Scion xB Reinvented as a Snowboarder's Delight for SEMA Show

It may look like something that popped out of the movie screen and in particular, Pixar's animated Cars franchise, but the funky looking Scion xB is just another one of those wacky project cars that are looking to impress the visitors of next week's 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Called the Scion xB Numeric, the concept is the result of the collaborative work of the following companies: 686, which is a premium snowboarding outerwear brand, Scion Racing –you already know what it does- and Spin Imaging, which specializes in vehicle wraps and graphics.

Read more »

Scion iQ Loses its Top and Heads Down to the Strip for the SEMA Show

There's no question that the Pit Boss Cartel iQ is the weirdest of all the Scion iQ mini cars heading down to Las Vegas for next week's SEMA aftermarket show.

Created by Cartel, the Pit Boss is a two-seat speedster version of the small Scion supposedly inspired by the world of motorsports but equipped with the latest word in infotainment systems. A strange mix indeed.

Read more »

Scion Previews a Trio of iQ Tuned Concept Cars Ahead of SEMA Show

It won't come as much of a surprise to learn that Toyota's Scion brand is planning to bring several souped-up and conceptual versions of its new iQ mini to the 2011 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas next week.

After being originally revealed around the world with Toyota's badges and later on, with Aston Martin's name on its hood, the iQ reached U.S. shores as a Scion earlier this month, so it's only reasonable that the Japanese carmaker wants to create some buzz around the car.

There's more to come, but for the time being we have pictures and details on three customized iQs: the iQ-MR by Tatsu, the iQ-RX by Jon Sibal (yes, that Jon Sibal) and the iQ-RS by Michael Chang. You can check them all out right after the jump.

Read more »

Scion’s People Talk About the FR-S Concept Coupe

While Toyota’s European engineers are putting the final touches on the production version of the FT-86, here in North America, the Japanese company’s Scion brand is trying to keep the hype going around the FR-S concept car, which debuted at the New York International Auto Show in April.

Scion released two new videos on the its upcoming rear-wheel drive sports car hosted by Ken Gushi, a resident Scion Racing driver who currently pilots a 2009 tC in the Formula Drift series, and Jack Hollis, the Japanese firm’s Vice President.

The two men talk about the FR-S and how it came to be. You can watch the clips by following the jump below.

Read more »

Poll: What’s Your Favourite Toyota FT-86 Concept?

Toyota’s FT-86 sports coupe has to be one of the most hotly anticipated cars of the last ten years. A sporty, lightweight, front-engined and rear-wheel-drive spiritual successor to the legendary AE86, brought to you by the same company that built the Celica, MR2 and Supra? Yes, please!

So far, we’ve had three iterations of the “AE86 Nouveau”. First, there’s the original, scene stealing Toyota FT-86 Concept from the2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Then there’s the much derided FT-86 II Concept from Geneva 2011. And lastly, there’s the Ferrari-emulating Scion FR-S that took the 2011 New York Auto Show by storm.

Read more »

VIDEO: Scion Walks us Around the New FR-S Sports Coupe Concept

Toyota’s North American subsidiary, Scion, surprised us today at the opening of the 2011 New York Auto Show with the world premiere of its new FR-S sports coupe concept. We say ‘surprised’ not because we weren’t expecting a Scion-badged Toyota FT-86 to make its appearance in the Big Apple, but because of its refined design that made us forget about the FT-86 II concept we saw less than two months ago at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Read more »

2011 NYIAS: New Scion FR-S Concept Brings Sexy Back to the FT-86

The most hotly anticipated model of the New York Auto Show, Scion’s version of the Toyota FT-86 sports coupe concept, finally made its world premiere today. The study is named FR-S, which stands for ‘Front-Engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport’, though we prefer the definition given by Jack Hollis, Scion vice president, during the New York Show presentation.

“FR-S stands for Front-engine… Rear-wheel drive… Sport. Pretty simple. I personally believe it should stand for Friggin’ Really Sweet… but the legal department at Toyota was NOT feeling the same way,” said Hollis.

The first thing most readers will notice about the FR-S is the refined design compared to the latest concept version of the Toyota FT-86, shown in Geneva this past March. Though it’s hard to pinpoint all the changes without having the cars side by side, the photos reveal a tweaked front end with revamped headlamps and a different bumper design without the aftermarket like add-on LED strips.

Read more »

Breaking: Scion Teases FT-86 II Concept RWD Coupe Prior to NY Show Debut

Toyota has been teasing us with its upcoming compact rear-wheel drive sports car since the original FT-86 concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, which was followed up by the FT-86 G Sports study a year later at the same show, and more recently, by the almost production-ready FT-86 II concept in Geneva. Now it’s time to get our first glimpse of the North American version of the FT-86 that will be marketed under the Scion brand.

Even though the Japanese firm’s North American subsidiary only makes word of a new Scion Concept to be revealed at the New York International Auto Show on April 20, 2011, without giving any further details, the car shadowed in the teaser video below leaves few doubts that the model in question is the FT-86.

Read more »

Scion has Humor: All-Stretched out Cartel xB Limo

With the annual SEMA Show near the world's most famous Strip almost upon us (November 2 to 5), automakers and tuners alike are rushing in to give us an early preview of their custom proposals. The most recent case-in-point: the "All Stretched Out Cartel xB".

The name says it all, but just to clarify, Cartel [King] is the nickname of one of the tuners involved in the creation of the VIP themed, super-long Scion xB, Jeremy Lookofsky. Though, we could see this customized xB being a hit with certain other cartels... Gallery after the jump.

Read more »

NY Show: Five-Axis Beefs Up 2011 Scion tC Coupe

For those that found the second-generation Scion tC far too timid-looking, Toyota's tuning partner Five-Axis prepared a special version of the car to demonstrate the many ways in which the all-new coupe can be customized with internal and aftermarket accessories.

The Five Axis Scion tC show car features a four-inch wide-body conversion and a unique House of Color custom formulated exterior paint appropriately named, Bloodshot.

Read more »