Whether you think it's massively cool or just as far down on the ugly spectrum, the Scion Hako coupe concept was one of the most unusual and interesting-looking cars unveiled at New York's Javits Center today.

Actually, Jack Hollis, Scion vice president, is kind of hoping you won't like it. "If you think it's ugly, great. That's perfect. As you know, polarizing style fits in well with our lineup."



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Inside Line tested the 2008 Nissan Cube against the 2008 Scion xB.

They may look like little boxes, but they have their charms. They're fuel efficient, versatile and funky.

Which one do you like better?

Read the Nissan Cube and Scion xb Comparison Test on Inside Line.

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

 

Okay, it's the first thing on a Monday morning, and I've only had one cup of coffee, so maybe I'm still a bit groggy... But I swear there's a story over at EgmCarTech.com about a Subaru Tribeca being rebadged as a Scion in the works!

They got the story from Automotive News, which is reporting that a Japanese magazine is showing a picture of a Scion “xTribeca” idea in its latest issue.

Full story here. Now, off to get Cup-o'-Joe # 2...

Here's a wild rumor: How about a Scion pickup? That's what's being reported over at PickupTruck.com., a Scion pickup called the xP, perhaps for 2010.

Whether true or not, it sure makes for some interesting speculation. Frankly, I hope it's true. With the price of gas soaring, along with pickup truck sizes soaring, a car-based pickup seems to make more sense every day. The Aussies have long favored these "Utes." You see them everywhere down under. They're also popular in Africa and other parts of the world.

I think the time is ripe for a Scion Ute to come Stateside. Can you imagine one powered by a Toyota hybrid (Prius or Camry?) powerplant and/or a small clean diesel?

Here's a thought: Design it in conjunction with Subaru. Toyota owns 8.7% of Subaru—and Subaru has the BRAT and Baja as part of their resume; meaning they've got experience with these types of vehicles. Design it so that it could be used with an transverse inline engine or a Subie diesel boxer. From the front bumper to the A-pillar each vehicle would be unique, due to the powerplant design restrictions; but from the A-pillar to the rear bumper, the platform would be shared. I think it could be a win-win product for both brands.

Full story here.

They're so tiny and cute. But don't let their adorableness fool you. These funky subcompacts aren't just for the iPod generation. They're peppy, fuel-efficient and affordable. So if you're tired of the United States of SUVs, check out this subclass of cars. We've tested two of the best side by side.

Read our comparison test of the Fit and xD and watch the video on Inside Line.

I put some outtakes from the photo shoot after the jump.

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Nissan says the new upcoming Cube won't target the Scion xB. Well then, how about the Honda Element?

“We think it’s different than what Scion is going after. We think we can get a bit more gender neutral, maybe a little bit more female (buyer) than what they’re getting. Certainly xB today is a little young, macho dude car,” says Larry Dominique, vice president-product planning for Nissan. "Gender-neutral" customers? Must be a new emerging market niche...

However, the smaller xB, the new Scion xD hatchback could pose a challenge to the Cube, he says. “(The) xD is a little bit smaller than a lot of our B-platform vehicles,” Dominique says.

Despite Nissan's claim, I don't see how those looking at the Cube won't also cross-shop the xB and/or Element.

Full story here.

The wacky kids over at wacky Scion got a wacky idea. Biting off a bit of Volkswagen and Mini's mojo, Toyota's youth brand brought the fun and games to the somnolent Chicago auto show. Yes, the company showed off a couple of goofy-looking little cars. And, yes, the company handed out CDs containing music sure to confound and annoy your average car journalist. The company's done all that before, though.

No, this year, Scion is making T-shirts on-demand for any old freebie-sniffing journalist or representative of a competing car company. Choose from among what appear to be 1,000 shots of various Scion models done up with bright pop-art graphics. The crazy-sock-wearing girl behind the counter, who says she'll be happy to get back to being the "product specialist" she was hired to be, prints it out and has one of her shabbily dressed assistants press it onto a shirt. 

We pushed our way through the crowd of visiting Japanese car-company employees and got us a hot-pink xB with cartoon bombs on it. Then we rounded up the girl who modeled branded sweatshirts for Automobile magazine from 1993-'97 (who as luck would have it was sitting in the seat next to us).

Then we wrote a blog about it. And then we finished writing a blog about it by noting that the T-shirts will, sadly, not be available to the general public. Journalists get all the good stuff. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit

Scion's promise to keep its lineup fresh was kept today, when the xA was replaced by the xD and the xB was replaced by the new xB. Both are 2008 models with five doors, four-cylinder power and Scion's now signature urban edge.

"The xD is a clever new take on a five-door urban subcompact, with style and flair to match its efficiency and utility," Mark Templin, Scion vice president told us. "The xD's aggressive styling is wrapped in a small, agile package, while its interior offers impressive details and a spacious cabin."

And to help along the xD's urban edge, or street cred, as they say on the street, is this tuned version, which Scion unvieled to ooooos and ahhhhhs at its morning press conference. And you know what? When it's lowered on oversized Volk wheels, the xD doesn't look half bad. Fresh even.  — Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief

Today's press introduction of the 2008 Scion xB was pretty conventional. You had your loud music, your concert lighting and plenty of teleprompters telling executives what to say. It was almost as if Scion had gone straight and abandoned its relentless drive for urban street cred. Then again, if you were watching the press conference in Scion City you might have thought differently. Don't know where Scion City is? Well then, you are clearly not cool enough to have generated an electronic alter ego in Second Life. It's the much hyped computer-generated world complete with its own currency, retail stores and yes, even corporate-sponsored media events. Scion's press conference was the first time a manufacturer has used Second Life for a major product introduction, and judging by the number of avatars (those would be people) in attendance it may be the last. And as far as the car goes, if you liked the original xB you'll like the 2008 version, too. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor






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You've all seen the headlines by now. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently released the results of crash-testing seven small cars; the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris (2 models), Honda Fit, Chevy Aveo, Scion xB, and the Hyundai Accent. Of those seven, five got at least one "poor" rating. Only the Nissan Versa got all "good" ratings.

So what does this mean for the future of small cars? I'm not just talking about cars sized like the ones here, but I also thinking about the really small cars, like the SMART, Subaru R1, et al. Is it possible to make these cars safer, or at least reasonably safe?

I know the SMART and the R1 Subaru were not tested, as they are not sold here. At least that's true for the tiny Subie; and as for the SMART, it is on sale here, but not through official DC channels (yet). I know Subaru and SMART went to great lengths to make these tiny cars as safe as they could, but will that be enough? And more important—will it be enough to change the perception that really small cars can indeed be made safe? Or, will this report mean that SMART-sized cars will end up stillborn, and never get out of the gate here in the USA?

Full story here.