Scion xD
It's difficult to sell a subcompact for what it is in America. So, in Chicago, Scion presented their new 2008 xD - a model that shares its platform with Toyota's Yaris small hatch - as a trendy "must-have" artifact for the urban youth. The Scion xD replaces the former xA five-door hatchback that ceased production in late 2006 and that was not offered for 2007. The xA's undistinguished design was never as successful as the former xB's radical and boxy shape. So it's no surprise that Scion now tries to share a stronger and more coherent formal brand language between the xD and their new xB: the thick c-pillars, the accentuated wheel flares and wide stance, the frowned wraparound headlights and the globally offbeat aesthetics targeted to please the younger buyers, and upset the others.
Inside the xD, practical storage and cargo space abound: there is even a storage tray located beneath the steering wheel. The xD has high-quality dark charcoal interior fabric on its seats. The 60/40 fold-flat rear seats were designed for comfort and utility as they can slide 6", forward and back, for additional leg room and cargo area. In addition, they can recline ten degrees and be adjusted into five different positions. Naturally the xD is iPod friendly and an optional premium audio system even gives the owner the possibility to download "skins" to customize the head unit's LCD faceplate.
Like the xB, the Scion xD uses a mono-spec marketing strategy with no gradated trim levels. Scions buyers can only pick a color and their gearbox type. The rest is included, but a healthy relation with the aftermarket industry stimulates the customization possibilities offered on Scion vehicles. The xD was designed at Toyota's Tokyo design studio, but was influenced by the Urban Cruiser concept, designed at the Toyota ED2 studio in Nice, France, and introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show.
Dimensions: length: 154.7", width: 67.9", height: 60.0", wheelbase: 96.9".
Scion xB
Scion, Toyota's hip and trendy brand created specifically for the North-American market, has the mandate to recruit a new generation of buyers for the Japanese giant. In Chicago, Scion introduced the second generation of their most iconic product: the xB compact and boxy people mover. Mark Templin, Scion vice president says that "our owners told us they wanted a bigger box. We listened and we responded with a bigger and better xB." Effectively, the new xB that owes a lot of its styling to the t2B concept, shown in New-York in 2005 (flat panels, soft angles, high beltline, long wrap around front headlamps and massive c-pillar) is based on a new bigger platform, and its engine does a quantum leap of 55hp to 158hp (1,5L to 2,4L). The xB's wheelbase is increased by 4" and the car is now longer (12") and wider (3"). The xB now receives 16" steel wheels but this car begs for larger aftermarket wheels, and this is also part of the Scion business plan: a fully customized 2008 xB was even on display at the launch.
Because for the Scion target buyer a car is a premium sound system on wheels, the xB's lounge-like interior was designed to meet their lifestyle needs and offer full connectivity with their iPod. A series of circular and orange illuminated gauges, including a combination meter, are centered on the deconstructed and asymmetric dash, leaving a strangely void space behind the steering wheel. Metal trim accents cover the lower center console where the shift lever is mounted. The front seats fully recline for increased cargo space and rear seat folds to create a flat cargo floor.
The xB design was initiated at Calty, Toyota's Californian studio, and was completed by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Design in Japan. At Calty, the exterior design was done by Jin Kim and Alex Shen; the interior design work was supervised by Bill Chergosky.
Dimensions: length: 167.3", width: 69.3", height: 62.6", wheelbase: 102.4"
Pontiac G8 Concept
General Motors has revealed their 2008 Pontiac G8 sports sedan at the Chicago Auto Show under the form of a lightly disguised concept based on a re-badged Australian Holden Commodore. The Pontiac retains most of the 2007 Holden's body panels, but differentiates itself with a new dual-port grille, specific front bumper and the addition of air-scoops on the hood. The G8 is destined to replace the dreadful Grand Prix in the Pontiac lineup. Like the Commodore, the G8 will be built on the 115" wheelbase version of GM's Zeta platform, which will also underpin future GM rear-wheel-drive cars. This new architecture's very rigid unibody structure uses advanced-strength steel in more than 80 percent of its construction.
The production G8 won't get the leather clad dashboard, nor will they get the concept's 20" wheels, and the ride height will be raised by half an inch. Nevertheless, the car will have the wheels-at-the-corners stance and sport sedan proportions Pontiac products need so badly, since they lost their mojo three decades ago. The traditional 'Wide Track' theme is expressed on the G8 by prominent wheel arches and the placement of the foglights and chromed exhaust tips right at the corners.
To improve weight distribution and proportions the steering rack is mounted forward of the front axle centerline and the engine is pushed back. The base model will get a 261 hp 3.6-liter V6 while the G8 GT will boast a small-block 6.0-liter V8 delivering 362 hp and 391 pound-feet of torque.
Almost admitting Pontiac product's current flaws, Bob Lutz promised "renewed commitment to customer satisfaction", quality materials and world-class fit and finish on the G8.
Dimensions:length: 196.1" (4982mm), width: 74.8" (1899mm), height: 57.7" (1465mm), wheelbase: 114.8" (2915mm).
