Toyota pulls the plug on Scion

2016_Scion_iA_001_E5C038136447A5D709619CD0C287711B1ABB6B5C_low

Toyota made the surprising announcement this week that it’s giving up on the Scion brand. It’s somewhat surprising from our perspective since we were pretty impressed with the Scion vehicles we tested for this model year.

As it turns out, the three models we tested the FR-S sports coupe, the iA sedan and the iM hatchback — will be rebadged as Toyota models.

Read the rest of this entry »

  

You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook for content updates. Also, sign up for our email list for weekly updates and check us out on Google+ as well.

Car Review: 2016 Scion FR-S

The Scion FR-S is one of three models in a series of sports cars developed jointly by Toyota and Subaru. It’s known as the Toyota 86 outside the US and as the Subaru BRZ worldwide. I had the FR-S for a week through some mild November weather and was pretty disappointed to give it up.

Exterior

I’m impressed with the understated design of the FR-S with its clean, aggressive lines. It’s not gaudy at all and the designers resisted any impulse to go overboard. The low stance and aerodynamic shape fit the FR-S perfectly and I like the front headlights as well. The car looks great from every angle.

Read the rest of this entry »

  

First Drive: 2016 Scion iA and iM

As Scion introduced its new iA and iM models in Santa Monica, I was thrilled to be back in my SoCal stomping grounds to test these new vehicles on the beautiful mountain and canyon roads around the Malibu area. The winding roads and climbs would offer a perfect setting for our test drive, and we started off on a beautiful summer day by making our way North up PCH with spectacular views of the Pacific to our left.

The drive started with the all-new 2016 iA, the first sedan model ever offered by Scion. The iA grabs your attention right away with a bold and pronounced front grille. The sporty and aggressive lines of the front end of this entry-level compact sedan gives the impression of a more expensive model and will certainly appeal to buyers looking for a distinctive design.

Read the rest of this entry »

  

The Scion Monogram Series

Scion Monogram Series Infographic

  

Car Review: 2014 Scion tC

scion_tc_1

The absolutely red 2014 Scion tC sitting in the driveway caught our attention right from the start. There is something really smooth about this car, and you can’t help but notice the stunning good looks of this three-door liftback. I haven’t driven a bunch of Scions, and was interested in performance and just about everything else, so a week behind the wheel was fitting.

EXTERIOR

The 2014 Scion tC is defined by more assertive styling, starting from the front with distinctive new headlamps and an all-new hood that extends lower toward a more open, muscular grille with an embedded tC logo. The new upper- and lower-grille treatments are bordered by LED accent lighting. This new design raises the level of coolness by leaps and bounds. Beneath the rear bumper, a new black-out valance features an FR-S style, lower-center trim piece and lower perimeter reflectors, while new advanced LED tail lamps complete the picture. New 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/45R18 tires carry the aggressive character through to the car’s profile. Standard on the tC, the wheels feature a premium dark gray finish contrasted by eye-catching machined-spoke surfaces. I was asked by more than a few people as to what kind of car the Scion tC was, because they really liked what they saw.

INTERIOR

Our test vehicle had what was needed in the cabin while keeping the price down to very affordable levels, and we were just fine with that! The 2014 Scion tC’s cabin adds new technology, additional convenience features and upgraded materials. The tC is the first model in the family to come with the all-new Scion Standard Display Audio, featuring a 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen. The system was incorporated into all 2014 Scion models, making Scion the industry’s first non-luxury brand to feature a touchscreen audio system as standard equipment across its entire lineup. The new audio system comes equipped with features that Scion drivers will enjoy, including Bluetooth compatibility, HD Radio Technology and steering wheel-mounted controls. By the way, the sport steering wheel in the 2014 Scion tC is one of the best in the business.

Read the rest of this entry »