New Generation of Scion Vehicles

In 2003, Toyota decided to create a brand that will target the younger car buyers as Toyota’s buyer base grows older. Since that time, Scion has been known for coming up with the most radically looking production vehicles. Initially, the brand looks to gain success in the United States auto market with the Scion xA. But it was the iconic xB which popularizes the brand in the country. And for the 2008 model year, Scion will be introducing a new xB and a replacement for the discontinued xA model.

The Scion xB is a boxy five-door compact hatchback introduced in the market as a 2004 model year vehicle. Its uniqueness made the xB a runaway success. The boxy vehicle has attracted the attention of young car buyers who are looking for vehicles which can be considered youthful and, at the same time, can be easily personalized.

For the 2008 model year, Scion interviewed its customers and found out that they like the xB box but they want a bigger box. The result, of course, with this study is a bigger xB which will be introduced as a 2008 model year car. In fact, in making the xB a bigger box, Scion designed a new platform for the vehicle and also upgraded its features.

Under the hood of the first generation xB is a 1.5-liter engine with an output of 108 horsepower. While for most city drivers, that power output is enough, Scion listened to the majority of its customers and gave the xB a larger and more powerful engine. The engine of the new xB will be a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that it shared with the Scion tC coupe. The bigger engine can produce as much as 158 horsepower. With a bigger box, the additional power is a perfect complement.

The new engine for the xB is designed to be fuel efficient - a trademark for the Toyota Motor Corporation. Aside from the reduced fuel consumption as compared to other engines of the same capacity, the engine for the Scion xB also uses emission filtration technologies to keep greenhouse gas emission to a minimum. The engine can be paired to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The automatic gearbox is equipped with a sequential manual shifter. Stopping power can be provided by aftermarket parts such as EBC Redstuff brake pads.

The bigger box that Scion promises to their customers is nearly a foot longer than its forerunner. Obviously, the longer box rides on a longer wheelbase, four inches more than the previous generation of the xB. Across, the new xB is three inches wider than its predecessor.

Also for the 2008 model year, Scion will introduce the replacement for the discontinued xA. Called the xD, the new car is a different entity to xA. The two models are so different in fact that a new name was given to the car. The xD is scheduled to be released into the market by August of this year.

The xD is larger than the xA. This shows the trend that cars of today are getting bigger and larger all the time. Although larger than the xA, the xD is still no bigger than the xB. Exterior styling of the xD was made in Japan while its interior is designed in Europe. The xB, similar to the xD is also designed in Japan and Europe. The introduction of these two vehicles in the market will usher in a new era for the youth brand Scion.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive.buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

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