Scion finally coming to Canada in 2010
Canadians waiting for the day when they can purchase a Scion without heading south of the boarder can soon rejoice. Toyota's "hip" brand will go on sale in Canada in 2010, seven years after the marquee went on sale in the U.S. Canada will receive all three Scions at launch, the tC the xB, and the xD. And Scion ordering will be no different than it is in the States, with plenty of a-la-carte options available to personalize your Gen Y-mobile.
Although sales have taken a hit of late, Scion has been very successful for Toyota overall, as 70% of all Scion buyers are new to the Toyota family. We're just wondering why it took so long to bring our Canadian brethren to the dinner table in the first place. Thanks for the tip, Jarrett!
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE:
SCION to hit the streets in Canada
Toyota Canada Inc. to roll out youthful lifestyle brand in 2010
TORONTO, Oct. 19 /CNW/ - Make it yours. Express yourself with it. Tune it. Turn it up. Get it. Integrate it. SCION, the streetwise automotive brand that forges the close fit between "car" and "community", is coming to Canada
in 2010.
"Young Canadians have been telling us they want SCION, and now their desire is within reach. SCION is an authentic brand, created to mesh with youthful tastes and sensibilities, and we're excited to expand our presence in Canada with new vehicles that offer a unique blend of flexibility, personalization, affordability and fuel efficiency," said Larry Hutchinson, Director of Toyota Canada Inc. "The time is right to bring SCION culture to
Canada."
SCION attracted new customers to the Toyota family when the brand was launched in the United States in 2003. SCION changed the purchase experience by allowing visitors to browse, investigate, research or just discover SCION entirely at their own pace through grassroots events and a highly-interactive and constantly evolving web site. What visitors discover is a unique lineup of vehicles that are high in personal expression - lifestyle products on wheels, offered as well-equipped models with huge opportunities for personalization through aftermarket-style original equipment accessories.
"SCION is a unique brand, yet still a member of the Toyota family so it benefits from the same high standards as our Toyota and Lexus lines," Mr. Hutchinson continued, noting that in the United States, about 70 per cent of SCION buyers are new to Toyota, and over fifty percent of SCION owners migrate to a Toyota vehicle as their needs and wants evolve. "As such, SCION will be an important avenue through which we reach new drivers - those who represent the greatest future growth of the market - and give them the opportunity to experience, first-hand, Toyota's reputation for quality, fuel efficiency, safety and value."
SCION will come to Canada with three vehicles:
- The SCION tC compact sport coupe combines style and fun in a five-seater hatchback, topped with a remarkable panorama moon roof;
- The SCION xD blends personality in a subcompact five-door hatchback;
- The SCION xB compact five-door hatchback delivers astounding spaciousness wrapped in a cubic cladding that's game for urban adventure.
All SCION models are well equipped with a full range of features, from air conditioning and cruise control to serious audio systems with SCION Sound Processing.
Upgrades and accessories can be added to any SCION a la carte, and range from unique wheels, shift knobs and sport pedals to satellite radio systems and a broad selection of TRD (Toyota Racing Development) performance enhancements. Every SCION's safety system currently includes front dual-stage airbags, front seat mounted side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, three-point lap and shoulder belts for all occupants.
SCION will be established at select Toyota Dealer locations, using a "store within a store" model, and will be rolled out in phases. Watch for launches in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2010. These will be followed by other Canadian urban centres. For more information on SCION, Canadians can visit www.scionnation.ca.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Kowell 1:33PM (10/20/2008)
There will probably be one major difference between US and Canadian version of these cars...PRICING.
Expect Toyota to bump the base prices by a good 2K and 500$ option kits to grow to a more profitable 1500$
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akboss 1:40PM (10/20/2008)
Tell me about it. I'm pissed that you guys get the MazdaSpeed3 for $23K, and we're suckered with $29,360 for the same car. The difference was even more pronounced when the dollar was almost even, I think Mazda has reduced the price from $31K CAD. Why isn't everyone south of the border buying the MS3!? I realize this is a Scion article, but $23K with real build quality and driving dynamics! Come ON! Honestly, I don't work for Mazda, I just think its a great car.
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Tam 1:45PM (10/20/2008)
akboss: I bought a MS3 last weekend, dealers here in the SF Bay area are offering them for under invoice price (around $21k). :D
Benfolio 1:45PM (10/20/2008)
Hey, quit bitchin', you guys got the Pontiac Firefly.
Judy Zik 2:36PM (10/20/2008)
Don't worry Ben. We are making up for it. You too can now own a G3/Wave in all it's "Performance Division" glory.
Seriously. Mazdaspeed 3 for $21k and everybody down there isn't driving one?
Benfolio 6:04PM (10/20/2008)
No, not really. *looks out window* Yup, there's a bunch on the lot here. Not as slow a seller as the MS6, but not as rare, either.
Although we had a 2009 come in last week in white. Grand Touring, but no Nav. 23k.
Almost wanted to trade the wife's CX-7 and my Legacy and leave her with nothing and me stuck in the snow this winter.
But who cares. MS3 =
Travis 1:46PM (10/20/2008)
"70% of all Scion buyers are new to the Toyota family"
ya, too bad Toyota is void of anything that will gap between the two (three including Lexus) brands so that 70% move on to something else (non-Toyota) when they get something new. I own a tC now, and unless they can come out with something like that Toyota/Subaru coupe and quick, I'll be the "one and done" consumer with Toyota/Scion.
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fixitfixitstop 3:09PM (10/20/2008)
The tC is the ONLY Toyota product I would consider buying.
JuniorMint 4:10PM (10/20/2008)
If you're going to make up numbers, why don't you just say "140% of buyers will get something else!"
I'm a first-time Toyota transplant (was a Chevy man), and I hate their new offerings, but you can have my Toyota when you pry the keys from my cold, dead fingers.
Having a car that actually starts when you turn the key is too important. It took this funky box to get me into a Toyota, but now that I'm here - I'm not leaving, ever.
Having said that, it would be nice if they sold a FEW cars that weren't mind-numbingly boring.
Tam 1:51PM (10/20/2008)
Scion = "sigh-yawn"
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refugee7 8:20PM (10/20/2008)
Agreed, not much else to the tC besides its boy-racer looks. FF doesn't please me.
Craig 1:57PM (10/20/2008)
I'm surprised they didn't do this a long time ago, or even introduce it here first. We're often the Guinea pig for small cars (because we buy more of them).
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Rogue_G 2:03PM (10/20/2008)
Who wants to take a bet that they jack up the MSRP by $5k-$10k?
Really, I'd absolutely LOVE to hear their justification this time! "But wait, won't reducing the price devalue currently leased veh-.. wait, there aren't any leased Scions in Canada yet, are there? Hmm.. getbacktoyouonthat - *poof*"
Importing is still so much cheaper. Even if they won't let you finance in the US, the going interest rate right now is better than most manufacturers. >4%APR would never reach the difference in savings you get by the time the average person could pay off the average car. That doesn't even factor the tax you avoid from the difference in cost. Only downside is the increased amount of personal effort involved in importing the car, which has been very well detailed online these days.
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StarkRavingMad 2:02PM (10/20/2008)
Scion in Canada?!! Whoopeee...
Like we give a damn what they sell/dont sell in Canada.
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Rocketboy 3:29PM (10/20/2008)
If you were old enough to drink beer you'd give a damn.
fixitfixitstop 3:58PM (10/20/2008)
Right. Because the only people on the internet are Americans.
Benfolio 6:06PM (10/20/2008)
......they have internet in Canadia?
Bomchickawahwah 10:40PM (10/20/2008)
Where's "Canadia?"
Allan 2:07PM (10/20/2008)
I really hope by the time they start selling in Canada that they have released a replacement for the tC. They really should be announcing one here in the next month or two.
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tanooki2003 2:14PM (10/20/2008)
You guys in Canada aren't missing much. They really are nothing to brag at or about.
Sicons are more like "Meh"
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