current Scion owners and future owners openly accept changes in design, but you have to remember -- YOU NEED A PROPER CAR UNDERNEATH FIRST. make the car fun to drive, with proper steering/handling/braking/acceleration -- not the typical numb driving dynamics of a toyota.
and, i don't accept the answer "that is what the aftermarket is for" as a response.

 

Without getting too far off topic I'd like to comment just briefly on this quote: This is understood, and one of Scion's goals has always been to attract younger customers into the Toyota fold.

The biggest problem *I* have is that the rest of the company hasn't followed through: Scion creates a vital City Car (UUV) market with the xB, then discontinues it, but Toyota doesn't step in with ANY viable replacement for the xB owners to go to.

Unless same forethought and planning goes into the Hako so that there is a logical progression from it to another car in the Toyota line, they will be creating another dead end and souring the customers they worked so hard to get.

With a more practical windshield, the Hako is a decent design, but with a more practical windshield, the Hako is the Materia with only two doors.

 

^ well, again, those are not MY answers, they are SCIONs. And unfortunately I don't have the answers to everything....

I'm only one person in Scion.....believe me if I could, I'd find a way to make the car that you all want and keep it under 20k and convince everybody else here to make it happen ;)

But anywho, feedback is valuable so keep it comin

 

AH OMG THAT THING IS FUGLY!!!

 

Hmm all this talk about retro makes me think Toyota is brining back the Gen 1 Celica design

 

If this is Toyota's attempt to replace the much loved, yet polarizing Gen 1 xB, they failed.

If this is Toyota's attempt at a Mini Cooper, they failed.

If this is Toyota's attempt at a "retro hotrod", they failed.

If this is Toyota's attempt to attract young people, they failed.

If this is Toyota's attempt to please everyone by combining boxy with sporty, they failed.

If this is Toyota's attempt at simply making the butt-ugliest car at the auto show and drawing attention to the Scion brand, positive or negative... Success.

-THE DON

 

Then I believe Scion is successful (not necessarily on the "butt ugly" part, but. If you recall, the launch of the first xB/xA got the exact same reaction. Polarizing.....

(I know there's going to be responses to that one...........)

 

What is Scion thinking!?! Now I understand why they originally released only that "teaser" pic showing just a glimpse of the front end...'cause that and the rest of the car are hideous!

 

Yes, but the xB and xA were already vehicles. They didn't have to waste money on building a one off. This design should've been represented on paper and in 3D software to the public before rendering the vehicle. I think it would have saved Scion a lot of money in the long run.

I know they are reading most of our posts and they may or may not care, but they also may be trying to target NEW customers and not the ones who already own a Scion.

 

What if this was Scion's attempt to offer a unique style in a different way? What if they wanted to experiment with a few different ideas and show them to the world to get feedback and see what works and what doesn't work?

 

Then why not do that with drawings and 3D renderings? It would be a hell of a lot cheaper. Send it all out in an email and you could get personal reactions from every single person.

 

Well Im slightly under 30 and I have insurance on my Mazdaspeed3, which is turbocharged, and has a fairly high power output from the factory, is tunable, and I traded my over weight tC as you say, that had mods and a good bit in suspension, and managed to compete with EG Civic Hybrids *B16A's soooo I mean I don't see validity in your arguement. As for the MR-S being a Cough ** good seller.. Ummm I dont know, maybe in CA, but NOT here on the East coast... and yeah if you put a turbo on pretty much anything or a motor swap and blah blah blah yeah it should help out the performance.. but my point is that it should COME FROM THE FACTORY THAT WAY.. hence the Mazdaspeed3