Introduced on Wednesday: Scion Hako.

Is it real? Yes, but only conceptually. The Hako is a purely a design study from Toyota Tokyo Design.

What they said: Hako is a Japanese word for box, though the exterior designer on the concept, Thomas Bergeron, who is 28, said the vehicle was not inspired by the Scion xB. “American vintage has been very popular in Japan,” Mr. Bergeron added, referring to classic clothing and antique products, in addition to lowriders and rat rods.

What they didn’t say: It’s a tough job staying ahead of the curve. After bursting onto the scene on a swell of house music and graffiti art, Scion has seen its niche play become — gasp — mainstream. Owners of the recently released xD have an average age of 37. Owners of the xB are even older, 39. The Hako is definitely a statement that the company has not lost its edge.

What makes it tick? “What would you like to see in it?” Mr. Bergeron asked, before explaining that Scions have to be powered something that’s affordable for the young tastemakers. There’s no shortage of cameras, animated graphics on the dashboard and other gizmos. The roof is made entirely of glass and features a bar code that could be configurable to make different patterns. In other words, the Hako is powered by the imagination, for now.

How much, how soon? Scion is looking to expand its product lineup to four or five (possibly six) cars, so you can expect the Hako to inspire.

How’s it look? It looks like a small, squat and chunky futuristic version of a ’32 Ford coupe — in bright orange.

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