Scion's promise to keep its lineup fresh was kept today, when the xA was replaced by the xD and the xB was replaced by the new xB. Both are 2008 models with five doors, four-cylinder power and Scion's now signature urban edge.
"The xD is a clever new take on a five-door urban subcompact, with style and flair to match its efficiency and utility," Mark Templin, Scion vice president told us. "The xD's aggressive styling is wrapped in a small, agile package, while its interior offers impressive details and a spacious cabin."
And to help along the xD's urban edge, or street cred, as they say on the street, is this tuned version, which Scion unvieled to ooooos and ahhhhhs at its morning press conference...
And you know what? When it's lowered on oversized Volk wheels, the xD doesn't look half bad. Fresh even. —
Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief
ateixeira says:
02:07 PM, 02/ 8/07
Shifty will have to trade in his xA for one of these. :-)
kingofdewellar says:
02:20 PM, 02/ 8/07
Wow this looks really good, this is a great step up from the old xA
carlisimo says:
06:16 PM, 02/ 8/07
The interior kind of freaks me out; it makes me think that despite having the same engine size as the Matrix, they're going to try to price it closer to the original xA ($14-$15k). In fact, I think it's still too close to the xA to deserve a new name. And I don't like the styling much, but that's mostly due to the non-souped up pictures (the new xB doesn't look bad without those extras though).
Overall, I just hope Scion keeps a presence in the El Cheapo segment. It's the main reason my brother and sister bought an xB and xA respectively.
estreka says:
08:09 PM, 02/ 8/07
Looks good. A fine addition to the Scion family.
jerrywimer says:
06:20 AM, 02/ 9/07
I still can't get over how much I like the "customized" versions of these cars, and how much I *despise* the stock versions. And I'll keep repeating that the engines, while more powerful than the prior versions, still are going to contend with heavier vehicles than the former weaker drivetrains. Nor will I stop repeating the "four speed automatics only" criticisms. After all, those points are never overlooked when the domestic contenders are examined!
alpha01 says:
09:49 AM, 02/ 9/07
And by domestic contenders in this segment, you mean.... the Chevy Aveo?
I don't think that the 50% power gain of the xB will have trouble 'contending' with the larger body, and I think the xD will similarly do fine with the Corolla engine - which is extremely efficient and peppy in that application (C/D tested the 5M under 8 seconds to 60).
The 4A is a valid criticism, I hope that changes soon.
~alpha
roar02ram says:
10:18 AM, 02/ 9/07
The boomy noises that that 1.8-liter engine makes in the Matrix and Corolla make those cars positively wretched. Hopefully Toyota fixed that!!
puristsoul says:
02:58 AM, 10/ 5/07
If it were only as fast as it looks.