Scion FR-S Convertible & subcompact crossover shown at annual dealer meeting - report

[vh_supra26]

Could help to rejuvenate the brand

Scion was launched a decade ago with the hope of attracting the youth market but the brand has failed to live up to expectations.

To combat the deteriorating situation, Toyota has reportedly told dealers they're free to walk away from the fledgling franchise. If enough dealers opt out of Scion, it could increase the number of sales per dealership which would help their profitability.

While there could be an exodus of Scion dealers, those who stick it out can look forward to a rejuvenated product lineup. According to people who attended Toyota's dealer meeting earlier this month, Scion showed an FR-S convertible and a rendering of a subcompact crossover. The latter model is reportedly smaller than the Toyota RAV4 and is envisioned as a competitor to Honda's Fit-based crossover which was previewed by the Urban SUV concept. Both models are reportedly concepts but dealers expect them to go into production.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11308196...sover-shown-at

[vh_supra26]

Toyota gives dealers permission to drop Scion, shows them FR-S droptop, Juke rival first'

We recently heard that Toyota could be looking to shrink its network of Scion dealerships, and now Automotive News is reporting that the automaker has officially given its dealers the green light to dump Scion without any penalties. Currently, Scion has about 1,000 dealers, yet our report from August 8 quotes an industry analyst as suggesting a healthier figure would be between 350 and 500 outlets. But before its current dealers make a decision on whether or not to get rid of the youth-oriented brand, Toyota also showed off a couple potential future products in the pipeline.

The FT-86 Open Concept shown above was revealed back in March at the Geneva Motor Show, and AN says that an FR-S convertible was driven on stage at a recent national Toyota dealer meeting in Atlanta. There has still been no definitive word one way or another as to whether the droptop model will be built, but it could be a good way to follow up to the popular FR-S coupe. Another possible future product is a subcompact crossover, which was shown in drawing form at the meeting, presumably aimed at small CUVs like the Nissan Juke and the upcoming Honda CUV based on the Fit, a model recently previewed by the automaker's Urban SUV concept.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/19/t...s-them-fr-s-d/

[vh_supra26]

Automaker hints new products will reward those who stay

After peaking at 173,034 sales in 2006, Scion's U.S. volume has fallen off sharply. Most of the vehicle lineup is aging, and Toyota has shown few signs of offering replacements.

LOS ANGELES -- Toyota has told dealers that too many of them carry the underperforming Scion franchise, so they're free to walk away from the youth-oriented brand without facing penalties.

But the company has offered a glimpse of two possible future products for dealers who stick with Scion.

At Toyota's national dealer meeting in Atlanta this month, dealers were told Scion "'may not be for everybody,' because there's not enough throughput," said a Texas dealer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Although executives did not give a target for cutting the number of outlets, they told dealers: "If you don't want Scion, if it doesn't work for you, it's OK if you want to walk away," the dealer said.

About 1,000 of Toyota's 1,225 dealers carry the Scion franchise. When Toyota launched the brand in 2003, it expected about half of its dealers to sign up. But when initial volume boomed on the success of the xB hatchback and tC coupe, Toyota dealers jumped into the game.

After peaking at 173,034 sales in 2006, Scion volume has fallen off sharply. Most of the vehicle lineup is aging, and Toyota has shown few signs of offering replacements.

Toyota Senior Vice President Bob Carter declined to comment on the specific discussions about Scion's dealer count at the meeting, saying, "We're not ready to go public with that yet."

But Toyota Division General Manager Bill Fay recently told WardsAuto that Scion "has a few too many stores," and is looking at store viability across the dealer body.

For dealers who do remain, there is the promise of new products on the horizon. That could include the on-again, off-again Scion FR-S convertible, which appears to be back in the rotation.

At the Geneva auto show this year, Toyota showed the FT86 convertible concept, a rendering of Toyota's rear-wheel-drive GT86 coupe, as the FR-S is called in Europe. There have been concerns inside the company that the projected price point would be too high for Scion's target customer.

But at the Atlanta meetings, the FR-S convertible concept was driven on stage to the strains of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion." Toyota sources say the automaker likely will sell the car in other markets with Toyota badging.

"They don't show product they don't plan on building," said a California Toyota dealer. But he cautioned that because the FR-S is co-branded with Subaru, the other automaker may have to give approval to build the convertible.

Toyota also showed a drawing of a subcompact crossover concept with a "racy silhouette," the California dealer said.

The vehicle would be smaller than a RAV4 and would compete against Honda's upcoming crossover based on its Fit hatchback, a Toyota source said.

Although Toyota rarely comments on future product, Carter said the FR-S convertible "is under study but has not been green-lighted."

He declined to comment on the crossover concept, but Toyota executives admit to looking into the segment after Honda's crossover unveiling at this year's Detroit auto show.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...#axzz2cQ9G6VFl

[thill]

So I wonder if a Toyota franchise dropped Scion, would you still be able to get your Scion serviced there, or would you have to drive to the closest Toyota/Scion dealer?

[fang_gt86]

The Scion brand, to me has always been Toyota's "guinea pig".

[Tt3Sheppard]

Would they rename the FR-S if they dropped Scion altogether?

[fitcious]

Originally Posted by Tt3Sheppard

Would they rename the FR-S if they dropped Scion altogether?

umm probably to GT86


*wishful thinking*

[rcm47]

Can't wait to see this crossover. Could really be a hot seller if styling and performance are similar to the FR-S.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by thill

So I wonder if a Toyota franchise dropped Scion, would you still be able to get your Scion serviced there, or would you have to drive to the closest Toyota/Scion dealer?

Of course you would be able to still get it serviced at Toyota. It's not like there's "Scion" mechanics working in the back.

[IjustwantaGT86]

That would grind my gears if they changed the Scion FRS into a Toyota GT86 in the US after I already bought a FRS!

[thill]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Of course you would be able to still get it serviced at Toyota. It's not like there's "Scion" mechanics working in the back.

I was thinking more like non-Scion dealers would not train their mechanics on new models and would not stock Scion parts.

[campy]

Let's be honest, the FRS is the only reason the Scion brand still has any life in it. The iQ is too niche to support the company, the tC is tired, and the xB has become too ugly in it's efforts to satisfy everyone's palates, and no one even knows the xD exist.

Them allowing dealerships to drop the Scion brand is proof that Toyota knows Scion is on its way out the door. They're trying to cut down on Scion's assets so they can minimize loss when they slash the brand.

[BANGER]

No Scion --> No one-trim limit --> option to buy JDM spec LHD Toyota 86 "trim" at a reasonable price?! :happy0180:

(Yeah I know there's already the 10 Series but that's only in Ignition. Whiteout please. Not to mention limited run and hence bloated pricing)

Wishful thinking, lol.
One-Price to me is kinda BS anyways. Could care less.

[Gixxersixxerman]

Originally Posted by IjustwantaGT86

That would grind my gears if they changed the Scion FRS into a Toyota GT86 in the US after I already bought a FRS!

Even if scion was dropped, the only change to the car would be badging.. And you can already do this.. Nothing else would change