Scion Launches All-New 2008 xB At 2007 Chicago Auto Show

Scion, from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new 2008 xB urban utility vehicle at a press conference today at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show. The xB was first introduced in early 2003 for the 2004 model year and its boxy shape became iconic to the Scion brand.

'No one in the automotive industry is as hard-wire-connected to its owners as is Scion, and the 2008 xB is a perfect example,' said Mark Templin, Scion vice president. 'We've stated in the past that we'll probably always have a box in the Scion lineup, but our owners told us they wanted a bigger box. They talk, we listen and we responded with a bigger and better xB.'

Distinct Scion Style

Like the previous generation xB, the all-new 2008 model was styled with distinctiveness in mind. This aggressive new compact applies design elements from the t2B concept vehicle that was shown at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. These exterior styling cues include the soft angles between its wide and flat paneling, high beltline, elongated headlamps that wrap around the side of the vehicle, inset taillights, rectangular grille, pronounced fenders, and single rear backup light on the left bumper. The xB also features tinted rear windows, and turn signals integrated into the side mirrors.

Larger Chassis for a Smooth Ride

Scion customers love to drive, so with that in mind, the overall size was enlarged, helping to create a more exciting driving experience. Engineers increased the wheelbase by four inches, the overall length by a foot, the overall width by almost three inches and decreased overall height more than an inch to give the xB a more comfortable ride.

The xB also receives 16-inch steel wheels, an inch larger than the previous generation. Customers will be able to choose from three all-new standard wheel covers which, will also be shared with the all-new xD. The xB also stops with larger brakes thanks to the 10.83-inch ventilated discs in the front and 10.98-inch disc brakes in the rear which are more than two inches bigger than the previous generation.

In addition to the wider wheelbase, the xB's smooth ride can be attributed to its McPherson strut front and rear torsion beam suspension.

Interior Comfort and Design

The xB's design team aimed for a lounge-like interior that met the comfort and lifestyle needs of the customer. The versatile interior provides 29.1 cubic feet of cargo area behind the rear seats, an increase of nearly eight cubic feet from the previous generation xB. For added convenience, the 60/40 split rear seats fold flat, providing a spacious and flat cargo floor, allowing the driver to haul larger loads more easily. In addition, the front seats fully recline for increased cargo space or relaxation.

Interior storage is abundant with a driver's convenience tray, a glove box, a console box and front door storage. A fixed tray is located beneath the rear seats for hidden storage and can accommodate small items like magazines, cameras, laptops, cell phone chargers and CDs.

A series of sleek circular gauges, including a combination meter, are centered on the dash. The combination meter allows drivers to toggle through the clock, outside temperature, instantaneous MPG, average MPG, distance to empty, or the average speed. Upon starting the engine, 'xB' flashes on the combination meter before information is displayed. The deep orange display gauges allow for better visibility day and night. Metal-tone trim accents the dash and surrounds the shifter which is mounted on the lower dash. A driver's right armrest was added for comfort.

Upgraded Audio System

The xB's standard 160-watt maximum output Pioneer audio system is focused on youth lifestyle as it features iPod connectivity and a mini-jack port. This standard head unit integrates track, artist and album information from the iPod into a one-line display on the head unit's screen. Connectivity is achieved by simply plugging the iPod into a port via a connector cable, providing outstanding sound quality through the car's stereo system and constant power to the iPod. Music is controlled through the head unit and the steering wheel audio control buttons. The mini-jack port allows users to listen to their portable music collection through the xB's Pioneer speakers.

Since many Scion customers add in-car entertainment systems to their vehicle, the xB now comes standard with rear head unit outputs, allowing for additional external amps to boost power to the front and rear speakers, and subwoofers.

The xB's optional premium audio system adds one more feature to the standard head unit, the ability to download 'skins' to play on the LCD faceplate. Customers can download images, four-second video clips and eight-second movies from Pioneer's website. In addition, Pioneer software allows customers to burn their own images and movies onto a CD and upload them onto the available head unit.

Both the standard and premium head units retain key Scion audio system features such as Scion Sound Processing (SSP) where listeners can choose from three pre-set equalizer settings, satellite radio compatibility, a user-customizable welcome screen, MP3 and WMA capability, Automatic Sound Leveling (ASL) and Sound Retouch Technology (SRT), which provides clearer CD sound quality. Both systems feature six speakers: two tweeters and speakers in each door panel.

More Performance

More powerful than its predecessor, the all-new xB is equipped with a 2.4 L dual overhead-cam four-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), the same engine found on the tC. The engine produces 158 horsepower, 55 more than the previous generation. Customers will have a choice of either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic with sequential shifting, a first for automatic four-speeds in the Scion or Toyota line-up.

Standard Features

Like all Scion vehicles, the xB is mono spec. Customers only need to choose exterior color and transmission type. The xB comes with generous and upscale standard features including power steering, windows, door locks and mirrors; remote keyless entry; air conditioning; four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA); driver and front passenger dual stage airbags; front seat-mounted side airbags; front and rear side curtain airbags; Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRAC); first-aid kit; and tilt steering wheel with audio controls. All Scion models come with complimentary factory-recommended maintenance services at the first 5,000 mile and 10,000 mile intervals, to be performed by an authorized Scion or Toyota dealership.

Colors

The exterior color palette for the new xB includes Super White, Classic Silver Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, Nautical Blue Metallic, Blackberry Crush Metallic and Hypnotic Teal Mica. All xBs will feature high-quality dark charcoal interior fabric.

Warranty

All Scion models feature a 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle limited warranty that applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and corrosion with no mileage limitation.

by Scion / Toyota

by Scion

The name Scion means ‘a descendant or offspring' and is pronounced 'sigh-on'. Produced as a cheaper model for the younger generation, the Scion was created by Toyota for those that wouldn't touch their parents Toyota. A box-shaped, 5-door compact station wagon, the Scion xB was a rebadged subcompact Toyota bB. Due to their large numbers, approximately 78 million, Scion xB's marketing is aimed directly at Generation Y, American's that were born between 1978 and 1990.

The first two models, the bean and the box, were two of Toyota's Japanese home-market hatchbacks that share the Toyota Echo's chromosomes. Sharing the strut and twist-beam suspension of the Echo, they also feature the 108-hp, 1.5-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine, with variable valve timing on the intake cam. While Japan had several years to become used to the box shape vehicle, it took the American market a bit more time to warm up to the vehicle. Riding on a longer wheelbase than the xA, 98.4 inches, the interior of the xB features more passenger room and an additional 21 cubic feet behind the rear seats for almost anything.

One of two models that entered the North American market under the Scion brand name was the Scion xB. The Scion xB was basically an Americanized version of the Japanese Toyota bB that was introduced July of 1999 as a new-for-2000 model. A huge success, the Japanese bB was updated in for the Japanese 2003 model year. While largely unmodified for the American market, the Scion xB did convert to left-hand drive and underwent equipment changes to conform to USDOT safety and emission standards. The xB was sold for $13,880 at the base manual level, and $14,680 for the auto.

Debuting at the 2003 New York Auto Show, the xB was originally introduced to America as the Scion bbX concept, which was a near-production version of the Scion Xb released to the California market in June, 2003. The bbX shared a 108hp 1.5L VVT-i engine with the Scion xA and the Toyota Echo. To keep dealership quality control fine-tuned and to spark demand in the rest of the country, the bbX was sold exclusively in California for several months.

The Scion brand hit both the east coast and the south in September of 2003. Dealerships began to pop up along the southern border states from Texas to Florida and along the Atlantic almost instantaneously. By June of 2004, the rest of the country was finally introduced to the Scion dealerships, now integrated into Toyota dealerships, though separate showrooms that featured high-tech flatscreen devices kept them apart.

Significantly upgraded for the American market, the Scion xB featured extra steel reinforcement, along with sound-damping material, tighter suspensions and a longer list of standard accessories. These included four-wheel disc brakes with antilock in the xA, and disc brakes with ABS, traction control and skid control in the xB.

The Scion xB also comes with standard power windows and locks, a Pioneer single-disc CD with six speakers, and a first-aid kit. The dashboard in the xB flowed data from a centrally mounted pod, while the speedo sits on top of the dash much like a mantel clock, offset towards the driver and much easier to read.

The xB featured two front buckets seats and a shifter mounted on the floor, rather than the front bench seat and a column-mounted shifter for the automatic transmission of the bB. While the bB was available with either the 1.3 L 2NZ-FE engine or the 1.5 L 1NZ-FE that was mated exclusively to a 4-speed automatic transmission with available all-wheel drive, the xB is only available with 1NZ-FE, but offers both a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. The xB does not offer all-wheel drive.

While the Toyota bB held a temporary spare tire that was stored under the rear cargo floor, the Scion xB held its compact spare tired under the left side of the rear cargo floor. A storage compartment was added to the right of the spare tire since the spare tire raised the cargo floor by several inches and reclaimed some of the lost storage space. The xB also holds a jack stored under the driver's seat. Under the passenger seat is a pull-out storage tray.

For the final year of production, 2006, minor changes were undergone that included interior seat fabric changes, along with a new steering wheel with integrated audio controls. The addition of two new colors further enhanced the line with ‘Salsa Red' replacing Black Cherry Pearl and ‘Shadow Mica' replacing Camouflage Metallic. The manual base model now cost $14,030 and $14,830 for the automatic.

A limited-release option package was offered in March, 2004 and began with the Scion xB RS1 and continued with the Scion xB RS2 in March of 2005, the Scion xB RS3 in February, 2006 and the Scion xB RS4 in November of 2006. The Release Series line of Scion vehicles featured a plaque mounted inside the vehicle that stated the edition number, while each release received its own exclusive special color not found on another xB. The RS1 featured Hot Lava, while the RS2 showcased Solar Yellow, the RS3 was featured in unique Envy Green, and the RS4 was painted in a color-shifting MAziora Torched penny.

Introduced at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, the second-generation xB was manufactured for Toyota by Central Motor Co. This new xB was larger than the previous model and featured a more rounded shape and is styled as a 5-door version of the t2B concept that was unveiled at the 2006 New York Auto Show. 3' wider and 1' longer than the first generation xB, the 2008 xB is powered by a 2.4L engine shared with the tC and the Camry. Carrying all of the standard features from the 2006 xB, the newest model also includes VSC, ABS and others. Cruise control and six airbags are standard.

On all 2008 Scions, a choice from three new head units will be available, along with south systems that feature six speaks and standard iPod connectivity. While the base unit has MP3, WMA, and AAC CD compatibility and Scion's SSP equalizer presets, it can also be set to any of three Scion model presets, xB, xD, or tC. The base until also features an ‘Automatic Sound Levelizer' feature that automatically increases the volume as the vehicle speed and ambient noise increases. In addition to the features on the base unit, the Premium head unit features a small LCD that can display pictures and moves downloaded from Pioneer's website. In addition to GPS functionality and the features of the base system, the SNS 100 system can play DVD movies, aside from the backlit color choices.

The only factory options aside from the color and stereo are a five-speed manual and a sequential-shift four-speed automatic. The newest Scion xB weighs over 600 lbs more than the previous generation. Not a rebadged Toyota bB like the first-generation modele, the second-generation Scion xB is a captive import sold in Japan under the Toyota Corolla family as the Corolla Rumion.

The 2008 Scion xB has been rated as one of the top ten safe vehicles under $25,000 by Car and Driver magazine.

by Jessican Donaldson