Scion

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Scion sets prices for 2013 compact FR-S sports car

Scion has announced its 2013 FR-S compact rear-wheel drive sports car will have a $24,200 when equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and $25,300 when equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance coupe is the fifth model to join the Scion family and will go on sale this spring. The FR-S, which stands for Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport; is Scion’s definition of an authentic rear-wheel-drive sports car with exceptionally balanced performance and handling, compelling style, flexible utility and surprising fuel efficiency. The FR-S will be available in seven colors including Raven, Asphalt, Hot Lava, Argento, Ultramarine, Firestorm and Whiteout. FR-S comes standard with six airbags, including dual-stage advanced driver- and front-passenger airbags, front-seat-mounted airbags and side-curtain airbags. Like all

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Lexus, Toyota, Scion shine in 2012 J.D. Power dependability study

Paced by Lexus, which earned the No. 1 overall rating, eight Lexus, Toyota and Scion models captured segment awards in the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study Lexus is the number one nameplate improving by 23 fewer problems/100; Toyota is the highest ranked non-premium nameplate and tied for third place overall, improving by 18 fewer problems/100; Scion achievrd its highest ever position at fifth place, jumping 17 positions and improving by 55 fewer problems/100. Lexus was the highest ranking nameplate in the industry in the 2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study and earned more segment awards than any other premium brand. The Lexus IS won the entry premium car segment in the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Automotive

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NAIAS 2012: Honda Accord Coupe 2013, Scion FR-S 2013, Toyota Prius C 2013

Honda Accord Coupe Concept Honda unveiled the Accord Coupe Concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, providing the first official glimpse of the athletic styling direction, as well as revealing new technologies for the ninth-generation 2013 model. It's set to go on-sale this fall. The 2013 Accord will feature three new powertrains, including the first U.S. application of both a 2.4-liter direct-injected engine and two-motor plug-in hybrid system from Honda's suite of next-generation Earth Dreams powertrain technologies. In addition, the V-6 Accord will be the first Honda sedan to feature a six-speed automatic transmission. The Accord Sedan and the Accord Coupe models are expected to achieve class-leading fuel economy ratings and will be available many new safety

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Toyota, Lexus sales slump in 2011 as Japan disaster recovery lingers

Toyota Motor Sales, which included Toyota, Lexus and Scion, reported annual sales of 1,644,661 vehicles in the United States in 2011, down 7.0 percent from t2010 as inventory continued to recover from shortages due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Toyota Division recorded year-end sales of 1,446,109 vehicles, a decrease of 6.1 percent from 2010. Lexus reported sales of 198,552 units in 2011, down 13.7 percent from the previous 2010. Scion was the surprising segment. reported sales of 49,271 units for the year, up 7.5 percent over 2010. "We are encouraged by the strong close of 2011 as December was our best volume month of the year. We successfully launched several new vehicles, including the all-new Camry, which retained

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Scion iQ, 2012: Brainy microcar with a lot of room to roam

Three years to the month after it made its debut in Japan, the Scion iQ arrived in the United States in October 2011 as the country's second "city car." And, of course, it's the immediate rival of the Smart ForTwo, the now nearly teenage microcar. Like its rival, the Scion iQ mini-car is innovative, controversial and immediately attracts attention with its petite presence. Like the Smart ForTwo, the Scion iQ also has an odd name. Toyota, the Scion parent company, explains the "i" means "individuality," "innovation," and "intelligence." And the "Q" stands for "quality." The Weekly Driver Test Drive During my test drive, several people stared at the car while it was parked in front of our house. One guy

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Scion tops Japan's reliability dominance in Consumer Reports annual survey; Ford stumbles

Scion lead the dominance of nine Japanese car manufacturers among the top 10, while Ford dramatically stumbled in the annual most reliable survey conducted by Consumer Reports magazine. The best and worst-performing brands is based on feedback from 1.3 million subscribers to the United States-based publication. The Scion xD was identified as the best model, followed by Lexus (CT 200h) as the next highest-rated model. Acura came in third place, followed by Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Infiniti, Subaru and Nissan. Volvo was the best-performing non-Japanese brand in 10th place. Hyundai and Kia, both of South Korea, took the next two spots, with Jeep in 13th place, was the top U.S. brand. Ford fell from 10th to 20th place. Among 27 brands

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Scion xB, 2011: Still looks like a box, but no longer so square

It doesn't seem like a decade ago when the new trend of odd-looking sport utility vehicles and sport wagons first became common place in the United States. The Honda Element debuted in 2002 and two years later, its unusual appearance was further stretched with another "box on wheels," the Scion xB. Now in its second edition and refreshed for 2011, the Scion xB still gets "box-shaped" references and its share of stares. Made by Toyota for the North American market, the 5-door compact hatchback is marketed toward youth buyers. The 2011 model became available in March 2010 with a fresh of the edition that debuted in 2007. The changes include two new available colors, revised front and rear bumpers, new

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Scion debuts 2012 limited production models in Texas

The Scion 2012 xD Series 4.0 (xD RS 4.0) and xB Series 9.0 (xB RS 9.0) debuted Sept. 29 State Fair of Texas, with limited release models featuring as standard equipment a new Pioneer audio system that features Bluetooth hands-free, streaming audio and HD Radio technology. The two Scions will begin arriving at dealer showrooms in October and the debuting will be available for viewing at the Scion booth at the State Fair of Texas until October 23. The 2012 xD Release Series 4.0 The 2012 xD Release Series 4.0 (xD RS 4.0) comes exclusively in a premium Blizzard Pearl exterior paint and is upgraded with 16-inch alloy wheels finished in a smoked platinum color. Scion will only build 800

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Scion xD, 2012: More hi-tech, still low-priced sub-compact

The 2012 Scion xD five-door urban subcompact vehicle, which will come standard with several Bluetooth features and HD Radio, will have a MSRP of $15,345 and $16,145 for the five-speed manual and the four-speed automatic transmissions respectively. The xD truly focuses on youth with its all-new standard AM/FM/CD/HD/USB 160-watt maximum output Pioneer audio system. New standard features for 2012 include HD Radio technology and Bluetooth connectivity that allows hands-free phone connection and streaming audio capability. Streaming audio allows compatible phone or personal media devices to pair with the audio system and listen to music through the vehicles sound system. The audio system also features an organic electroluminescent (OEL) screen with a personalized welcome screen, iPod/USB connectivity, Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR)

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Scion tC 2011 gets top NHTSA safety rating

The Scion tC sports coupe is the latest 2011 vehicle car to receive a top five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), a consumer information program created by NHTSA, rates vehicles to determine crash and rollover safety. The test ratings are gathered during controlled crash and rollover tests conducted at the NHTSA research facilities.   All Scion models meet or exceed safety requirements of the federal government and NHTSA. The Scion tC features include: 180 horsepower, 6-speed transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 300-watt 8-speaker audio system. Also standard are eight supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags including driver and front passenger airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front-passenger knee airbag

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Toyota gets favorable court ruling in faulty floormat suit

After deliberating for approximately 45 minutes, a jury in a U.S. District Court in New York has ruled in favor of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. in an alleged unintended acceleration case. The suit was brought by Dr. Amir Sitafalwalla, who claimed an unsecured driver’s side floor mat was the primary cause of the crash of his Scion vehicle in August 2005. During the course of the week-long trial, Dr. Sitafalwalla’s primary expert, Dr. Anthony Storace, withdrew his assertion that the Electronic Throttle Control System in the Scion could also have been a cause of the accident based on his acknowledgment that he had no basis to support that claim. Toyota released the following statement in response to the favorable

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Toyota, Lexus, Scion announce 2011 price increases

Toyota has announced manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) increases today for most 2011 Toyota, Scion and Lexus models. Price increases on Toyota models range from $200 (Yaris Liftback) to $900 (Land Cruiser, Sequoia), Lexus models range from $600 (GX 460) to $900 (IS F, LS and 450h sedans, LX 570 SUV) and for Scion model $65 (xD five-door luxury utility). The MSRP for the 2011 Toyota Tacoma compact pickup truck, Yaris sedan, Scion tC sports coupe, Scion xB urban utility vehicle, the Lexus CT 200h hybrid premium compact and 2012 LFA supercar remain unchanged. The new prices for North American-produced vehicles will become effective with May 2011 production.  For models sourced from Japan, updated pricing will be effective for vehicles

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Scion xB, 2011 car review

The original Scion from Toyota’s youth division arrived here in the summer of 2003 as a rebadged version of a Japanese-market Toyota. It was at home on Japan’s narrow, crowded roads, but too small and slow on highways for America. Still, the four-door hatchback Scion was a hit with younger drivers here who liked its quirky boxy look and drew a surprising (to Toyota) number of older drivers who took to it for its low price, practicality, economy and roominess for its handy size. The 2008 version retained the old model’s slab-sided design, front-wheel drive and five-occupant capacity. But, catering more to American tastes, Scion increased the wheelbase by 4 inches, overall length by a foot and width by nearly

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Scion tC 2011 car review

The revised youth-oriented 2011 Scion tC has been long overdue and is improved enough to help boost sagging Scion sales. For instance, Scion sales fell sharply from 2008 to 2009 and were disappointing in 2010, too. Major improvements have been made to the oddly named tC. The front-drive, two-door hatchback has more power, better transmissions, a revised interior, improved chassis and larger wheels. Moreover, the 2011 tC provides lots of standard equipment, including a panoramic sunroof, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and door locks with remote keyless entry and an AM/FM/CD sound system. Safety items include stability and traction control systems and a bunch of air bags. Prices are reasonable, at $18,275 with a manual transmission at $19,275 with

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Scion Tops Consumer Reports 2009 Reliability List, Chrysler Falters

The Consumer Reports study is compilation of more than 1.4 million readers’ responses this spring to vehicles from previous years. The results are used to predict reliability for 2009 model. Here are top two best and worst cars (if available) from each category in the Consumer Reports’ reliability issue, available on newsstands Nov. 11. Small Car Best: Scion xD, Mini Cooper Clubman Worst: Nissan Versa (sedan), (no second pick) Family Car Best: Toyota Prius, Kia Optima Worst: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring (V-6) Sporty Car, Coupes & Convertibles Best: Lexus SC, Volvo C30 Worst: Chrysler Sebring (convertible), Saturn Sky Upscale/Luxury Car Best: Infinity M35 (rear-wheel drive), Lexus IS250 Worst: Cadillac STS (V-8), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (V-8) Wagons & Minivan Best: Toyota Matrix,

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Scion xB, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

It’s a subjective call whether any Scion qualifies as royalty. Regardless of its lineage, the Scion xB is a viable SUV alternative. It’s marketed as a urban utility vehicle and often described as a box on wheels. Its appearance prompts attention, and it should gather further notice via its value as a versatile, moderately price family alternative. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (4) It’s a 2.4-liter, 158 horsepower, 4-cylinder upsized wagon with a four-speed automatic transmission. It’s not slow, but don’t expect much when trying to pass slower traffic on even the slightest incline. Braking/Steering/Handling (5) For its style (OK, a box with wheels), the Scion gets the job done in stride, although it’s not an off-road vehicle. In one

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