xB

It's not as nimble as the Kia Soul and its quirky looks have been outweirded by the Nissan Cube, but there's something about the 2011 Scion xB that merits a second look. Maybe it's the crazy paint on our Release Series 8.0 tester, maybe it's finally been around long enough to distance itself from the first-generation Scion xB in my mind, but the second-generation xB is starting to grow on me; I think that I'm starting to like it.

Where the xB wins hands down is in spaciousness. Where the Scion tC feels claustrophobic … Read more

The 2011 Scion xB's premium audio system proved a disappointment, but the company has announced new stereo choices for the 2012 model. The base and upgrade Pioneer head units add standard Bluetooth and HD radio, and the upgrade brings in iPhone Pandora integration.

At its launch, Scion relied on aftermarket head units for its cars, which should have kept it on the edge of in-cabin electronics. But recent models used older electronics, and lacked feature-rich Bluetooth phone systems or modern audio sources. The new Pioneer head units add HD radio and Bluetooth audio streaming to the existing iPod support.

The upgrade Pioneer audio system features a large screen, which should make browsing music libraries easy. Both head units rely on the same audio system, with four speakers in front and two in the rear. Owners can add a subwoofer through an RCA jack in the back of the head units.

Pioneer previously announced its App Radio, offering integration with Pandora and a number of smartphone apps. … Read more

Release Version 8.0 of the Scion xB gets the look of a custom car straight from the factory. This special-edition vehicle, a run of 2,000 models, shows up in a unique Voodoo Blue paint color and with a body kit to set it apart from all other xBs.

And the car drives easy. Jump in the easily accessible and comfortable seats, and jogging the car around the city or suburbs presents little hassle. The squarish body style might have some traditionalists shaking their heads, but it makes for a roomy, comfortable cabin with plenty of cargo space.

But … Read more

Whether you're a fan of its vehicles or not (and we're pretty split here at Car Tech), Scion's booth at the SEMA Show is always a treat. With the automaker's support of the aftermarket and a veritable army of customizers putting their individual spins on their xBs, tCs, and xDs, the Scion booth is always home to crazy customs and tricked-out tuners. Scion sent us a preview of this year's show cars, which includes a nautical themed xB dubbed The Squid and an All Stretched Out xB that's been extended by 48 inches into … Read more

Last year, Scion's booth at the SEMA Show was jam-packed with some of the craziest cars at the show. 2009 saw the continuation of that grand tradition.

This year, Scion brought out an xB with a built-in kitchen (sink and all!), another with its own dancefloor, and yet another that had been stretched into a pickup toting a matching custom scooter. Scion's other models also got some modding love in the form of a rally-prepped xD and a loud-and-low tC that seemed to have forgotten its roof.

Check out some of the wildest Scions of 2009 in our gallery.… Read more

With funky styling and a reputation built around heavy involvement from the tuner crowd and the sound-off set, we expected our Stingray Metallic 2010 Scion xB to be a technological powerhouse. Perusing the spec sheet before embarking on the first of many test drives, we were excited to see features such as Bluetooth hands-free calling, standard iPod connectivity, premium audio with navigation, and rear-seat entertainment. Yes, we were all grins.

However, by the end of that first test drive, we were ready to drive the xB off of a bridge. Nearly every bit of cabin tech was a source of … Read more

DETROIT -- Scion plans to expand its model line from three vehicles to four.

Also, Scion Vice President Jack Hollis said: "Within the next two years, we will have a replacement tC" coupe.

The tC coupe will be nearly 7 years old when the redesign arrives, but such a long life cycle will not be the norm for Scion in the next decade.

"It will be different for each model," Hollis said at the Detroit auto show in January. "There are some that are going to be short. There are going to be three- to … Read more

Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented sub-brand, has made vehicle customization tantamount to the experience of purchasing and owning its vehicles. So at the world's largest aftermarket car parts show, SEMA is hot Las Vegas, you can bet that Scion had a big presence with some truly unique vehicles.

Models ranged from an xB pickup truck conversion to a wide-body tC. Oddly, we didn't see any examples of the xD.

View the full gallery of Scions at SEMA.

After being intrigued by Scion's Little Deviant campaign ads, I stumbled across a link to the Little Deviant site and gave it a try. The ad campaign is pleasantly dark, and designed to market the new Scion xB and xD. The Web site features a series of small games, the premise of which is that Sheeple are making the city bland and boring. Your job as a Little Deviant is to kill the Sheeple, because you can use their blood to decorate your car. Along the way, you apply a little war paint to yourself. The games are pretty … Read more