Toyota once owned the Scion brand, which debuted in 2003. The Scion brand focused on affordable, eye-catching, and distinctive sport compact cars, and used a straightforward “pure price” sales concept that avoided traditional trim levels and dealer haggling. Each vehicle was offered in a single trim with a non-negotiable base price, while buyers could choose from a variety of dealer-installed options to customize their cars. [1] The term Scion, which translates to “the heir of a family,” applies to both the brand’s automobiles and the people who own them. [3] Scion predominantly used guerilla and viral marketing strategies to appeal to millennials.
In June 2003, a few California Toyota dealers hosted a soft launch of the brand in the US. By February 2004, the brand had gone national.
[3] With the sale of 173,034 units, sales reached their pinnacle. [1] 2010 saw Scion’s entry into Canada. However, as sales declined following the financial crisis of 20072008, Toyota’s early proposalsshort product cycles and aggressive pricing predicated on low dealer marginsbecame more and more untenable. [4] At the beginning of the 2017 model year, in August 2016, Toyota ended the Scion brand. The cars were either rebranded as Toyotas or were no longer produced. [5]
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Why did Toyota cease production of Scions?
Toyota stated that the Scion brand would be phased out in August after the 2016 model year on February 3, 2016, claiming that the firm no longer needed a specific label to appeal to younger consumers. For the 2017 model year, the FR-S, iA, and iM models were combined under the Toyota name as the Toyota 86, Toyota Yaris iA, and Toyota Corolla iM, respectively, while the tC was dropped. The then-upcoming C-HR, which had been introduced as a Scion, was likewise transferred to the Toyota brand. Since Scion vehicles were sold and maintained at Toyota dealerships, it was not anticipated that the change would affect the availability of services. [5] [22][18][23] [24][25]
Are Toyota Scion vehicles reliable?
The Scion tC is a sporty, two-door compact car with a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, which is above average. The Scion tC is essentially a Toyota with a separate logo under the hood. This is mostly because Toyota owns Scion, and the Toyota base and engine are used in the Scion tC.
Are Scion and Toyota the same thing?
The Scion moniker was to be discontinued in August 2016 by Toyota, the Scion brand’s parent corporation, and the majority of Scion-branded vehicles have been rebadged as Toyotas. The rear-drive FR-S, a Toyota 86 rebadged, is a two-door coupe that is capable of drifting. The iM (rebadged Corolla iM) is a respectable attempt at an inexpensive hatchback in the European design. The tiny sedan, which Mazda produced and rebadged as the Yaris iA, is fun to drive and has outstanding fuel efficiency.
Are Scion vehicles trustworthy?
Toyota’s 2004 debut of the youthfully spirited Scion brand received an overall 7/10 grade from Car & Driver. Scion produced a number of reasonably priced, attractive, dependable, and sporty cars up until 2016, when the brand was once again integrated into the parent corporation.
Although it has only been around for a little over ten years, Scion has earned a reputation for itself as Toyota’s attempt to court hip, young drivers with a new lineup of cost-effective yet eye-catching cars. Several Scion cars were rebranded as Toyotas even after the brand was brought back under the umbrella of the Toyota mothership in 2016. The FR-S evolved into the 86, the iA becoming a Yaris variant, and the iM into a Corolla variant.
When did Scion discontinue being produced?
Scion was developed more than ten years ago to draw youthful consumers into the Toyota fold, but the brand’s sales have declined recently.
The New York International Auto Show has a showcase of the 2016 Toyota Scion iM. After years of declining sales, Toyota stated on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, that it is eliminating its Scion brand, which caters to younger car customers. The MY17 Scion, the FR-S sports vehicle, the iA sedan, the iM 5-door hatchback, and the C-HR will all become part of the conventional Toyota lineup starting in August. Owners of Scion vehicles can still get maintenance and repairs done at Toyota service centers.
The Scion was replaced by what Toyota.
Toyota Motor Corp. is changing the Scion FR-name S’s to Toyota 86, which is the moniker given to the sports vehicle in markets outside of North America.
Six weeks after the Japanese carmaker revealed it was abolishing its youth-focused Scion brand and incorporating the majority of its vehicles under the Toyota brand, the name change was announced on Thursday.
According to Toyota Division Group Vice President Bill Fay, “When we announced the transition of the Scion models to Toyota we hadn’t planned on changing the names of our cars. However, by popular demand, we decided to adopt the global name of 86 for our sports car. “Enthusiasts have a strong association with the front-engine, rear-drive heritage of the ‘hachi-roku’ and the dynamic performance it offers.
According to company communications manager Nancy Hubbell, “a lot of executives weighed in” on the decision to modify the name of the FR-S.
In addition to the name change for the 2017 Toyota 86, the Scion iM hatchback will now be known as the Toyota Corolla iM, and the Scion iA sedan will now be known as the Toyota Yaris iA. In August, Scion tC sports coupe production will come to an end.
According to Hubbell, the Yaris iA and Corolla iM will begin manufacturing in August, followed by the Toyota 86 in July. She indicated that all should arrive in showrooms this fall.
The Scion C-HR Concept Toyota shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show was likewise rebadged as a Toyota concept. The C-HR will be displayed later this year and will go on sale as a 2018 model in spring 2017, according to the manufacturer.
The 86 and C-HR, which will also be Scion’s final appearance at an auto show, will make their Toyota debuts on the exhibit floor at the New York International Auto Show the following week, according to Hubbell.
The 86 sports car takes more aggressive appearance with its switch to Toyota, with a bigger center intake emphasizing the low, wide stance of the vehicle. With new LED front headlamps, turn signals, a fog lamp bezel, and a redesigned bumper, the front of the car has a fresh look.
New bumper and LED tail lamps are now featured on the back. 86 badges have been incorporated into a plaque on the front fender and inside the front headlamps of the alloy wheels, which have twisted spoke designs.
Repairing scions is it expensive?
Costs of Scion repairs and maintenance A Scion is expected to cost between $95 and $2563 in maintenance and repairs, with an average of $309.
Can I still purchase a Scion?
Despite originally having great sales, Scion’s statistics will ultimately fall. Only over 45,000 units were sold in 2010. Most people think that the Toyota gas pedal issue and the Great Recession combined to cause the decline.
The vehicles themselves contributed to the issue as well. Scion only periodically updated the exterior designs of its current models rather than continuing to redesign them. These updated models consistently ended up being less well-liked by customers than the originals.
Scion released new vehicles in an effort to rescue itself. It debuted the iQ in 2012 with a focus on commuters in major cities. Around the same period, Scion also debuted the FR-S sports car. These models fell far short of the sales required for the company to remain viable.
Scion appeared to have lost the intended market for its products. These young clients were content buying pre-owned Toyota cars. Because of this, the parent company’s decision to incorporate Scion’s vehicles into its core lineup made more sense. In 2016, the Scion brand was formally dropped.
What is the price of scions?
Scion has established a reputation for producing hip, youthfully appealing vehicles and hatchbacks that are affordably priced. With the new 2016 Scion iM, the formula hasn’t altered, but the ingredients have unquestionably moved to a higher quality. I recently found myself at the iM and iA sedan’s national press launches, where I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time throwing each vehicle through the Malibu canyons on the California coast. It became immediately clear that the substance is everything.
The new iM ups the ante by including features and equipment that are typically optional extraseven on some entry-level luxury nameplates. Sure, Scion has always sold its vehicles in “mono-spec trims, with each model offering the same content aside from color and transmission choices, but the new iM ups the ante.
The iM comes equipped with an astounding number of airbags and other safety features, Bluetooth built into its standard 7-inch infotainment display, a 37 mpg highway engine, and 17-inch wheels that resemble those on a Lexus. Just the surface, really.
Beyond content, the iM has several amazing foundations that make it both enjoyable to drive and useful. The relatively broad 225-series tires hold the road with surprising tenacity, and independent suspension at all four corners with powerful sway bars keeps things level and tight without sacrificing the ride. Don’t forget that the iM has a six-speed manual transmission as standard.
Price is undoubtedly a major consideration for Scion and its clientele. The iM’s base price of $18,460, however, delivers on the Scion promise of affordability. A CVT, whose base price starts at $19,200, is an optional option for people who don’t want to row their own boat. Not bad for a hatchback that can transport five passengers or the entirety of a college dorm room while maintaining a 30 mpg average.
Will Toyota bring the Scion back?
There is currently no new information regarding Toyota bringing the Scion brand back as of 2021. In order to maintain the line’s best-selling models on the market for potential customers once the brand was canceled in 2016, they shifted them over to Toyota.
Toyota launched Scion in 2003, and it operated for a total of 13 years. They did have some success in attracting younger customers during that time. They also had a dealership model, which was more approachable to many people because there was no haggling involved and you could simply go in and purchase the vehicle you desired.
The Scion brand was losing money as Toyota struggled to keep it afloat since they were not selling many cars toward the conclusion of their tenure. Overall, Toyota decided to discontinue the brand out of business considerations. Toyota may introduce some cars in the future that borrow styling ideas from Scion, but I do not anticipate the brand name to make a comeback.
Is insurance for a Scion tC expensive?
For owners of Toyota Scion Tc vehicles, the annual average cost of auto insurance is $2,318. However, specific costs vary depending on the model; for example, the Paseo is $253 cheaper to insure than the Camry Se Night Shade.
Must I purchase a used Scion?
These xB and xD models, which were produced from 2006 to 2012, should be on your radar if you need a car for less than $5,000. Prior to making a purchase, pay attention to each vehicle’s history report that you are considering and make sure that any recalls or issues have been fixed.
In the end, a used Scion is a wonderful choice for a first vehicle for young drivers and an affordable purchase for anybody else shopping used. Even browsing consumer comments on Reddit reveals that these rides are still dependable, reasonably priced, and anything but monotonous.
Don’t allow Scion’s status as a discontinued brand discourage you. They are still fantastic cars and are worth the $5,000 or so you may anticipate spending.