Toyota lights Fuse on Scion

ON ITS WAY: Youthful car brand arrives in Canada in 2010

Posted By SHAUN KEENAN, SUN MEDIA

Posted 5 hours ago

Toyota’s youthful Scion brand doesn’t arrive until 2010, but that’s not to say the party can’t start early. Rest assured. It has. Oh, and it’s pronounced sigh-on” NOT sky-on.”

Since arriving in the U. S. market in 2003, Scions three-vehicle line-up has become a mainstay of California’s automotive tuning culture. Each model — the xB, xD andtC– has its own group of followers. Private owners and aftermarket businesses have all flocked to Scion. As a result, we’ve seen everything from fully-built show and rump-shaking car audio competition vehicles to high-power turbocharged street cars and ultra-quick time attack racers.

So, while the Americans have been pulling apart and rebuilding Scions for a few years, Canadians will have some catching up to do when they reach our showrooms next year.

In the meantime, Toyota Canada has been using this one-off show car–the Scion Fuse sports coupe concept–to create buzz at the auto shows in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

Developed by Calty Design Research, Toyota’s North American design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., and Scion’s Advanced Product Strategy Team, the Fuse was built by Five Axis of Huntington Beach.

The Fuse is a styling exercise with the sole purpose to push the limits of a Scion sport coupe by combining entertainment, digital technology and versatility into one sinister-looking package. Its bold Japanese-anime-meets-1920s-Windy-City-styling makes a strong statement about the company’s intention to crack open the performance envelope among affordable, entry-level sport coupes.

Calty designers Alex Shen and Bob Mochizuki came up with the exterior design, which is inspired by the Super GT or Hako” racing cars of Japan. The strong performance statement is bolstered by the Fuse’s low and aggressive stance, further enhanced by a cool wraparound windshield that looks like it came straight off a helmet.

A quick glance reveals a menacing presence with slim, high-mounted, deep-set headlamps that communicate a serious attitude. A large intercooler is clearly visible behind the large rectangular intake vent on the front fascia, which hints at a turbo-or supercharged powerplant. There’s a tiny LCD screen set behind the front badge, which can be used to display either video or images just for fun.

Two sizable glass panels that run the length of the roof open and slide in both directions. A speed-activated spoiler is found in the back where the widebody fender flares wrap around the whole rear fascia. Deep-set vertical tail lamps enhance the look and LED-encircled dual exhaust tips are both stylish and functional as fog and reverse lamps.

These aren’t the only lighting tricks either–those 20-inch custom wheels feature tiny LEDs on each spoke that operate as turn indicators, while headlights and fog lamps illuminate in various colours. Everything is programmable.

And, then there’s the interior!

Here, Calty designers Alan Schneider and Ichirou Mukai have taken advantage of the long wheelbase and high beltline to create a welcome interior that revolves around the driver and yet offers occupants their own intimate experience.

Sensor-operated butterfly doors open to reveal an interior that merges technology, function and racing inspired elements in an asymmetrical pentagon where the driver is positioned at the apex of the surround.

The racing tub” influence in the overall design is obvious. Steering controls, for instance, utilize a traditional drive-by-wire steering setup though the actual wheel is cutting edge thanks to influences from race cars and video game controllers.

Another major highlight of the interior is the built-in media centre that takes up most of the dash. This allows passengers to watch movies, play video games, or do both, on a pair of 10.5-inch monitors found on the right side. The left side of this arrangement is a vehicle system/communication interface” where all audio, video and climate systems are controlled via a touchscreen.

Additional interior features include more accent lighting on all seats, doors and headliner. Seats are upholstered in soft-to-the-touch Mythos” fabric for max comfort.

Referred to as one plus stuff” design, the Fuse interior offer even more surprises. In fact, there are different modes (or configurations) into which the vehicle can be put.

In video mode, the front passenger seat folds flat and serves as a table or footrest, and rear occupants can utilize the aforementioned video screens for movies, games or to get on line and communicate with friends via onboard Wi-Fi. In cargo mode, utility is maximized as the front passenger seat and rear seats fold down. In driving mode, the video screens off to the right are turned off while the multi-informational display remains accessible to the driver.

The cabin comfortably seats four but can actually seat more when the car is parked, thanks to a super trick tailgate that converts to provide outdoor seating. A simple sweep of the foot over an infrared sensor located on the lip of the rear bumper opens the rear tailgate and sliding hatch, allowing the tailgate to drop down into a curb-high bench. A pair of rear foldout speakers and portable drink cooler can be used for picnics and/or tailgating.

All in all, the Scion Fuse Sports Coupe concept is a true reflection of the boundless limits and creativity that embodies all of the vital personalization options of a Scion product. To learn more, visit scionnation.ca and fiveaxis.net.

Source

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