Scion at NAIAS

Source: Scion Canada via Facebook

Scion Canada has posted some photos from the Scion booth at the North American International AutoShow in Detroit on their Facebook page.  My favourite of the bunch is this xD in Castrol colours (right).  This obviously brings back memories of the Toyota rally cars, like the Celica and Corolla.


Check out their entire gallery here.

"Take on the Machine"

Looks like Scion Canada is giving away a 2011 Scion tC, and all you need to do is play a game.  That's right, something you'll probably do anyway.  Best of all, you don't even need to win, just play.


This sounds a bit interesting - the game controller is actually an encoded marker that you use as a steering wheel.  A webcam picks up your movements and translates them into the actions on the screen.  The game will be introduced January 13th at the Montreal Auto Show, as well as online.  Try it out at a number of Canadian auto shows, including the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto.


So go on, have some fun, and you might even win a 2011 Scion tC.  Full details are at Scionnation "Take on the Machine".


[Source: Scionnation.ca]
UPDATE: This is sort of related, well, so far as it relates to video games anyway.  Here's a Nintendo inspired xB.

Source: Autospies.com

Autoblog.com also has a video of it. Read the full post here.

[Sources: Autoblog.com, Autospies.com]

Toyota Zelas

Here's an interesting bit of information - the Scion tC is going to be sold in China in 2011 as the Toyota Zelas.  No information on whether or not there will be any significant changes to the tC for the Chinese market.

[Source: autoevolution.com]

Toyota Introduces Entune

With the Consumer Electronic Show coming later this week, Toyota is introducing it's version of Ford's Sync in-car multimedia system.  According to the press release (read the full release here) it comes with the largest number of mobile apps.  The system links with your smartphone through a Bluetooth connection and uses your phone's data plan to access the internet.


Most intriguing to me are the music apps - Pandora & iheartradio.  This may very well herald the end of terrestrial radio as we have known it.  The ability to integrate internet radio easily into your vehicle's entertainment system opens up a whole new world of music sources.  While satellite radio has been available for a number of years, internet radio seems to be the future.  Even Howard Stern has said that SiriusXm, the only sat radio company, will be moving towards more of an internet radio service.


Hopefully Entune will be embraced by the various app developers so that new apps are quickly developed.  The apps must be easily installed by the average user for Entune to be successfull.


While Toyota has indicated limited initial availability, I fully expect it will make it's way to Scion.  This type of development is squarely aimed at a younger audience - the audience Scion is targetting.  I just hope the cost of adding the Entune option is kept reasonable.


Some of the other features include:

• Bing
• MovieTickets.com
• OpenTable.com
• Location-based services, such as personalized traffic, gas prices, weather and sports
• Also includes read-back and replay of text messages

Autoblog.com has a video that shows off some of the features.  Have a look at it:

[Sources: Autoblog.com, Toyota]

Toyota FT-86 Logo

Car and Driver claims to have uncovered the logo for the upcoming Toyota FT-86.  The logo shows off an "86" in the centre.  The "86" is a nod to the Toyota AE86 from the 80's, which now has a bit of a cult following in the drifting world.   It is also suggested that the opposing pistons is a reference to the boxer style of engine.  The FT-86 has been co-developed with Subaru (Toyota owns a chunk of Subaru) and is expected to be delivered with a Subaru boxer engine.

Source: Car and Driver

So why is a story about a Toyota on a Scion blog? Some have suggested that the FT-86 may actually arrive to market as a Scion.  The Wall Street Journal, via Autoblog.com, reports that:

"...Toyota management told dealers in Las Vegas there will be a production version of the FT-86 badged as a Scion model. The move would help bolster the struggling brand, which has been a bit product-starved of late. There are also rumors of a new price point – as high as $25,000 – and the possibility that the Subaru version will only be available in Europe."

I think if this logo is accurate, that it puts to rest the idea of the FT-86 being badged as a Scion.  The AE86 is something of an iconic car for Toyota and has no ties to Scion.  Why include the "86" in th logo if it isn't a Toyota?

Of course they could sell it as a Toyota in most markets and as a Scion in North America. Seems to me it would compete with the tC, to a certain extent, so far as being a small 2-door coupe.  I'd rather see it as a Toyota to bring a bit of sportiness back to that brand!


[Sources: Car and Driver, Autoblog.com]

Nice example of an AE86
Source: http://ae86levinandtrueno.blogspot.com/

Toyota FT-86 Concept

Toyota FT-86 Concept
Source: Autoblog.com