Filed under: Trucks/Pickups, Scion, Toyota
2010 Scion xP - the 'P' stands for Pickup
Though the launch of Toyota's new full-size Tundra pickup has been a rocky one, the Japanese juggernaut is taking notes, learning on the fly and will undoubtedly not make the same mistakes twice. Perhaps after studying its domestic competition in the full-size truck market, Toyota noticed an untapped strategy that the Big 3 have allowed to languish – the entry-level pickup. Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com is reporting that Toyota is seriously considering adding a two-door unibody pickup to its Scion lineup with a design inspired by the Fuse Concept that debuted at the New York Auto Show last year. More details after the jump.
Thanks for the tip, Judd!
[Source: Pickuptruck.com]
The rendering ordered up by Pickuptruck.com looks very much like the Fuse from the front and has a stance more akin to an Australian 'ute (or old time El Camino) than a small pickup like the Ford Ranger. It features blacked out A-pillars that create the effect of a wraparound windshield, as well as a backwards leaning B-pillar that matches the rake of the windshield. Levine reports that power would be provided by Scion's 161-hp/163 ft-lbs 2.4L four-cylinder, which, while not capable of towing 10,500 lbs., would at least marry decent performance with acceptable fuel economy and throw in a traditional truck bed for transporting home that new flat-panel LCD you just bought from Costco. Furthermore, Levine also claims the bumper features an infrared sensor that when tripped by your foot will lower the tailgate. The tailgate itself can be used as a seat for two when down, and rear foldout speakers will allow you to pump up the volume outside the interior. Finally, a beverage cooler will also be tucked into the rear of the center console.
The report from Pickuptruck.com contains too much detail to ignore, including a projected starting price of around $12,000, and we know Levine doesn't post gossip if there's not at least a few shreds of truth contained therein. At the same time, one can see Toyota's strategy here. There is no competition left in the entry-level pickup market, which is populated almost solely by the Ford Ranger, a pickup that hasn't seen a redesign since the first Bush was president. If Toyota make waves with the Scion xP in the entry-level pickup segment, those customers would be all the more likely to purchase a new Tundra when the time comes to do some real work.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Joe K. 2:45PM (6/18/2007)
there was a Scion Owners/Dealers event in NY back in February, and i swear i had this exact conversation with someone... We were discussing now that the xB was so much bigger they should make the back seats and cargo a bed and cab the front seats in and make it a p/up... Given this was a few drinks into the night (hey it was Gratis and we were given hotel rooms) but no lie I was talk to a guy in a suit about this very idea... quite a few people were in on the conversation, kinda funny...
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FormerScionOwner 2:55PM (6/18/2007)
Wow - they're really starting to put more "Toyota" thought in to Scion - and by that I mean screw it up. I bought a tC brand new at the end of 2004. I loved that and the XB (the XA was always kinda gross IMO).
Anyway, they've since screwed up the XB beyond belief. It used to be a quirky little box that god good MPGs and was fun to drive. I decided against it simply because I was moving from an Integra GS-R to either the XB or the tC so the tC won out. My brother ended up getting an XB and I still love it, it just wasn't for me. The new XB, however, is ruined. Everyone I know that thinks the original XB was nasty still thinks the new one is nasty... and almost everyone I know who liked the first one hates the new one. Its like they took one step back, followed by two steps back.
The gas mileage is going to be worse due to the bigger engine, and I don't think the bigger engine will do anything for it since it's now a lot heavier than before. Icing on the cake is the fact that it's ugly.
I can't wait to see what they do when they ruin the tC with a redesign.
With regards to this "xP"... first off I hope MS sues them because the name sucks. I don't know what they'd do then, because they can't call it the "tP." Second, the people who I can envision buying Scions (before Toyota screwed them up) aren't the same people I know who own pickup trucks. The two demographics are totally different.
This is like Ferrari making a pick-up truck, BMW making a conversion van, or Porsche making an RV. It doesn't make sense.
John Neff 3:01PM (6/18/2007)
I disagree with you FormerScionOwner. The entry-level pickup market is just not populated right now, so it's tough to say what the entry-level pickup buyer is like nowadays. I think the xP, if Toyota decides to build it, would actually attract people who never considered buying a "truck" before.
FormerScionOwner 3:07PM (6/18/2007)
I can see your point, but I still don't think it makes much sense. The "pick up" crowd isn't usually about unibodies and tiny 4 cylinder engines when it comes to their trucks. Look how much sh*t the pick-up audience gives the Ridgeline just because it's not a "proper" truck with a body-on-frame design with a V8 and leaf spring suspension.
I can see where a Scion pickup might appeal to the crowd that'd throw airbags or hydraulics on it, but if I want a pick up truck to use for pick up truck like duties I can easily go down to the local Dodge dealer (henkelauto.com) and get a full sized Dodge Ram for $12K.
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flicmod 3:22PM (6/18/2007)
I'm with FormerScionOwner on this. I have a feeling that the only thing this will do is give Toyota a model that competes directly in the tuner truck market. Few would buy this for true truck purposes and those that do will probably be unhappy with their purchase. Given the fact that Scion was created to appeal to the younger generations, it'd be out of character to try to make a real small truck. Their edgy styling and trendy concepts don't fit well with true truck buyers.
Not to mention that there's a reason why the domestics aren't making entry-level trucks: there's no market for them. Small trucks like the old, early- and mid-90's Tacoma's, Frontier's, and Mazda B-series, etc. are not practical, nor do they offer much in terms of giving truck buyers the goods to do things that people do with trucks.
John Neff 4:53PM (6/18/2007)
I don't buy the argument that just because the domestics aren't selling entry-level trucks means there's no market for them. That's giving the automakers too much credit. Perhaps it's that no automaker has yet to produce a good entry-level pickup, and perhaps the xP or even a new Ranger could revitalize the market. Again, the tuner angle to me would not support developing a new vehicle like this. They would have to have a business plan for people who would like more utility than a $low-teens car could provide along with decent fuel economy. Again, I wouldn't imagine these are traditional truck people, but people looking for a vehicle that isn't available on the market right now unless they want to settle for a Ranger.
Barney 6:09PM (6/18/2007)
"he "pick up" crowd isn't usually about unibodies and tiny 4 cylinder engines when it comes to their trucks. Look how much sh*t the pick-up audience gives the Ridgeline"
I don't think the appeal is towards pickup truck owners who buy Fords etc. The Ridgeline sells to a different crowd. Perhaps it's wrong to tag it as a pickup. The Avalanche and Sport Trac are identified as an SUV.
jgp 8:21PM (6/18/2007)
The Ridgeline only sucks because Honda has styled it and marketed it like a truck. If the Ridgeline was simply an Accord with a bed, I'd love it. I was always a fan of the Subaru Baja (and its predecessor, the BRAT), and I'd love to see Scion make a similar vehicle.
mb 12:44PM (6/21/2007)
The Ridgeline get sh*t because it's so ulgy.
Torqued 3:09PM (6/18/2007)
If they can make it fuel efficient and funky-looking I think it'll sell. I wouldn't buy it, but I can see people wanting the utility of a small pickup...
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Dave M. 3:10PM (6/18/2007)
FormerScionOwner:
I wholeheartedly disagree. Scion is the perfect brand for this entry-level vehicle. Long, long ago in a country much different than ours (America, 1982....) both VW and Chryco came out with small, FWD "pickups" based on small hatchbacks. While both models tanked in the market (gas was =/- .85 gallon), it was a brilliant concept that makes even more sense today during $3/gallon gas.
Some people need a little open-back hauler for light duty items. No need for 4wd (ok, maybe AWD), jacked-up Rubicon capable trucks.
It would be my guess that if the Honda Ridgeline wasn't so damn ugly it'd be a much bigger seller.
The only 'small' pickup right now is the circa-1982 Ford Ranger. This new Scion would easily have a 20k+ market IMO.
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leather bear 4:16PM (6/18/2007)
Dave,
I completely agree with you. Back in the ‘80s, I owned a small business and had an ’81 Rabbit Diesel pickup (with a camper shell over the bed) that was perfect for deliveries, light hauling, and the occasional dirt road excursion. With a decent set of shocks and tires (Konis and Pirelli CN36’s all around on mine), it was a fun little runabout that was great in the corners and gave mileage in the high 30s (which made the glacial acceleration and the so-so reliability at least bearable). Except for the antediluvian Ford Ranger, there is nothing currently on the market in the compact truck class. A Scion truck about the size of the Rabbit (but with Toyota reliability; my ’04 Scion xA with 60K on the odo has needed nothing more than regular maintenance) would be a hit.
FormerScionOwner 3:12PM (6/18/2007)
I'd make it as a Toyota then and not a Scion. I can see it being a little run-about for the HGTV-watching DIY'ers... but I don't know how they'd market this to the "urban youth" crowd typical of Scion's target market.
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BC 3:15PM (6/18/2007)
I for one and waiting for somebody to make a compact truck again that would make enough sense for me to have as a daily driver or cheap 2nd car. Back in the 80's there were plenty of small trucks that fit the bill. Just this weekend I saw an Isuzu diesel extended cab, those things got ~30mpg. I'm not looking to tow a boat or move houses from their foundation. Most people need a truck to carry bulk, not weight.
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john riley 3:16PM (6/18/2007)
Looks like it might be a good way to haul a couple of muddy mt bikes.
Might also appeal to those empty nesters that showed up for the xB and Element. Something to haul a bag of mulch and other light homeowner stuff.
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YourNameHere 3:24PM (6/18/2007)
check out the bB OpenDeck its not the 1st timet toyota has done this....
Christopher Watts 3:19PM (6/18/2007)
I thought a TV would already fit into the back of the toaster version of the Scion X's?? I'm trying to figure this out. Subaru tried this 2x already right? Besides, what if SCION simply saved the money on what it would cost to bring in an entirely new niche model and instead, move the damn instrument cluster back to the drivers side where it belongs. Money well spent and I'll rent a moving van or borrow a friends Tacoma if I need to move a $7,000.00 tv. Jeez. Talk about getting it bassackwards.
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judd 3:20PM (6/18/2007)
When I first saw this, it gave me a pause. I am considering a Tacoma soon, but this would have had me looking at both and checking numbers if both were available now. Only reason I am looking at the Tacoma is because there is no other truck in it's class that I would trust (IMHO). It makes me wonder if the mileage would really suffer too. How many pounds would this be lighter vs. the tC? We have/had both xB and tC and would seriously consider this for sure if it came with a 5 spd auto at least.
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Frank! 3:26PM (6/18/2007)
They'll make it, make it ugly, and it'll sell becuase of the perceived quality or just because it's ugly and thus different. Sometimes I really wonder if Toyota took a hot steaming poo on the ground and stamped their name in it how many people would pay for it.
John Neff 4:55PM (6/18/2007)
It would certainly be lighter and have better fuel economy than the Tacoma.