New Scion xB vs the Old One - Which is Better?

When the Scion xB subcompact made its debut in 2004 (along with Toyota's Scion brand itself), America got its first real taste of undiluted Japanese eccentricity. A barely altered version of the domestic-market Toyota bB, sold in Japan since 1999, the xB stood out on American roads like a Bento box in a Texas steakhouse. Tiny, austere, and so unabashedly square it was actually cute, the xB won a loyal following among young (and old) drivers who admired its purity of purpose and uniquely unstylish style. Toyota sold more than 47,000 xBs in 2004; by 2006, that figure jumped to more than 61,000 annually.

Yet like everything American, or Americanized, the xB wasn't destined to remain tiny. The second-gen model, unveiled for 2008, grew by 12 inches in length and roughly 600 pounds. At the same time, it lost the original's neo-architectural physique, instead wearing more conventional sheetmetal fashioned like a melting bar of Lifebuoy. It also lost, it seemed to us then, much of the first xB's charming Japaneseness. The xB had grown up, yes, but in the process it had become a safe, tepid California Roll compared with its predecessor's serving of deliciously horrific sashimi...Continued

2009 Scion tC RWD Drift Car with a Toyota NASCAR Engine - Owner: Tanner Foust

Made Popular:27 hours ago - U.S. Top Gear non-host and racer Tanner Foust, a champion drifter, has traded in his Nissan 350Z to get fast and furious with this: a RWD, NASCAR V8-powered Scion tC Formula Drift car.

This car could not be less like a real Scion tC if it tried and, for drifting, it's probably a good thing it isn't.


Read More at Yahoo.com

2010 Scion xB will come Standard with a Pioneer Head Unit Stereo

TORRANCE, Calif., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scion xB urban utility vehicle adds value for the 2010 model year with an all-new standard Pioneer head unit and no increase to xB's base price. Also new for the model year is an optional Alpine Premium audio unit that's navigation- and back-up camera-ready. The 2010 xB will arrive at dealerships later this month.

The base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the iconic xB is $15,750 when equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, and $16,700 for the four-speed automatic with sequential shifting. In addition to the new head unit, the boxy xB receives one new exterior color, Sizzling Crimson Mica, which replaces Blackberry Crush Metallic.

All Scions come mono-spec with a generous list of standard features including power steering, windows, door locks and mirrors; cruise control; remote keyless entry; air conditioning; four-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake assist; dual front passenger airbags; front seat-mounted side airbags; front and rear side curtain airbags; and tilt steering wheel with audio controls.

The delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee for all Scion models is $670 and is not included in the MSRP. DPH fees for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

The xB focuses on youth with its all-new standard 160-watt Pioneer audio system. New features for 2010 include an organic electroluminescent (OEL) screen, USB connectivity, Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR), and a subwoofer RCA output. It also features USB and universal auxiliary (AUX) ports located on the center console which allow users to listen to their portable music collection through the xB's six Pioneer speakers.

Connectivity is achieved by simply plugging the portable music player, including Apple iPod and iPhone, into the USB or AUX port. The head unit's screen displays album, title, and artist information from select portable audio and storage devices. The audio system provides outstanding sound quality through the car's stereo system and constant power to select iPods. Music is controlled through the head unit and the steering wheel audio control buttons for radio, CD and certain USB devices. iPod users can also utilize an alphabetical speed search to find a specific artist or album.

The ASR function restores a wide, deep and rich quality to MP3/WMA/AAC sound. Through the subwoofer RCA output, xB owners can add an external amp to drive one or more subwoofers. Unique to the Pioneer system is the customizable welcome screen that also allows users to create a personal message of up to 16-characters.

A newly-available 200-watt Alpine Premium audio system has the same basic features as the standard Pioneer audio, but adds a 4.3-inch color touch panel thin film transistor (TFT) screen, HD Radio(TM) technology, and Media Expander (MX). The user can listen to HD Radio technology with the Alpine Premium audio system and view text, song titles, album and artist on the head unit. Alpine's MX improves compressed audio sound often found on digital music. The optional audio system is also back-up camera and navigation-ready.

Scion also offers an optional plug-in navigation unit for the Alpine Premium audio system. Navigation and audio functions utilize the head unit screen for display. Features include voice guidance; day and night screen modes; support in English, French and Spanish; 200 available address book entries; map coverage across the U.S. and Canada including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii; three map views (3-D, north up, and heading up); and more than six million points of interest. Users can also program up to three destinations before arriving at their final programmed stop. Scion makes this navigation unit customizable by allowing the user to change the vehicle position icon from an arrow to an icon of the xB which can be customized in every xB exterior color.

Both the standard Pioneer and optional Alpine Premium head units retain key Scion audio system features such as Scion Sound Processing (SSP) where listeners can choose from three pre-set equalizer settings, satellite radio compatibility and MP3, AAC and WMA capability. In addition, both units adjust the volume control based on driving speed. The sound systems feature six speakers: a tweeter and a speaker in each front door panel, plus two full-range speakers in the rear doors.


SOURCE: PRnewsWire.com

2010 Scion iQ Concept Tested at the 2009 New York Auto Show - US First Look

Toyota already sells the iQ, a tiny urban runabout, in Europe and Japan, but this is the first time the company has acknowledged a desire to sell the car here in America. The Scion iQ concept that debuted at the 2009 New York Auto Show wears high-zoot bodywork from Five Axis, a car customizer from Huntington Beach, California, but if an iQ comes to your Scion dealership, it likely won't look quite as crazy as this.

The point here, as is often the case with concept cars, is to gauge consumer interest, so Scion will display the iQ at several auto shows this year and then make a decision by the end of 2009 as to whether the iQ will be sold here. If the iQ does make it here, we'd expect to see it sometime in 2010. It would become the fourth Scion model, after the xA, the xB, and the tC coupe.

By American standards, the iQ is indeed tiny, but Scion thinks there is an emerging market for small urban cars for young people who increasingly eschew the suburbs where they grew up for hip city centers. At only about ten feet in length, the three-passenger iQ sure would be a snap to park.


Read More at AutomobileMag.com

The Best & Worst MPG Cars for 2009 by Consumer Reports

These lists show the vehicles within each category that achieved the best or worst gas mileage in our real-world tests. We have selected mpg cutoffs that are relative to each category. For example, a vehicle that gets 19 mpg would not be a standout among wagons, but it would be among the highest in the midsized SUV or minivan categories.

BEST FUEL ECONOMY

Budget Cars Overall Mpg=30 or Higher (Overall/Average MPG)

1. Smart Fortwo Passion (39)
2. Scion xD MT (34)
3. Toyota Yaris Sedan (33)
4. Honda Fit Sport MT (33)
5. Toyota Yaris Hatchback (30)
6. Honda Fit base (30)



Small Cars Overall Mpg=28 or Higher

1. Honda Civic Hybrid (37)
2. Toyota Corolla LE (32)
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