In the latter part of the 1990s, Toyota realized it had a problem on its hands. Although its sales had been climbing steadily for years, the average age of its customers was also climbing. That's fine in the short term, but over the long haul if a company isn't attracting some younger clientele into its showrooms, sales will eventually begin to dry up. After several years of unsuccessfully trying to attract more youthful customers with cars like the Echo, the Japanese behemoth tried a new tack in early 2003. That was when Toyota announced a new brand called Scion that would be targeted ... Read More

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Official: Scion celebrates first 10 years with special edition models 1364822940

As the story goes, Toyota's Scion brand was imagined up in someone's basement and then came to fruition in 2003 as a youth-oriented brand with a focus on delivering unique vehicles with an equally unique retail experience. A decade later, the brand has grown to five models, which will each be commemorated starting in June with a new Scion 10 Series ...
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ETC: Customize a Scion, make it out of paper [w/video] 1355529720

Shin Tanaka is a "Japanese artist, graffiti writer, paper toy creator, designer" with Kennedy Center credentials – his Paper Shaper sneakers are especially popular. Scion has done a DIY collaboration with Tanaka that can get you every one of Scion's five models as a Paper Shaper. There are two ways to get in on the auto origami, the first being to ...
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Official: Scion xB death sentence uncertain, minor updates announced 1355146380

The last time we discussed the Scion xB and xD, in April of this year, it was to announce a report that both models were being killed. The vice president of the brand had said, "We don't have plans for a direct xB or xD replacement," but no date was given for the termination. Turns out rumors of their deaths have been greatly exaggerated: as part of a ...
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Report: Scion changing as brand buyers get older 1335877140

Toyota may seek to reposition Scion in the wake of slower sales, according to Automotive News. It's been 10 years since the Japanese automaker unveiled its youth-oriented brand, and Toyota recognizes that the original target demographic has officially grown up. After concluding a nine-month review of the Scion brand, the parent company has decided to move ...
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Podcast: Autoblog Podcast #279 1335300000

Lamborghini Urus, Beijing Motor Show, Scion xB and xD dropped, diesel vehicle sales up Episode #279 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Chris, Dan, and Chris Paukert are joined by the phenomenon that is Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics to chat about the Lamborghini Urus, the Beijing Motor Show, the end of the Scion xB and xD, and the uptick in ...

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Report: Scion xB, xD models getting the axe 1335209220

Scion has long been labeled as a "youth brand," so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to read word of parent Toyota turning over the marque's aging nameplates so quickly. According to Ward's Auto, Scion is set to kill off its xB and xD models – the first a onetime icon for the brand, the latter an econobox that never truly caught on with buyers (not ...
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Official: Scion prices 2012 xB and XD Release Series models 1317328140

Scion has released a volley of information on the company's latest Release Series models. The 2012 xD Release Series 4.0 will come to dealers dipped in an exclusive Premium Blizzard Pearl paint with 16-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment. Inside, color-matched trim panels along the center console, steering wheel and doors echo the exterior scheme, and ...
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Denmark gets eBOX for AC Propulsion's 5th Anniversary 1312635720

AC Propulsion, a global company involved in electric drive design, development and manufacturing, has delivered a battery-powered eBox to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) for tests that evaluate vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies. The research aims to advance the integration of electric vehicles with Denmark's grid. The eBox delivery came on the ...
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Pandora integration comes to the 2012 Scion xB 1309298460

The 2012 Scion xB will begin rolling into dealerships next month, and while there's not much in the way of upgrades to the exterior, interior or powertrain, two new stereo options are included in the boxy package. The standard xB's Pioneer head unit is now equipped with HD Radio, allowing stations to broadcast multiple audio feeds over one frequency. If ...
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Consumer Reports picks best used cars for teens [w/video] 1300122000

Letting a 16-year-old loose on the world behind the wheel of a couple of tons of metal is a terrifying thought. Statistically, teens are more likely to die in a car accident than by any other means, and, most of the time, those accidents are avoidable. To make picking a car for your teen easier, Consumer Reports has come up with a list of relatively ...