There are vague similarities, but just about any car can remind one of another. Very few cars have designs as idiosyncratic and the VW beetle, Porsche 356, Scion xB Classic, or Citroen DS, where even a glimpse of a tiny part of the vehicle identifies it without doubt.

http://tijil.org/xB_xB2_Chev02.gif

 

you wornge about the TC... ther was a event at Scion Corp last week friday with only certian individuals were invited. Nilo was one of them. He was told the TC will be Unvieled at the NY Auto Saloon in March.

IQ is going to be added to the line up of Scions.

 

thats where im getting my info from too lol.

 

Trevor, I saw your post before you pulled it, and while it is true that the current bB and Materia are right hand and left had drive versions of the IDENTICAL platform, they also predate the Scion xB2. The xB2 was essentially a scaled up US version of the diminutive Materia.

Here's one of the old threads about that from about three years ago... (there are several others, too).

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101969

 

*DOH*

 

I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say there...

First off, I didn't refer to the current bB as a bB2 (actually it's the third gen bB, but it's still just an evolutionary development of the same class vehicle, the UUV, or Tokyo City Car).


Current JDM bB

The "relationship" I was referring to between the current bB/Materia and the xB2 is in the STYLING and nothing else.


Current USEM xB

The xB2 is somewhat similar in styling to the current bB/Materia, but instead of being an Urban Utility Vehicle ("boxBOX") based on the same chassis class that brought us the Echo sedan, it is basically a tC/Avensis based station wagon - a different class of vehicle entirely, but based on the same style cues as the 3G bB that preceded it.



The bB and the Materia are identical vehicles other than trim and being right hand or left hand drive. (both the current bB and the Materia are made in a Diahatsu plant, and even though they have a 1.5L engine, it is a different 1.5 than the first two generations of bB and the xB used).

http://www.daihatsu.com/catalogue/materia/index.html

Oh, yeah, the original xB was a second gen bB.
________________

Let me ask the original question is a slightly different way to maybe get some good discussion going...

Assuming that the xB2 will eventually come to the end of it's production run, what changes would you like to see made for the xB3?

What major differences do you want to see between the xB2 and the vehicle that replaces it?

 

Doh, sorry Tomas. I didn't realized Trevor removed his comment. Mod powers, I could see it and I was responding to him. My bad.

 

Sorry about that Dude!

I'd spent some time comparing the Rumion and Materia photos and concluded the Materia was a copycat. However, I finally found a weight spec for the Materia, and it was immediately clear it was much lighter than the Rumion, ergo, not a physical copycat of the Rumion. That recognition was what caused me to pull that post -- what I was saying was clearly incorrect.

On the other hand, it appears to me the Materia has very similar styling to the Rumion, which is no doubt a perfectly fine next step from the bB2 ! Still, I wasn't aware the Materia predated the xB2 -- interesting, I'll have to look at it a little more (particulary considering the xB2 styling is exceedingly similar to the 2005 bB2).

 

Couldn't have said it any better!

I basically say the same thing when people ask about my thoughts on them buying an xB.

 

I have driven and owned both 1st and 2nd gen xb's. I traded my 1st gen in for the second gen because of more power and a 5 speed. I kinda wish I would of kept my 1st cause it would of been one of the classics LOL but I love my 2nd gen cause it does have more room and a bigger motor. I dont have any bad reviews about any the gas mpg are great on both and they are very lovable cars LOL!!! I just traded my wifes ford explorer in for a 2010 xb and she loves it better then her ford LOL!!! So I own 2 2nd gens right now. Plan on finding a 1st gen again when I get my 2 others paid off.

 

I wouldn't wait THAT long cause low mile xBs are getting hard to find.

 

here is the down low. headlight and grill is going to change.. thats what going to be the 2011 XB..

Nuff said.

 

Link?

Change such as the 08+ tC where the headilghts and grille changed or like the 10 Camry where the headlights are slightly redesigned with a new bumper and grille?

 

To me, the Materia nose is much more like the Rumion than the current bB or xB2, so I can't say I agree with saying they are alike with the exception of trim. Given the xB2 apparently came after the Materia, I'm presuming the Rumion came from the Materia styling applied to the xB2.

As far as the relationship between the current bB (which I thought was the bB2) and the xB2, I consider the xB2 to be merely an "oversize" current bB, which led me to purchase a current bB rear hatch emblem and Rumion rear Toyota emblem to replace my xB2 counterparts. However, I didn't ultimately follow through on that scheme, though I've removed the OE rear xB emblem !

Materia:


Rumion:


Still, I'm thinking this is all a question of personal perception. They're all good cars and I think both country's models are influencing the other's. My personal preference would have been to have a slightly smaller engine in my xB2 -- either a 1.8L or 2.0L -- but that's my mpg perspective at work !

 

*sigh*

The Daihatsu Materia, the Daihatsu Coo, the Subaru Dex and the current Toyota bB are the same vehicle, same parts, same dimensions, same running gear, with the ONLY differences being left-hand or right-hand drive and minor body panel and trim pieces.

The xB2 and the JDM Rumion are the same vehicle with the ONLY differences being left-hand or right-hand drive and minor body panel and trim pieces.

The current bB, Materia, Coo, and Dex are little 1.5L City Cars almost identical in size to the original xB with slightly different noses and hatches.

The xB2 and Rumion are a foot longer, 600 pounds heavier, larger-engined cars based on a totally different chassis and running gear than the bB/Materia/Dex chassis and running gear.

The only similarity between the Daihatsu Materia, the Daihatsu Coo, the Subaru Dex and the current Toyota bB group of vehicles and the Scion xB2 and Toyota Rumion group of vehicles is they reflect the current Toyota styling themes started with the 3G bB.

Google image search can give many, many pics of all those vehicles.