Toyota to discontinue the Scion youth-oriented brand

Scion no more: Scion's last concept vehicle shown off at the Detroit Auto Show - Photo By Gadjo Sevilla

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Scion, the Toyota sub-brand designed to attract younger buyers will be discontinued. Toyota said it will rebadge three of its 2017 model-year Scions as Toyotas, beginning in August. One model, the tC coupe, will no longer be produced as of that month. Scion debuted in the US in 2003 and was a targeted towards first-time buyers and students.

The brand was built on the foundations of Toyota vehicles but offered customization in terms of colour and materials, quirky vehicle styles and youthful advertising campaigns. Scion only came to Canada in 2010, Toyota is scrapping the brand in response to customer needs.

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Toyota to release special edition Prius c, limited to 1,500 units

There will only be 1,500 units of the special edition Prius c hybrid called the Prius c Persona Series. It’ll come in two versions that offer the same specs but come with different trim colours. The main body colour of this electric vehicle will be black and buyers have the option to get it either in Electric Lime or Cherry Pearl. The colours run through the lower front grille, under the headlights, on the trim near the side windows, and the mirrors.

This Prius c Persona line will don Persona series badges and have 15-inch black alloy wheels. Prius c vehicles come in a numbered grade scale and this model is built on grade Two, meaning it gets fabric-trimmed two-tone seats; 6-way adjustable driver’s seat; 60/40 split fold-down rear seats; cruise control; cargo area cover; and engine immobilizer. Fuel economy of this EV is rated for 53mpg in the city. It’s equipped with a 1.5L four-cylinder engine with 73hp and 82 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with an electric motor and battery system, which if combined outputs total of 99hp. Under EV mode it can run solely on electric power for under a mile while remaining below 25mph. Toyota hasn’t said yet how much the special edition will cost but it will come out in the US in December.

Source: Toyota | Via: SlashGear 

Toyota and Oculus partner for VR driving simulator for teens

Hoping to make driving safer for the next generation, Toyota partners with Oculus to create a Toyota-branded driving simulator that will be used for Toyota’s TeenDrive365 program. It puts the teens inside a real yet stationary car and uses virtual reality technology to simulate actual driving. They will have to use the pedals properly and face distractions such as traffic noise, passengers, text messages, and radio noise.

It uses 360-degree head tracking for a more immersive experience and the Rift has a 100-degree field of view, which is beyond ones peripheral vision. It will also make use of RealSpace 3D audio to add depth to sound. They hope to make teens more comfortable with driving before they head out to the streets.

Source: Toyota | Via: SlashGear

First Impression: Lexus NX and Lexus RC F Coupe

Text and photos by Don Halliwell

Earlier this month, I was invited by Toyota to tour their manufacturing facilities in Cambridge, Ontario. While the sections I visited focused on building the popular Lexus RX line, management had a special surprise set up for visitors: a first look at some upcoming models that will soon be hitting Canadian streets. 

I’ll be writing about my plant visit in more detail, shortly – but just couldn’t wait to share this inside look with you. Hit jump for some first impressions.

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