Irrelevant.

4WD does not make an SUV.
Look at todays "cross-over" vehicles.
Many are car based and have only 2WD.

While not a "SUV" in the traditional American sense
(big, truck based, over priced, clumsy, gas hog)
the xB fits the cross-over definition almost perfectly.

In fact, the xB has the potential to be an excellent RallyCross car
which will be able to outperform an SUV in almost every capacity.
It fits the DC RallyCross Championship Class Description of
S2 (2WD Stock) or M2 (2WD Modified).

Remember, the xB only weighs 2400 lbs and has
a high power to weight ratio and a very rigid body structure.
It's sophisticated vehicle stability systems (with the right tires)
gives it gobs of traction and allows it to take corners
on loose surfaces that would make an SUV cringe.

As for 108 hp... nothing a supercharger or
cold air (ram air) induction system can't increase.

BTW: Size and HP don't mean everything.
The original Mini Copper (with only 69 HP)
won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally.


Here's a bit of history for ya'...

"Mini Cooper wins the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally"

The date was January 17th, 1964 and the Monte Carlo Rally was becoming more challenging than ever with the entry of well-organized factory teams. Competition for the Mini was stiff with bigger, more powerful cars from Ford, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo to Citroen, Saab and other pedigree challengers... Piloted by fearless rally driver Paddy Hopkirk and his skilled navigator, Henry Liddon, the pint-sized Mini (69 HP) overcame great odds in all sorts of challenging conditions. Ice, twisty mountain passes, and darkness... On snowy sections of the route, the Mini's nimble handling and front-wheel-drive proved advantageous over the more powerful, albeit heavier... competition. In the final moments of the rally on the Grand Prix circuit, Paddy and the pint-sized Mini were tenacious, pulling a victory... by more than 30 points....
http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=8101


Remember... the xB was designed to be modified.
Let's see what we can build, and make ourselves some automotive history!

 

There's always this
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...33815281&idx=1
or this
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...33815281&idx=2

 

Lazy Lick for people who don't have an account

 

That looks Schweeeeeet!

 

I can't stand looking at that thing!

 

i wouldnt say schweet but it looks ok.

 

did yall see the second pic??? cause its not working for me now

 

Yes, there are some of us who are interested in making the xB more useful, not handicapping it with bling.

What I would like:

1. Sturdy full-length bolt-on Con-Ferr roof rack
2. Two inches more ground clearance
3. Shorter bumper skirts front and rear to keep them away from curbs
4. Fatter sidewall on tires to prevent wheel rash
5. Softer ride
6. Large fuel tank for more range.

I'm not looking to off-road the thing, but I would like the option to straddle road debris without worrying that it'll catch on the fragile undercarriage.

George

 

Now your talking!
:D
Got any design ideas or plans you want to share?
I am working on a shorter front lip (from CamoxB) with a built-in skid-plate.
But... it's still in the design stage as it's too cold in NY (12 deg. F) to do a lot of work outside.

 

rally- your facts about the mini cooper in reference to rallying dont really mean much imo. Rallying is decided half the time by what breaks and what happens to have good luck and stay together. You really think the xB is a high power to weight ratio?

 

its not that high, but it is a low weight car so it makes it all right

 

I think someone on SL has a skid plate. I want something like that too but cover the front lip and a bit underneath the engine bay.

 

yea his username is rallyxB, he is making them now. he lives in NY

 

:oops: oops that was stated above

 

The point is that the xB is easy to modify and has lots of potential
to be more than another rice-boy or low-rider car with lots of extra bling.

The fact that an underdog car like the old Mini can beat the pants off
bigger, more powerful cars, then the xB should be able to follow suit.

As for "...what breaks and what happens to have good luck and stay together..."
considering it's a Toyota, I bet it will survice a heck of a lot of abuse before breaking.
Every hear of the the Toyota Corolla WRC and Toyota Celica GT rally cars?
Championship winners!

Power to weight ratio? You bet.
Bolt on a super-charger and a new exhaust if you need extra power.

The xB is a great little box car with lots of potential.
Let's see what we can build with ours.
:D

 

ah yes the classic Mini aka the Giant Slayer of motor sports . Perhaps we might see the next Mini with Rallyxbs project.

 

Toyota Rav 4. You cant buy a 15k car and expect it to have features of a 18+ car.

 

Now if I could get some sponsors and pay this thing off
that would really speed up the process!
:D
For now it's just the weekend mechanic
making modifications to his big toy so he can play!

 

Coldest day of the year so far.....and the hot water heater hsit the bed. I loved the look on everyone face when they were looking at the little boxxy SUV swallow up the hot water heater in the back. I couldn't close the tailgate, but then again.......they don't get 35mpg's !!!

 

Did you fold back the front passenger seat? I've hauled 2x4s, a (folding) ladder, guitar, and guitar amp home with the tailgate shut without a Hemi. :?

But I mainly haul my TV "flypack", lights, lightstands, sandbags, handtruck, plastic boxes with hundreds of feet of coax and mic wire, couple of cameras and tripods without taking out my sub.