| DAEMANO |
02-03-2016 04:01 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Lange
(Post 2533761)
They already make the parts to badge all of the cars as a Toyota for all of the Scion line. Ordering a few extra Toyota emblems and nameplates (that they already have in production) instead of the Scion ones is a very small change indeed.
iM is already built as the Toyota Auris at the same factory.
FR-S is already built as the Toyota 86 at the same factory.
iA is already built as the Toyota Yaris at the same factory.
It's literally zero extra parts to develop to do this change, all you need to do is stop making a few emblems at the factories.
I would bet that this was in talks for a relatively extended period but that the final decision happened recently.
Jeff
|
Haven't read the whole thread to see if anyone else had mentioned this, but you do make an important point here. That is that the rest of Scion's lineup also fills important gaps in Toyota's own lineup with equivalent or better cars than are currently available.
- The FR-S is easily the best lightweight 2+2 in the market (it's also the only one.) There are no viable RWD compact sports cars to be had under $50k and the only 2+2 is the Lotus Evora 400.
- The iA is easily the best subcompact sedan in the market and has high volume potential (especially in the rental market). Sold as a Toyota, this could be a huge hit. I mean would you choose a Chevy Sonic or iA at the rental counter, really?
- The iM/Auris bests or equals most base 5 door hatchbacks in the market that Toyota had no product in the US to fill. It's essentially a better equipped Matrix at the same price.
From a North American Toyota executive's perspective, I would be drooling to get all of these cars all in one year. As a dealer same thing. To be a fly on the wall in some of these steering committee meetings would have been very interesting. |
