Scion Art Cars use cars as canvas
Wednesday evening 'The Showroom' New York gallery will open its display of Scion Art Cars: scale model Scions turned into works of art.
Art cars were made famous by BMW when racecar driver Hervè Poulain asked his friend Alexander Calder, the sculptor, to apply his talents to a BMW 3.0 CSL for Le Mans. A number of artistic racecars followed over the years. Now Toyota Motor Co., seeing a chance to promote its youth-oriented Scion brand, has encouraged artists to apply their creative energies to the xA, xB, and the tC. The current show of Scion Art Cars are actually scale models radically shaped to their artist's imagination. (Pictured is the Slug Scion. An unflattering comment on the tC's performance? Your guess is as good as ours...)
Show time and location can be found at the link.
Related: BMW components a work of art, BMW Z4 Coupe inspires radical artist
[Source and photo: New York Times - registration required]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Kerr 7:14PM (5/10/2006)
When one of your company's most popular models looks like a box, how hard is it to turn it into a work of art? (Unless you are trying for Michelangelo's DAVID)
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gbh 7:49PM (5/10/2006)
That's why the xB is fast becoming one of the most popular small business mobiles - inexpensive, decent quality, LOTS of room for graphics.
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Tom Design 9:03PM (5/10/2006)
Kudos to Scion for bringing model making back into "kewl."
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shiznannigan 10:05PM (5/10/2006)
This doesn't look nearly as challenging as making a Scion fun to drive.
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dave 10:34PM (5/10/2006)
hahahaha
yeah, serves TC "performance" right. the thing truly is a slug, even WITH the TRD blower can't keep up with the competition.
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Tom Design 12:37AM (5/11/2006)
I bet the Scion Tc has nice handling characteristics. The thing I find odd, is the automatic is a 4-speed. This blog bashes GM 4-speed automatics on every page. Yet the Scion has all sorts of young hip, techno oriented drivers, and no one has ever mentioned the 4-speed auto as a deficit with the little 4 cylinder engine. When a supercharged V6 3800 Impala is bashed for using a 4 speed auto, why is it "Cool and Hip" to use it with a low output 4 cylinder? I do like the Tc a lot. The Xa and Xb leave me pretty dulled, not sure why they are designed so duckling ugly.
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Erik 10:38AM (5/11/2006)
Slug Scion is better looking than actual TC (oh, sorry, tC (lame))
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rygar 12:03PM (5/11/2006)
To all the Scion haters out there. Tell me what's an overall better new car for $17K out the door? I had a short list of cars when I got my tC and none could top it. Mazda 3 - too expensive for the one with the bigger engine (the one with the 2.3 like the tC). Mini Cooper S - way too expensive. Focus - they don't make the SVT anymore (and won't bring the new Euro Focus to us). Civic - Si is too expensive. WRX - outta my price range. Plus the tC had more standard features. Sure it's no Z06 but it's quick enough to get me in trouble if I were looking for it. Compare the interior of the tC to say a new Civic, IMHO the tC wins hands down. The Civic interior looks like a rejected 1980's sci-fi movie prop. What's with the Telly Tubby house speedo thing? And if you don't like the exterior styling - that's why there's an aftermarket.
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Tom Design 12:33AM (5/12/2006)
Sorry rygar, but the answer is all too clear. There are lots of other cars as nice at the $17-18k price. Here's a list to start: Subaru Impreza 2.5i, Saturn Ion Redline Quad Coupe, Mitsubishi Lancer OZ-Rally, Mazda3 s Touring,
Ford Focus Zx4 ST, Chevy Cobalt SS Coupe, Volks Golf 2.0.
Are you sure you were asking the question right? Or did you drink some of that Scion Kool-aid? I have nothing against the Tc, except for the underpowered engine and the 4-speed auto tranny. Sweet little design. But it has a lot of very competent and well priced competitors.
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shiznannigan 8:53AM (5/12/2006)
Well Rygar, add $500 to that, and you get what I paid for my MalibuMaxx. While I can't see anyone cross-shopping between it and a tC, I'm quite confident I walked away with the better deal. WAY larger rear seat, bigger trunk, same mileage (with a pushrod V6!) and similar acceleration times. But hey, I guess some people just really need those illuminated cupholders....
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automobiles 7:38AM (10/03/2006)
Looks like a cow !
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