Plenty of stories circulating last week about Scion's sales "hitting a wall." For the past 16 months sales have been down, despite more dealers and models than during the brand's initial U.S. launch.

Plenty of theories have been proffered to explain the sales slide. Some are suggesting the lag between the original models (xA and xB) and the new models (redesigned xB and all-new xD) are the cause, as the tC was the only Scion available for several months during the switchover. Others are saying the new models simply aren't as compelling -- too big and too American (how a car can be "too American" to succeed in America makes for an interesting argument...). Finally, it's clear the segment is simply more competitive than it was three years ago. The Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Saturn Astra are just three examples of sub-$20,000 cars that didn't exist in the U.S. market when Scion launched.

These are all reasonable suggestions, but there's another factor to consider.

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Just took a gander at Automotive News' future product plan for Japanese carmakers. Not too surprisingly, the coming years hold hybrids and crossovers from the Land of the Rising Sun (actually, many of them will come from right here in North America). Each automaker has a few interesting items in the pipeline.

Acura: No official confirmation of a V8 in Acura's future, which I continue to view as the division's greatest failing. The next RL is due in 2011, so they better make up their mind. But we do know a V10 engine will power the NSX replacement. I like that they have a full-tilt exotic in the works, but one vehicle does not a division make (as was proven with the last NSX).

Honda: Honda will continue to push hybrids, with a smaller-than-Civic model. No more Accord hybrids, but the Odyssey will be Honda's first V6 diesel-powered vehicle in the U.S. in 2010 (also the year CR-V goes diesel with a 4 cyl.).  I'm personally looking forward to the Remix, the spiritual successor to the CRX. And between the Pilot and CR-V? Yup, another crossover is coming.

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We just picked up a 2008 Scion xB for the long-term fleet. We got it in "Hypnotic Teal Mica," and while I wasn't too sure about this color in the photos (including the one I took above) it looks cool in person. Actually that holds true for the entire car. I always kind of liked the first xB because it looked exactly like what it was -- a Japanese market vehicle suddenly punted into the U.S. market. Most cars sold here are engineered to be sold here from day one, but the last xB clearly wasn't. This version clearly is, as it's more powerful (2.4-liter, 158 HP engine), larger and more conventional in its styling (no more super-skinny roof pillars). I was somewhat disappointed by the "sell out" to U.S. tastes when I first read about the 2008 version, but now that I've seen it in person and driven it, I like it!

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