I was reading theautochannel.com this morning, and there is an article on the new Toyota bB, (Scion xB). They have changed the looks of the car, made it a bit bigger and they are emphasizing sound. Same motor, but maybe that's for certain markets, as I have read that the new xB for the USA would have the same engine that the TC has.

By the way, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a nice holiday and time to relax. I actually have a day off today, and am just fooling around on the computer with my cat, Mr Round (and if you saw him, you'd know why he has that name. heh heh).

 

Siguy,

Your right, Toyota has introduced a new bB for the Japanese market. Its bigger and and is being advertised as a "lifestyle" vehicle with and advanced audio system, with 9 speakers and several audio processing modes along with complimentary lighting that can strobe with the music beat. I'm not a fan of the huge front bumper.

Here are some pics of the new bB/scion Xb. In Japan it has the same engine in the current car but I'm sure they could shoehorn the TC engine to fit.

D



Optional Body kits

 

Anyone else notice a PT Cruiser / HRR direction?

 

That is what i think so too.

 

Very retro PT cruiser look. The retro thing must still be in full swing fashion in Japan.

There is a real market for vehicles with decent sound systems standard. If you have a choose your own leased company car you can't mod your vehicle but if you can get an aftermarket style sound system standard you can get around the problem.

 

You guys beat me to it. I was looking at the photos and I thought, man that looks kinda 1940's in some ways. The car really looks a lot different than "the box". Be interesting to see how it would sell in the States.

 

hummm... looks like one of those cars I'd have to see in person to decide if I like it or not. right now it's not doing anything for me.

The stereo thing... eh, not gonna go into that here...

 

Keep an eye out for the Los Angeles Auto Show or NAIAS. Don't be surprised that Toyota introduces the second-generation Scion xB by then for sale probably in late Spring 2006; after all, my guess is that since the Toyota bB has been replaced Toyota will have no choice in replacing the xB with the new model.

The other thing to watch out for is the Scion xA replacement; I'm taking an educated guess that the new xA will be based on the Toyota Ractis "tall wagon" that just went on sale in Japan in October 2005.

 

Saw another article on the bB, and it has lights all around the inside of the car that flash in tune with the beat of the music! Hmmmmm The article also said that this car is based on the Yaris chasis. I had thought it was to be based on the Corolla chasis. It does make more sense that it's based on the Yaris, since the original Box was based of the Echo chasis/engine, and the Yaris is the replacement for that. I do have to admit that the center mounted guages look better on the new Box, even tho I still don't care for that design.

 

Why oh why are Scion's not sold in Canada???

 

Maybe it's the Canadian market. I think you guys have cars there that we don't get here, just like Mexico gets European cars that we don't get. I saw a Mexican Ford Ka while on a recent vacation. I dunno if anyone out there saw that infamous ad for the Ka, the one where a cat jumped on the top of the roof, and the moon roof opened up and cut off the cats' head! Ford denied that it was an add for the Ka, but that add made it's way from the UK to all over the world! They also had an add where a piegon looked like it was gonna "bomb" the Ka, and when the bird got real close to the car, the hood opened up and whammed the pigeon! I thought that was kind of funny, as I hate pigeons; they poop over everything (we call 'em flying rats). Oh well....maybe they could do an add where a Fit takes out a Yaris or Rio. :-)