Scion
Secondhand Gems: Thinking Inside The Box
There are few automotive genres that polarize the motoring masses more than the one we’re about to discuss. Perhaps the word genre isn’t entirely accurate here, because the three vehicles featured in this comparison have, at one point or another, been labeled the following: crossover, sport-utility vehicle, compact, subcompact, five-door hatchback, station wagon, and our personal favorite, foxy boxy. (It’s possible we made that last category up.) What matters here is that these three cars are pretty much all of the above, making them a bit hard to pigeonhole. And therein lies the appeal for these, um, vehicles. They’re not status quo, they’re not cookie cutter, and while their love-it-or-hate-it styling isn’t for everyone, there’s no denying the sense of individuality these vehicles bestow upon their owners. So go ahead and label these non-conformist rides goofy, or hideous, or ugly, but don’t forget to include quirky, cool, and the most important descriptor of all, successful—especially in the youth market where individuality is everything.
Driven: 2010 Scion tC
The Scion tC looks the part of the sporty coupe. Our test vehicle, in particular, had a dashing look about it, with optional features giving it that more athletic appearance. Also, it was equipped with a manual transmission, which gave promise for a good, enthusiastic experience as we spent some fast miles with it on some of our favorite local straights and twisties, learning its strengths and weaknesses.
First Look: 2011 Scion iQ
Scion has just taken the wraps off of the North American-spec iQ. This micromachine, designed to compete with the Smart Fortwo, features a 1.3-liter I-4 that makes “over 90 horsepower” and is mated to a standard continuously variable transmission.
Driven: 2010 Scion xB
When Scion was launched in 2003, its mission was to bring younger buyers who were looking for an edgy alternative to the economy and compact cars that were currently on the market. Although the success of this mission is debatable, there is one thing that is not, and that is the success of original xB. Upon its launch, the xB was lauded for its style and affordable entry price. For model year 2008, the second generation of the psychedelic little box was released. Unfortunately, the new model grew fatter in every dimension and lost the sharp boxiness of the original.
Chicago 2010: Scion tC Release Series 6.0 Debuts, Priced At $18,620
The aging Scion tC coupe is in great need of a substantial refresh, but Toyota is once again offering consumers a special, limited-production version of the car. The Release Series 6.0 features a Speedway Blue paint job, as well as an Alpine audio system, HD radio, and a navigation system with a 4.3-inch touch-screen display, offering turn-by-turn voice guidance, three-dimensional map viewing, and a spiffy tC RS guidance icon. (Oooh. Aaah.)
Detroit 2010: GMC Granite Concept Is An Urban Cruiser Bred In The U.S.
Based on the Chevrolet Orlando platform, the Granite features rear-hinged rear doors with no B-pillar, making it extremely easy to load people and things inside of the useful little vehicle. The overall interior design is very open and airy, but is still very functional. This meshes well with the angular, edgy exterior lines, finished off nicely with LED lighting and twenty-inch wheels.
Driven: 2010 Kia Soul Sport
When an automaker launches a new vehicle, there’s usually a lot of corporate enthusiasm built in. All of the engineers, executives, and public relations people get really excited about their latest and greatest offering, and in turn, they hope that the automotive press feels that excitement, too. The Kia people are no different in this regard but, given the automaker’s rather bland current lineup, it’s been harder for them to sell it.
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