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Old 11-19-2009, 05:50 PM   #5
OldSkoolToys
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The more I think about it the more I just know Toyota of America is going to release the FT as a Scion. The eco-friendly / generic family market is what has made Toyota the largest automaker in the world, and I don't see them trying to 'shift' their image away from that; not in today's economy and political environment. People have to remember that even if this car is badged as a Toyota in Japan, that doesn't mean it will be badged as a Toyota over here.

From a pure business standpoint (marketing, sales, etc.) it makes much more sense for a brand new car, re-creating a market segment on its own, that shifts away from the modern day thinking of "go green, hybrid cars, practical, etc." to be badged under a segment that is known for releasing 'edgy' cars that don't fit the norm. Scion's are not high volume cars, and the FT will be exactly that: low-volume.

You just put all the pieces together, then add in a dash of "oh yeah, this is Toyota of America, not Japan, and this car doesn't fit with Toyota's marketing scheme" and you ultimately have to conclude that this car will be a Scion. I'm not completely positive on it, since I don't work at Toyota, but it makes out to be a logical decision.

If the tC is being scrapped (name and all) for another car, then the FT could easily be the "tC's replacement". Think about it. The tC is the closest car in the Scion lineup in terms of sportyness (using that term loosely) and price-range.
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