Scion News .Net » Scion xB

Scion xB Release Series 8.0

ScionNews — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:56:42 +0000

On November 17th, Scion is proud to announce the launch of the all-new Scion xB Release Series 8.0. Featured in an eye-catching new color, Voodoo Blue, you’ll be sure to stand out and make a statement with this bold exterior. The latest addition to the xB Release Series will be making its debut at the 2010 LA Auto Show, along with a special YouTube interactive that invokes the spirit of the xB. Fans of the series will also be able to catch a first glimpse online at http://www.scion.com/rsxb.

Only 2,000 of this limited edition will ever exist in Voodoo Blue, each featuring:

Kenstyle Body Kit: Designed by leading JDM body kit manufacturer Kenstyle. The kit consists of a front, rear lower valance, and side skirts. It also features the Kenstyle logo.
Sunroof: Slide and tilt power sunroof
Color-Tuned Seat Fabric: Unique black fabric with blue highlights
Illuminated Numbered Badging: New Illuminated design featuring a Scion RS Logo and sequentially numbered badge
RS Logo Floor and Cargo Mats: Mats sporting the Scion RS Logo
Optional Rear Spoiler: Color matched in Voodoo Blue to compliment the xB RS 8.0*

(*Limited Production, in limited quantities at additional cost while supplies last.)

Starting at $19,125* for manual transmission and $20,075* for automatic, the Scion xB RS 8.0 is available for purchase November 2010! Every vehicle comes well-equipped with A/C, AM/FM/CD system, power windows, door locks and mirrors, chrome exhaust tip, and anti-lock brakes.

Furthermore, Scion is inviting everyone to take a closer look at the latest xB RS. YouDo VooDoo is a unique YouTube experience that provides multiple views of the xB while giving users the power to put the car under a spell. By interacting with a menu that accompanies video of the car, fans can watch the xB growl, grow, levitate and spin! Haven’t had enough? Be sure to check out the official Scion website for more info on all-things xB!

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Toyota Motor Sales Earns Six Segment Awards to Lead All Manufacturers in J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Initial Quality Study

ScionNews — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:20:57 +0000

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that its Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands received a combined six segment awards in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS), more than any other manufacturer.

“We are very pleased to have earned the six segment awards and by the strong showing of our Lexus brand and the Scion xB in the 2010 IQS,” said Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer, TMS. “However, the 2010 study was conducted at the height of intense media coverage of Toyota’s and Lexus’ recalls earlier this year, so we anticipated an impact on this specific ranking of these vehicles.”

Lentz continued: “The IQS 90-day feedback is one measurement – along with warranty claims, long-term durability, resale value and buyer loyalty – that helps us gauge the overall quality of our products. We stand behind our strong performance in these and other areas and remain firmly committed to ensuring the superior quality, safety and long-term value of our cars and trucks.”

Lexus LS Shows Fewest Quality Problems in the Industry

Lexus ranked fourth among all nameplates in the 2010 IQS with 88 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Among individual models, the Lexus LS earned the distinction of fewest quality problems in the industry, with just 55 PP100.

Lexus also captured three segment awards to tie for the most awards of any nameplate in this year’s study. These include the Lexus GS for Midsize Premium Car, the Lexus GX 460 for Midsize Premium Crossover/SUV, and the Lexus LS 460 for Large Premium Car. This is the third year in a row that the LS had placed first in its segment and the 10^th time in 13 years that the LS has been at the top of its segment.

Toyota Receives Two Segment Awards, but Recent Recalls Impact Overall Rank

Reflecting heightened customer awareness of Toyota’s recent recalls, the Toyota nameplate PP100 increased in this year’s study by 16 PP100 to 117 PP100 resulting in a ranking of 21.

At the same time, the FJ Cruiser received the segment award for the Compact Crossover/SUV, while the Sienna ranks highest in the Midsize Van segment for the second year in row.

With the exception of the Highlander, all of the TMS models involved in the company’s recent recalls experienced an increase in reported issues, while those not involved in the recalls, taken together, showed an overall improvement over 2009.

Scion Continues to Rise in the Ranks

The Scion nameplate moved up again in this year’s study, from 20^th to 18^th with 114 PP100, an improvement of four PP100. The Scion xB earned the 2010 segment award for Compact Multipurpose Vehicle, while the Scion tC improved by 10 PP100 to 109 PP100.

Production Facilities Earn Top Honors

Toyota production facilities once again took the top three honors in the Asia Pacific region for 2010. The Kyushu 2 plant (IS line, ES 350, RX line) earned the Gold Award with 32 PP100; the Tahara 3 plant (GS line, IS sedans, LS 460) earned the Silver Award with 33 PP100; and the Kyushu 1 plant (HS 250h, RX line) earned the bronze award with 37 PP100.

For the North and South America region, the Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, plant (RX 350) earned a Gold Award with 30 PP100.

Toyota Segment Awards Chart

Model	IQS Segment	Problems per 100
Lexus LS 460	Large Premium Car	55
Lexus GS	Midsize Premium Car	75
Toyota FJ Cruiser	Compact Crossover/SUV	83
Lexus GX 460	Midsize Premium Crossover/SUV	84
Toyota Sienna	Midsize Van	102
Scion xB	Compact Multipurpose Vehicle	108

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Scion Launches Car Customization Competition for U.S. Servicemen and Servicewomen

ScionNews — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:41:42 +0000

Scion announced today that it has launched a unique car customization challenge strictly for active duty military personnel. The “Battle of the Builds” contest will tap into the creativity, teamwork and can do attitude of today’s U.S. Military and challenge them to design a customized Scion xB.

On May 3, teams of dedicated service members were offered the chance to describe their vision of how they would customize a Scion xB based on a $15,000 budget. A total of 25 semi-finalists were selected and their proposals can be viewed on www.BattleOfTheBuilds.com. Scion now needs your vote to select the finalists.

Now through June 30, military personnel as well as civilians will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite customized Scion xB by visiting www.BattleOfTheBuilds.com.

The three finalists will be announced on July 6 and will receive use of a Scion xB and $15,000 to make their vision a reality. Teams will have approximately 12 weeks to complete their build project.

One car will be selected as the Grand Prize winner, and the team will be invited to the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas to showcase their modified xB in the Scion booth.

“Scion knows and appreciates the job our military does every day,” says Jack Hollis, vice president of Scion. “Members of our military work as a team and have unmatched technical and mechanical skills. This contest is designed to let our service members showcase these talents in a fun and exciting way. Creating a design competition especially for the military is one of the ways Scion thanks and salutes our country’s finest.”

To support U.S. troops, Scion is working closely with Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps commercial sponsorship units and base Auto Skills Centers. Full contest details can be found at www.BattleOfTheBuilds.com.

Car enthusiasts, team supporters, and other interested parties can register on the Battle of the Builds website (www.BattleOfTheBuilds.com) to cast a vote for their three favorite designs between June 16 and June 30. During the voting and build phases, the program can be followed on Scion’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/scion) and at www.BattleOfTheBuilds.com.

Scion, from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., was developed with a new generation of youthful buyers in mind. Scion’s mission is to provide distinctive products, the opportunity to personalize, and an innovative, consumer-driven process at the retail level. The brand features three ground-breaking models with a wide array of standard features: the xD urban subcompact five-door, the iconic xB urban utility vehicle and the tC sports coupe. Scion launches the all-new, premium micro-subcompact iQ in early 2011. The Scion brand often applies new practices in all aspects of its business and pushes the creativity envelope with non-traditional advertising and marketing to engage young consumers. Scion also supports originality through its programs in the artistic community. For more information, visit www.scion.com.

About MWR. Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) is a Services-wide, comprehensive network of support and leisure programs and services primarily designed to enhance the experience and improve the quality of life of our uniformed service members, their families and military retirees. MWR professionals worldwide strive to deliver a wide range of quality programs, services and events ranging from family, child and youth programs to athletics, recreation, entertainment, and auto skills activities. Whether it be at a stateside or overseas base, on board a ship deployed to the Arabian Gulf, or on the battlefield half a world away, MWR is proud to serve the needs, interests and responsibilities of the entire military community for as long as they are an part of the military.

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Scion Announces Pricing for Restyled 2011 xB

ScionNews — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:32:36 +0000

Scion today announced Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the restyled 2011 xB urban utility vehicle that will arrive at dealerships later this month. The 2011 xB is upgraded with an aggressive new look on the outside and added comfort and convenience on the inside. The enhancements to the 2011 xB come with a $150 price increase over the 2010 model resulting with MSRPs of $16,000 and $16,950 for manual and automatic transmission models, respectively.

The xB enters the 2011 model year with fresh exterior styling including changes to the front and rear bumpers, grill, headlights and taillights, which together reveal a more aggressive demeanor. The new front bumper features enlarged outer vents, improving the appearance of the vehicle’s stance. The front grille features a new honeycomb pattern and improved headlamp design. The single rear backup lamp has been integrated into combination lamps to produce a more refined appearance. The 2011 xB will be available in seven exterior colors including the all-new Army Rock Metallic and Elusive Blue Metallic. Hypnotic Teal will no longer be offered in the xB color palette.

Changes to the 2011 xB’s interior offer significantly more comfort and convenience to all of its occupants. Driver- and front-passenger seats are redesigned to include larger bolsters for greater comfort and stability. Front and rear seats have a new light gray fabric with a geometric pattern for the seating surfaces contrasted by black fabric covering the bolsters, bases and backs. A combination center console with sliding armrest has been added to increase driver comfort and utility. Improved gauge-cluster design with black background, along with a separate clock and outside temperature display, provides better visibility to information. Completing the changes, the steering wheel now includes both telescopic and tilt functions.

The delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee for all Scion models is $670 and is not included in the MSRP. DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

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Scott Kelley and his all-motor xB Bullet join Team Scion Racing

ScionNews — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:01:16 +0000

There was a time when professional drag racer Scott Kelley used to battle Scion on a pretty regular basis – in particular, the tC of Leslie Armendariz. At the peak of popularity for sport compact drag racing, it was not uncommon for the two fierce all-motor competitors to square off against one another multiple times during the course of a season.

That history is likely why Kelley’s new race car is raising an eyebrow or two. The Scion xB Bullet is set to make its track debut in February, and Kelley is aiming for it to be the fastest naturally-aspirated xB in the world.

The car actually shares quite a bit with Kelley’s last ride, the Toyo Tires Bullet Toyota Corolla XRS. The xB is running the same tube chassis and Toyota Racing Development-built 2.6-liter 3RZ motor from the famous N/A Toyota racer.

When the idea came to campaign the xB, it happened to work out that both Kelley’s Corolla and the Scion have the same wheelbase. Several custom carbon-fiber body panels later, the new Bullet is the spitting image of a run-of-the-mill xB – save for the massive drag racing slicks bolted to the front hubs!

Contrary to what may seem obvious, the boxy xB actually fares well in terms of being aerodynamically efficient. Kelley says relative to the first-generation xB, which was generally boxier and had little rake to the windscreen, the body of the second-gen urban utility vehicle is sufficiently rounded and the angle of the windshield should perform adequately for drag racing.

Kelley has actually been a part of the Toyota family since 2005, when the Corolla Bullet was first conceived. The car debuted in the spring of 2006 and was quickly a force to be reckoned with, propelling Kelley down the drag strip in the 9.5-second range at over 140 miles per hour. As recently as 2008, he was awarded the Battle of the Imports’ Sport Compact Driver of the Year, and his Corolla is the current NHRA national Super Stock EX Class record holder with a 9.68-second pass at 140mph.

Kelley, who is the son of pioneering VW drag racer Larry, first began racing in the 1980s, when he and his father developed the first in the Bullet line, the Fastback Bullet. He made his first professional start in 1994 and won his first national championship in 1999 in the all-VW Pro Racing Association.

That same year Kelley contested his first sport compact events in the Pro All-Motor category. Two years later he had won the class in the inaugural NHRA Sport Compact championship, the second national title of his career, and held the Elapsed Time (E.T.) and Mile per Hour (MPH) records for the All Motor class in both the NHRA and Import Drag Racing Circuit. He quickly realized, however, that the old school VW was not the future of sport compact racing and began examining a switch in platforms.

The Scion xB Bullet makes its track debut February 26 to 28 in the NHRA Division 7 season opener at Firebird International Raceway, competing in the Super Stock EX Class. For more information on Kelley and the Scion xB Bullet, stay tuned to the Scion Racing Facebook page at www.facebook.com/scionracing.

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2010 Toyota Corolla and Scion xB Earn Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ‘Top Safety Pick’ Award

ScionNews — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:57:23 +0000

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that for the second consecutive year the Toyota Corolla compact sedan and Scion xB have each earned “Top Safety Pick” awards.

The “Top Safety Pick” is the highest safety designation awarded by the IIHS. To qualify for the award, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of “good” in the IIHS’ front, side, rollover, and rear impact tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. The IIHS testing was made more stringent in 2010 with the addition of the rollover test, but it did not stop the Corolla and xB from capturing their second consecutive “Top Safety Pick.”

“’Top Safety Pick’ recognizes the vehicles that afford buyers the best overall protection in common crashes,” says IIIHS president Adrian Lund. “With more top performers, there’s no reason to buy a small car with less than stellar crash test ratings.”

The IIHS is an independent non-profit research and communications organization funded by auto insurance companies.

To earn a “good” rollover rating, a roof must be able to support the equivalent of four times the vehicle’s weight compared with the current federal standard of 1.5. In the IIHS testing, the xB’s roof withstood a force equal to 6.8 times its vehicle weight. The Corolla’s weight withstood 5.1 times its vehicle weight.

All Toyota and Scion models meet or exceed the safety requirements of the federal government and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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A Scion Electric Car That Pays For Itself

Foques — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:55:44 +0000

EVs (electric vehicles) are equipped with exceptionally large batteries, and to prove this fact a test model was recently displayed using a modified Toyota Scion xB.

It showed how the owner of Scion EV could get paid everytime they plugged it in for charging. How? The spare electricity stored in your car could be sold to the electric company at times of surge in the area’s usage e.g. during Superbowl, holiday occasions etc.

The modified Toyota Scion xBThe was showcased during the Annual American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting last week, having organized by a few scientists interested in showing the capabilities of V2G (vehicle to grid) technology. Basically, the idea behind this is not only to benefit its owners, but also the environment. Take for instance the reduction in the carbon footprint if energy suppliers could rely on these V2G cars to ‘top up’ its supplies at times of need instead of having to burning more oil and coal.

While it is unsure exactly how much more efficient an electric car’s battery is over a massive power station, the concept seems solid. However for this to really be put into practice, you would need a few million electric vehicles capable of connecting to the the V2G systems on a regular basis. Easier said than done when you consider that most cities, which are the biggest users of electricity, have their residents living in apartment blocks. So unless there are multiple outlets along the streets, it won’t be easy to wide-spread its use.

Furthermore, if this technology is widely implemented, the most crucial feature would be the actual ‘discharging limits’ of these EVs. Imagine if you woke up one morning to find your electric car dead on the street just because the AFL Finals were on the night before and the entire nation had their tellys on.

Source

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Recall Alert: 2009-10 Scions and Toyotas

Foques — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:10:14 +0000

Jun 23 2009 by Jennifer Newman

Toyota is recalling 1,348 Scions and Toyotas, including some mom-mobiles, from the 2009 and 2010 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The following models are part of the recall: the 2009 Scion tC and xB, the 2009 Toyota Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, Tacoma and Yaris, and the 2009 and 2010 Tundra.

These models are missing load-carrying capacity modification labels, and that fails to conform with federal requirements. Without the label, owners could overload their vehicles, which would increase the risk of a crash.

Toyota will provide owners with a new label free of charge. For more information, Toyota and Scion owners can call Toyota at 888-270-9371 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236.

Source

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Scion xB Recieves New Audio Head Unit For 2010 With No Increase in Price

ScionNews — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:42:42 +0000

The Scion xB urban utility vehicle adds value for the 2010 model year with an all-new standard Pioneer head unit and no increase to xB’s base price. Also new for the model year is an optional Alpine Premium audio unit that’s navigation- and back-up camera-ready. The 2010 xB will arrive at dealerships later this month.

The base manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the iconic xB is $15,750 when equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, and $16,700 for the four-speed automatic with sequential shifting. In addition to the new head unit, the boxy xB receives one new exterior color, Sizzling Crimson Mica, which replaces Blackberry Crush Metallic.

All Scions come mono-spec with a generous list of standard features including power steering, windows, door locks and mirrors; cruise control; remote keyless entry; air conditioning; four-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake assist; dual front passenger airbags; front seat-mounted side airbags; front and rear side curtain airbags; and tilt steering wheel with audio controls.

The delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee for all Scion models is $670 and is not included in the MSRP. DPH fees for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

The xB focuses on youth with its all-new standard 160-watt Pioneer audio system. New features for 2010 include an organic electroluminescent (OEL) screen, USB connectivity, Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR), and a subwoofer RCA output. It also features USB and universal auxiliary (AUX) ports located on the center console which allow users to listen to their portable music collection through the xB’s six Pioneer speakers.

Connectivity is achieved by simply plugging the portable music player, including Apple iPod and iPhone, into the USB or AUX port. The head unit’s screen displays album, title, and artist information from select portable audio and storage devices. The audio system provides outstanding sound quality through the car’s stereo system and constant power to select iPods. Music is controlled through the head unit and the steering wheel audio control buttons for radio, CD and certain USB devices. iPod users can also utilize an alphabetical speed search to find a specific artist or album.

The ASR function restores a wide, deep and rich quality to MP3/WMA/AAC sound. Through the subwoofer RCA output, xB owners can add an external amp to drive one or more subwoofers. Unique to the Pioneer system is the customizable welcome screen that also allows users to create a personal message of up to 16-characters.

A newly-available 200-watt Alpine Premium audio system has the same basic features as the standard Pioneer audio, but adds a 4.3-inch color touch panel thin film transistor (TFT) screen, HD Radio™ technology, and Media Expander (MX). The user can listen to HD Radio technology with the Alpine Premium audio system and view text, song titles, album and artist on the head unit. Alpine’s MX improves compressed audio sound often found on digital music. The optional audio system is also back-up camera and navigation-ready.

Scion also offers an optional plug-in navigation unit for the Alpine Premium audio system. Navigation and audio functions utilize the head unit screen for display. Features include voice guidance; day and night screen modes; support in English, French and Spanish; 200 available address book entries; map coverage across the U.S. and Canada including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii; three map views (3-D, north up, and heading up); and more than six million points of interest. Users can also program up to three destinations before arriving at their final programmed stop. Scion makes this navigation unit customizable by allowing the user to change the vehicle position icon from an arrow to an icon of the xB which can be customized in every xB exterior color.

Both the standard Pioneer and optional Alpine Premium head units retain key Scion audio system features such as Scion Sound Processing (SSP) where listeners can choose from three pre-set equalizer settings, satellite radio compatibility and MP3, AAC and WMA capability. In addition, both units adjust the volume control based on driving speed. The sound systems feature six speakers: a tweeter and a speaker in each front door panel, plus two full-range speakers in the rear doors.

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Changes: 2010 Scion xB

Foques — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:37:42 +0000

We’re just going to say this right away: Nothing has changed for the 2010 model year. OK, not nothing; we wouldn’t give it the Ch-Ch-Changes treatment if there weren’t some changes, but they’re slight.

For one, there’s a new base stereo head unit that offers a better MP3 player interface, Scion says. Like the 2009, the 2010 xB comes standard with USB and auxiliary audio inputs. There’s also a new exterior paint color, Sizzling Crimson Mica, which replaces Blackberry Crush Metallic (shown here). We actually liked that Blackberry color, too. Darn.

One other thing that hasn’t changed is the starting price. Manual-transmission xBs start at $15,750, and the automatic starts at $16,700. All xBs come rather well-equipped with standard power windows, seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, cruise control, and stereo controls on the steering wheel. Considering we recently tested a similarly equipped $17,000 Toyota Yaris with an automatic transmission, these prices aren’t so bad. And the Yaris didn’t even have a USB plug.The 2010s will go on sale at the end of April.

For a picture of the snazzy new stereo, click below.

source

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