What Is It?
2004 Scion xB
What's Special About It?
Toyota is hungry for a bigger share of the youth market, and it's willing to go to great lengths to get it. The Toyota brand name has come to mean great things in areas like reliability. However, though we all no doubt value a vehicle that we can count on to get us from A to B, younger consumers — those under 25, or the "Net generation," as Toyota so eloquently defines them — want a bit more for their money. They crave a ride that's stylish and hip, and makes a youthful statement. Stylish? Hip? Youthful? Doesn't exactly sound like Toyota, does it? Wisely recognizing the futility of trying to reinvent its somewhat staid image, Toyota has instead chosen to launch a new division, which will be tasked with roping in the young 'uns. This offshoot calls itself Scion, and its models will hit the market this June.
Boxy vehicles have been out of favor for a while now, with car designers seeming to prefer voluptuous lines and rounded curves to sharp edges and hard angles. The surest way to stand out has always been to buck the trend. So, with its new xB, Scion has created a vehicle that makes a case for the following: It's hip to be square. Based on the bbX concept that the manufacturer unveiled a few months ago at the New York Auto Show, the xB boasts an exterior that melds flat planes and 90-degree angles. Riding on 15-inch wheels, the subcompact hunkers down close to the ground thanks to a slightly lowered suspension.
Slide inside the xB and you'll find yourself with plenty of head- and legroom. Getting in and out is a breeze, thanks to large door openings. The cabin boasts a clean industrial look with metal-tone trim and stylized black-on-white gauges. Power windows, locks and mirrors are standard, as well as sport seats and air conditioning.
Recognizing that those in its target demographic spend lots of time listening to the latest grooves, the xB offers a standard Pioneer AM/FM/CD sound system that plays MP3s. The system may be personalized — which means that it offers a range of settings that allows you to tailor the sound to suit your needs.
Just don't expect an abundance of horses under the hood. The xB is powered by a 108-horsepower, 1.5-liter engine, mated to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.
Why Should You Care?
If you've got a thing for square lines and flat surfaces, and desire a vehicle that stands apart from the pack, then the xB could be just your cup of tea. The xB starts at under $16,000, and will be available in California only starting this June; by June 2004, the vehicle will be available nationwide. — Warren Clarke
2004 Scion xB
What's Special About It?
Toyota is hungry for a bigger share of the youth market, and it's willing to go to great lengths to get it. The Toyota brand name has come to mean great things in areas like reliability. However, though we all no doubt value a vehicle that we can count on to get us from A to B, younger consumers — those under 25, or the "Net generation," as Toyota so eloquently defines them — want a bit more for their money. They crave a ride that's stylish and hip, and makes a youthful statement. Stylish? Hip? Youthful? Doesn't exactly sound like Toyota, does it? Wisely recognizing the futility of trying to reinvent its somewhat staid image, Toyota has instead chosen to launch a new division, which will be tasked with roping in the young 'uns. This offshoot calls itself Scion, and its models will hit the market this June.
Boxy vehicles have been out of favor for a while now, with car designers seeming to prefer voluptuous lines and rounded curves to sharp edges and hard angles. The surest way to stand out has always been to buck the trend. So, with its new xB, Scion has created a vehicle that makes a case for the following: It's hip to be square. Based on the bbX concept that the manufacturer unveiled a few months ago at the New York Auto Show, the xB boasts an exterior that melds flat planes and 90-degree angles. Riding on 15-inch wheels, the subcompact hunkers down close to the ground thanks to a slightly lowered suspension.
Slide inside the xB and you'll find yourself with plenty of head- and legroom. Getting in and out is a breeze, thanks to large door openings. The cabin boasts a clean industrial look with metal-tone trim and stylized black-on-white gauges. Power windows, locks and mirrors are standard, as well as sport seats and air conditioning.
Recognizing that those in its target demographic spend lots of time listening to the latest grooves, the xB offers a standard Pioneer AM/FM/CD sound system that plays MP3s. The system may be personalized — which means that it offers a range of settings that allows you to tailor the sound to suit your needs.
Just don't expect an abundance of horses under the hood. The xB is powered by a 108-horsepower, 1.5-liter engine, mated to a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.
Why Should You Care?
If you've got a thing for square lines and flat surfaces, and desire a vehicle that stands apart from the pack, then the xB could be just your cup of tea. The xB starts at under $16,000, and will be available in California only starting this June; by June 2004, the vehicle will be available nationwide. — Warren Clarke
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