Filed under: SUVs, Japan, Crossovers/CUVs, Scion, Subaru, Toyota
Enter the rumormill: Scion to sell rebadged Tribeca?
We like a good auto-related rumor as much as the next obsessive pistonhead, but when Automotive News starts citing Japan's New Model Magazine X, we can't help but be a little humored.
The mag across the Pacific supposedly has a spy shot of a "Tribeca-like" vehicle undergoing testing, and beneath the camo is a badge that purportedly looks a lot like a Scion emblem. The idea of an "xTribeca" (their term, not ours) seems too far out to be plausible, but with Toyota's 8.6-percent stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, it's isn't entirely out of the question. The question itself though, is "why?"
Even though the Scion brand is going strong, would a larger SUV based off the Tribeca be a plausible candidate for the Scion lineup? And even if it was, could it be restyled to fit the brand's youthful image? All these questions and more are making the rounds between our ears, with nothing particularly positive coming out of it.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Allan 8:37AM (7/02/2007)
I would take this with a handful or two of salt.
This is a move that could just kill Scion. A Tribeca is probably the farthest thing from their desired image. I don't know what kind of grass these people are smoking, but it must be expensive.
Now sold as a rebadged Toyota might be more plausible. But even then, Toyota has a decent lineup of SUV type "crossover" vehicles already... so they shouldn't really need anything like this monstrosity.
Reply
VenGenzt 8:55AM (7/02/2007)
As much as we would like to believe Scion is a 'youth-oriented brand' and Toyota's target market is hit when a Scion is sold, the fact is that Scions are being sold to much older consumers than Toyota anticipated. As much as a Tribecca would seem to be a head-scratcher, it would give the Toyota lot another opportunity to sell a vehicle and the Tribecca is 'different'. Anyway, they wouldn't lose any money to change the grill, the id badges and ship it and see what happens. Toyota is beginning to think just like GM now though. Let's start rebadging vehicles and see if it works. The Tribecca has been accepted with indifference, at best, by consumers but Toyota thinks they can sell it as a Scion?
Drewboy 9:03AM (7/02/2007)
If Scion added a large vehicle like the Tribeca to their lineup, it would throw a monkey wrench in their desired brand image. Keep Subarus Subarus. Let Toyota come up with small, fuel efficient vehicles for the Scion brand.
Reply
gsolman6 9:15AM (7/02/2007)
It does not fit in with the rest of the lineup at all plus its an AWD gas-sucker whereas everything else Scion is at least a partially frugal 4 cylinder. This and the new Xb do not bode well for the future of the brand. And from last I heard Scion does have one of the lowest average age of buyers so it truly is a youth brand even though there are a few older ones in the mix.
Toyota is really messing up lately with the quality issues and now bad design/branding decisions. I think I'll stick with Honda as my Japanese brand - at least they have a philosophy and manage to stick to it.
Barney 12:13PM (7/02/2007)
"Toyota is really messing up lately with the quality issues and now bad design/branding decisions."
As A Toyota fan, I have to admit that what you say is becoming fact. There is no advantage in reaching the goal of #1 car maker if it means a fast decline. I bought Toyota for the guaranteed quality but have second thoughts today. Having a vast range of models to choose from, only confuses the situation.
bmoredlj 9:15AM (7/02/2007)
I predict all future Scions to get bigger, flabbier, thirstier, less fun...in other words, the same mistakes that got the average age of a Toyota buyer pushing 50. It just seems to be their M.O.
Perhaps there's room for a Scion that's bigger than the rest...but not a vehicle that was to be the Saab 9-6X!
Reply
Pete 9:18AM (7/02/2007)
My wife has an xB. We like Scion because they sell cool cars that are relatively inexpensive, roomy on the inside (some), small on the outside & fuel efficient. An SUV would be a horrible mistake. The xB IS the SUV / minivan alternative.
Reply
Max 9:31AM (7/02/2007)
I'm hoping for something lost in translation.
What they really wanted to say was that Scion was getting their own WRX and the option to put a WRX engine in any Scion product.
Reply
MikeW 9:46AM (7/02/2007)
Compare the headlights of the new Rav4 to the old Tc.
All the scions are gas guzzlers, relatively speaking.
How many 6 speed manuals or 5 speed automatics?
Reply
Ian 9:52AM (7/02/2007)
Why not just like ... rebadge/reskin one of Toyota's OWN small SUVs with a 4 cyilnder?
Reply
... 9:56AM (7/02/2007)
one word:
no.
Reply
John Ard 10:09AM (7/02/2007)
As sad as I am to say this, maybe this hints at the new "xP" El Camino-esque thing being a shortened Subie Baja. Toyota is now truly GM.
Reply
john riley 10:40AM (7/02/2007)
Seems more likely that this was a disguised mule for the upcoming Toyota FSC crossover wagon thing.
Reply
djSyndrome 11:16AM (7/02/2007)
Most Toyotas in Japan use individual badges for their model on their front ends, not the triple-oval 'T' badge we get here in the states (that's usually reserved for the rear). Check out http://toyota.jp and watch the Flash cycle of their new models: none of them have the 'T' badge on the front grille.
Reply
Guenther 11:48AM (7/02/2007)
This just makes no sense, because the Tribeca (or any other Subie) are expensive platforms. Next logical thing to me would be a micro van of sorts, like the Mazda5. Toyota has one overseas- Sold as a Corolla Verso.
Reply
Jeff 11:55AM (7/02/2007)
One must face the facts when selling cars in the US. There are a few sweet spots in the market. People movers (preferably anything that holds as many people as a mini-van but does not look like a mini van) but do include mini vans in this segment, they still sell well, and the SUV's fit this segment too, 2) trucks, 3) mid size sedans.
The youth market Scion is going after is cool for the company image, but not a lot of them are buying new cars mainly because they cannot afford new. Uses scions do nothing to help Toyota move more cars. The "I've arrived and got my first real job" set may buy scion for the "cool" factor, but would most likely go for a Mini Cooper or something a little more upscale to say "I've arrived".
If you're in the business of selling cars in the US, you have to follow the money and the sweet spot in the demographic is 30-50 year old (mainly men) buyers. If you do not have a vehicle to get those folks in the showroom, you're missing a huge opportunity to sell cars.
Reply
calebe 12:08PM (7/02/2007)
I doubt it is true but then again look at the new xb. It is not focused at the Youth market at all. I would say Scion will soon just sell to the 40-50 year old crowd. So bigger fatter less fun.
Reply
Barney 12:23PM (7/02/2007)
"...Scion will soon just sell to the 40-50 year old crowd. So bigger fatter less fun.""
Why so? Just because someone drove more years, don't mean they have less interest in "fun" vehicles. Toyota and other manufacturers missed their cue on that fact. Why do you think the Scion became the preference to the age group you depict? Scion didn't become the vehicle of choice for that age group because they wanted "So bigger fatter less fun."
aaron 1:10PM (7/02/2007)
I think it is a pure speculation. It is a work of idiodic auto journalist trying to make headline!!! There is just absolutely no way and no reason for Scion to do that. Only thing it is going to do, if it is to be true, is to compete with Highlander and other Toyota models.
I WON'T HAPPEN.
Reply
Don 2:56PM (7/02/2007)
Now HOW would this appeal to the kiddies?
Reply