- Scion's Battle of the Builds has teams of servicemen and women customizing xBs.
- The winner was an entry from a U.S. Navy team. The vehicle is named The Squid.
- The top three entries will be displayed in Scion's booth at the 2010 SEMA show.
TORRANCE, California — A nautical-themed 2011 Scion xB concept called "The Squid" and customized by members of the U.S. Navy is the grand prize winner in a Battle of the Builds competition sponsored by Toyota. The Squid and two other military-inspired xBs will make their official debut at the 2010 SEMA show in November.
The Squid is the brainchild of The Salty Dogs, a team from the U.S. Naval Station in Mayport, Florida. Exterior cues include a dramatic graphics treatment featuring waves, tentacles and portholes. The judges praised it for the "overall look and craftsmanship."
Another entry, the Scion xB R&R 2011, veers away from military pursuits and adopts a rest-and-recreation approach. It looks suited for the beach with its aquatic colors of lime and turquoise and its roofless rear. The xB R&R was created by a team from the United States Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
The Scion xB Assault is the sole winner to use camo. The desert-style beige camouflage is highlighted by graphics of ammo belts and bold "xB Assault" lettering. This concept is the work of the United States Marine Corps from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, California.
"All three teams did an awesome job of transforming their xBs from cool concepts to complete head-turning rides," said Steve Hatanaka, Scion auto shows and events manager.
A closer look at how each military vehicle was built can be found at Battle of the Builds Web site.
Inside Line says: When these customizers get their discharge papers, automotive design may be a logical career choice. Until then, you can see their work at SEMA. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
dnoodles says:
09:35 AM, 10/20/2010
i have to say, i really like the marines vehicle best (looks very capable, while maintaining the small stature of the xB, could do without the paint job if it were in my driveway), but i think in terms of how much skill and work was involved, i give it up to the R&R concept. they fused the rear door, chopped the roof, dropped the suspension, and added a cage where there really was no easy option for that before, and it all looks pro. assault comes in second for work and skill involved. the squid painted a squid on the car. granted it's a cool lookin' squid, but how does that beat out the other 2 as far as customization?
v8vader says:
03:36 PM, 10/19/2010
hey look a front wheel drive hummer. good idea.
angry_mushroom says:
03:05 PM, 10/19/2010
The R&R version amuses me the most. Simply for it retro style. Granted the Marines version is the most badass.
PikachuRacer says:
12:50 PM, 10/19/2010
I like the Marine's version xB too.
The new-gen Scion xB already had the boxy, SUV-like shape. This could of been Scion's first AWD crossover (Toyota's Corolla Rumion, the new-gen xB's sister in Japan has AWD optional), but it seems Scion chose against AWD as always. The xA, xD, and the last xB have had the same fate for both-generations of Toyota Ist (Scion xA for the first Ist and xD on current Ist) and the Toyota bB (first Scion xB) had optional AWD too in Japan.
Anyways, This Scion xB "Assault" the Marines made brings new hope on the idea of a AWD or even an 4WD Scion. I knew the xB could be configured in such a way to make it a AWD/4WD (and a real good one in fact), and the Marines showed that this could be possible.
This would give a perfect idea on how to create a customizable Scion SUV or crossover model with AWD or 4WD for the future. The Scion xUv perhaps?
tmanz says:
12:48 PM, 10/19/2010
"Toyota ask the Marine's to design your future SUV's!"
Agree!
throwback says:
12:34 PM, 10/19/2010
These look good. I think the R&R would be a sleeper hit.
iskch says:
10:11 AM, 10/19/2010
The Marine's concept is a good one. Toyota ask the Marine's to design your future SUV's!
davicho says:
09:53 AM, 10/19/2010
Marines xB should have won the first prize..by far the best from those three.
madmallard says:
09:05 AM, 10/19/2010
holy cow, they all look good, but man, the Marines' entry looks completely transformed into a -capable- vehicle.