Archive for the ‘2011 Scion iQ’ Category

2009 has been a dismal year for automakers, but Scion has taken an especially rough hit, with sales down by nearly 58% compared to last year. That's blamed largely on Scion's lineup, which many in the industry feel has stagnated -- ironic, given that when the brand launched just seven years ago, it was lauded for its fresh design and its ability to spark the imagination of young (and youthful) buyers.

Fortunately, Yoshi Inaba, CEO of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., says that the Scion product line will see substantial changes in the 2011 model year. Most notable is the introduction of the 2011 Scion iQ. Though barely a year old, the iQ -- badged...

Toyota's sharp-looking and innovative iQ is already snatching up sales in the UK and Japan, offering an alternative to the somewhat pricier Smart ForTwo in the nascent urban mini-car segment. The Scion-branded version of the car has already been tipped for possible U.S. sale, but today reports are emerging that the decision may already be made - and that it could be here sooner than expected.

The latest development, credited to Scion division vice president Jack Hollis, has the car arriving for U.S. sale by September or October of 2010. That's at least a few months earlier than the previously-expected early 2011 date for the Scion iQ, and...