Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Scion
SEMA Preview: Scion bringing a six pack
Click above for galler of all six Scion SEMA cars
Scion's been a perennial SEMA attendee for the last five years, with customization being a central tenet of the brand. This year, the cool-seeking Toyota nameplate is bringing a sextet of vehicles, three each of tCs and xBs, all customized. The xBs were sent out to customizers to get thematic treatments. The three art cars embody different ideas; one's a camper in the vein of Westfalia Volkswagens, another's been chopped and dropped to create a lakebed hot rod, while our favorite is an ersatz Roach Coach. Blaine Fontana was responsible for the camper conversion, while Jeff Soto whipped up the salt flats car, and Kenton Parker decided to celebrate the xB's non-curvy shape with the foodservice conversion.
Bonneville speed trial cars serve as inspiration for one of the customized tCs, as well. Scion distributed three tCs to customizers for the 2008 Scion Tuner Challenge, with the winner to be announced during SEMA. Eddie Hahm of "Fast Eddies Garage" fame took it retro and created an homage to a time when hot rodding meant more than mounting dubs and a bodykit. Fatlace founder Mark Arcenal dreamt up a DTM racer, while John Pangilinan made an even more butch looking tC with his widebody design. These six cars are sure to be just some of the Scions at SEMA. Indeed, there will be several other custom Scion models at the brand's booth, like an xD with its top chopped. We'd be down with some of these customs, even if underneath it all, they're still Scions.
Gallery: Scion at SEMA 2008
[Source: helloscion]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BoneHeadOtto 10:20AM (10/09/2008)
Scion just needs to give us a hybrid xB based on the camry hybrid, only with the smaller 1.8L motor, and another xB with the 3.5L v6. That way those that want performance can get it for roughly the same gas mileage as the current crappy 2.4L 4 and those that want economy can get it with the Hybrid. And the Hybrid would likely still cost under $20k considering the base model is $16400.
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Torrent 10:51AM (10/09/2008)
How about some cars we want?
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Snark 11:17AM (10/09/2008)
That offroad xB looks absolutely awesome. I'd dig it.
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rygar 11:48AM (10/09/2008)
What? No xD? I think that has more potential than that Camry wagon called the xB.
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JuniorMint 12:45PM (10/09/2008)
Maybe they could mod a '09 xB to be more fuel efficient. And roomier. And perhaps a variation on the theme that was more distinctive, more square, if you will...Cube-like instead of HHR-like. I'D drive a car like that! (I DO drive a car like that!)
It's funny how off-the-wall bonkers the SEMA xB's end up looking (remember the monster-truck 1st gen?), while the tCs really only end up with a paint job. The xB's end up having major the roof sheared off and reattached, and the tC's get...dropped. Nice.
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rygar 1:02PM (10/09/2008)
Oh I just saw the one xD ;P
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catgirlshyla 1:31PM (10/09/2008)
Howabout a worthy successor to the AE86? You know, the RWD Scion tC that's being illegally used in Formula D?
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d3c509b 2:12PM (10/09/2008)
OK!
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/2125/toyota-ae86-%E2%80%98entry-level-sports-car%E2%80%99-to-be-reborn/
catgirlshyla 2:19AM (10/10/2008)
Howabout, like, 2 years ago?
Cardude 2:21PM (10/09/2008)
Sure, custom Scions are okay, yet when custom Mustangs, Chargers or American pickups are built, it's a crime. Gotta love that hipocracy!
Anyway, the 2 doors look sharp.
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Rick 2:30PM (10/09/2008)
Wait, they tuned the cars ugly?
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ugg.tryptophan 7:39PM (10/09/2008)
the definition of tuned is ugly
pheer6224 6:08PM (10/09/2008)
Listen Toyota, the offroader XB is a nice concept, but most of what we outdoorsy types want is a reasonably efficient, affordable steel box with a manual transmission and raingutters for a decent roof rack. Just look at the Xterra, VW vans, Honda Element, Toyota Pickups and Isuzu's we've bought over the years and build us a nice approximation.
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ugg.tryptophan 7:41PM (10/09/2008)
agreed, scion should start making cars that cater to the demographic thats actually buying them
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