2010 Scion Xb Release Series 7.0 on 2040-cars

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Scion exec admits brand has too many dealerships, may contract network

Despite being conceived by corporate giant Toyota, Scion painstakingly built its reputation on being something of an offbeat, youth-minded brand, working hard to establish individualist, almost hipster-like credentials. So it comes as something of a surprise to hear WardsAuto report that Scion has a whopping 1,000 dealers across America - just 200 fewer than Toyota itself. This, despite a much smaller product portfolio and a sliver of the sales volume.
All those factors may explain why Bill Fay, US group vice president for Toyota, is admitting to the industry publication that its dealer network "might actually go down a little bit." As it stands, the volume end of the equation is probably an even bigger incentive - Scion's sales are way down from the salad days of the mid-2000s, when the brand had fewer models but sold more of them. With the (then) white-hot xB and tC models, Scion shifted 173,034 units in 2006, while Ward's notes the marque's 2013 sales are only at 41,261 units through July. In the story, AutoPacific analyst Dave Sullivan observes that other low-volume brands have far fewer dealer points, noting that Mini has just 115 dealer points and Infiniti has 200. By Sullivan's estimate, he would expect to see 350-500 Scion stores based on its sales figures.
Dealer question aside, the bigger issue is where the brand goes from here, and Fay admits Toyota is studying a number of different strategies, including possibly going "small-premium." Nothing is finalized, though according to Ward's, Fay discounts the idea that the FR-S - the brand's sales bright spot - will drive the brand to consider a more driver-oriented lineup.

Scion Monogram Series luxes up FR-S, tC

Scion has had plenty of practice launching limited-edition versions of its cars, but the brand's ultimate special line is its recently introduced Monogram Series. First offered on the iQ last year, Scion is now adding this premium equipment package to the 2014 FR-S and tC, and both cars will be hitting the stage at the Detroit Auto Show next week.
The 2014 Scion FR-S Monogram Series will be limited to 2,000 units, and it will have a starting price of $27,400 (*not including the $755 destination charge). Standing as a $3,000 premium over the base 2014 FR-S, the Monogram Series brings plenty of extra goodies, including leather seats with Alcantara inserts, upgraded BeSpoke audio/navigation system, HID headlights and dual-zone climate control, to name but a few. Scion says the equipment in this package represents a $1,900 savings compared to a standard option list.
As for the 2014 Scion tC Monogram Series, Scion is only making 2,500 of these, and it will start at $21,400. That's an extra $2,190 over a base tC, but it also represents a $1,500 savings overall. The tC Monogram Series adds in features like the BeSpoke audio/navigation system, perforated leather seats, keyless entry and pushbutton start and upgraded materials on the center console lid and door panels.

Scion to unveil new sedan in New York

Scion is on a mission to inject some new life into its struggling lineup. It unveiled a refreshed and rebadged Euro-market Toyota Auris as the iM Concept at the LA Auto Show in November, and is bringing it to market with that same nameplate. But that's not all: the youthful division from Toyota has just announced it's bringing a sedan join the production iM hatch on stage at the New York Auto Show in April. Although details are scarce, the close association Scion has drawn between the iM hatch and the new sedan suggests that the two could be related. The iM (like the Auris upon which it's based and the Matrix that came before) is already essentially a hatchback version of the Corolla sedan, which US buyers can find in Toyota showrooms. So whether the new sedan will be essentially a rehashed Corolla sedan, or something else entirely, remains to be seen. If Scion were to take a similar approach and bring over another Toyota model sold overseas, the new model could borrow heavily from the European-market Avensis or even Japan's Mark X. Whatever form the car ultimately takes, however, this will be Scion's first sedan, believe it or not. The brand has previously offered only hatchbacks like the iQ, xD and xB, and two-door coupes like the FR-S and tC. The latter, for what it's worth, shares its underpinnings with the Avensis. Scion says the new sedan and the iM hatch will "represent two of the three new models Scion will bring to market in the next three years," so expect one more to follow sometime in the near future. New Names and Bold Bodies Coming to Scion in 2015 First-Ever Scion Sedan and Scion iM on the way TORRANCE, Calif., (Jan. 7, 2015) – Like many others, Scion has a New Year's Resolution to debut an all-new body by spring. And not surprisingly, all eyes will be on its backside as Scion will be adding its first-ever sedan to its line-up. The new sedan will be introduced in April at the New York International Auto Show along with the all-new Scion iM. The iM is the official name for the production version of the iM Concept car shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Together, the two vehicles represent two of the three new models Scion will bring to market in the next three years aimed at independently minded 18-34 year olds. The trio will bring exciting options for Scion's younger customers looking for vehicles to support both adventure and sensibility.