Scion xA and xB dead in December, two new models by Spring

[Amemiya]

Scion xA and xB dead in December, two new models by Spring

Toyota has announced that production of its 2006 Scion xA and xB will end in December, and that the two economy cars that kicked things off for Scion will be replaced next spring by two all-new models wearing 2008 badges. That means technically speaking Scion will have but a single car available for model year 2007, the tC coupe.

Scion's vice president Mark Templin gave no other information regarding the upcoming replacements, except their estimated time of arrival. The success of the Scion brand can be largely attributed to the splash made by the xA and xB when they hit U.S. shores in June of 2004. Since then Scion has sold 72,011 units of the xA and 139,091 units of the boxy xB.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/06_scion_xb_xa.jpg

[Cellerator]

WOOHOO, this is extremely good news.

[Amemiya]

Saying that in a good or bad way?

[Cellerator]

good way, that those 2 fugly cars are out of the lineup.

[altspace]

Well, yea of course it's time to move on. These models would become stagnate.

[jflo]

remember, the targeted demographic of young, cool and hip teenagers have an attention span of about 2 minutes, so ya gotta re-grab their attention with something new

[GordonJ]

I'm not that far out of my teenage years, in fact I guess I was a teenager when the Scions were introduced, and I always thought they were HIDEOUSLY ugly, especially the xB. And the xA in person doesn't even really look sporty at all, just sort of a squashed, korean station wagon.
I suppose if you're trying to make a statement by driving a vehicle so ugly that it turns heads, and you just want attention any way you can get it, it might appeal to you. From what I understand, they're slow as hell too, so it's not as though "true race enthusiasts" or anything are going to be buying into it.
And with so many other Japanese, quality vehicles starting in the low teens, that frankly look alot better and probably have better performance, this is not a big loss at all.

I'm just amazed it sold so well, honestly.

[SciFiMan]

I see a good number of xB's and a fair number of xA's here in the chicago area. High quality, low cost, and great mpg. I was considering a xA for my long commute, when my LX gets handed down to my son next year. Guess I'll have to see what the new models are like.

[Rickman]

I like them both, especially the xB (almost bought on for my wife). I think Scion in general is one of the highest "bang for the buck" companies out there. They're great little cars, they're cheap, they're reliable, they're different looking, they have a good base model feature list, and they're safe. Keep in mind fellas, not all people see their car as an extension of themselves. A good majority of people see their car as a way to get from point A to point B. And around here I see just as many middle aged/older people driving them as teenagers. I think that's because a good deal is a good deal, no matter who you're trying to sell it to.

P.S. I like the tC the best of all three.

[Rickman]

oops, double post.

[ZoomZoomH]

does this mean i can get the Toaster on Wheels for cheap now that it's discontinued???

[Protephile]

I like them both, too. I think it'd be fun modding the xA.
I'm really looking forward to the Suzuki Swift, though, I think that's gonna be a LOT of fun.

[smo0f]

tC is nice, except it's pretty much every other car i see on the road. the big boxy car just exercises my gag reflex, and please, save your jokes for another day.

[GordonJ]

I guess the idea of the car "not being an extension of yourself" for alot of people is true, but I mean, no matter how you look at it, a car is a HUGE investment, and something that you're going to be in, around, and somehow interacting with probably every day, you'd think appearance would have to matter SOMEWHAT.
And with all the competition out there, it's not like Scions are the only cheaply priced econoboxes around....

To each their own I guess....

[dmitrik4]

you'd think appearance would have to matter SOMEWHAT.

i'm sure appearance matters ot some scion owners, and i'm sure there are plenty of people who like the way they look. like you said, to each his own; i wouldn't assume that simply b/c someone drives a scion they don't care about how their car looks. if the xB had more power and removable rear seats, i might consider one...it's not classically beautiful (how many cars are nowadays?), but at least it's unique.

[Blue Batmobile]

interesting. I've seen the bB concept car. Looked pretty cool actually.

Bat™