Toyota has annouced the 'third' brand in North America: Scion. Next to it's original Toyota and Lexus brand, this 'Scion' brand is geared toward younger people and will be sold in Toyota dealerships. And 'trial car' (don't know what that means) would be announced by the end of March. The new logo looks like below:

 

FUGLY. Thats a pretty nasty name too. Lexus sounds fine, why the Hell did they pick Scion?

 

Wonder what the cars will look like?

Anyone got any spy photos?

 

My guess is that it would be a low-end line of vehicles... sorta like a Saturn

 

Los Angeles Times
Published March 1, 2002

Toyota, unable to command the respect among young car buyers enjoyed by some competitors, will begin marketing a line of youth-oriented vehicles in the U.S. as early as next year under the Scion brand name.

The automaker confirmed the new name Thursday, saying that it will give Toyota a chance to approach the youth market with a fresh image.

Toyota's mainstream vehicles generally are thought of as having little appeal to buyers under 30. The company isn't alone in eyeing the large and growing youth market, but is the first to start a new brand to serve it.

Analysts generally applauded the move, saying Toyota is big enough to support a third brand to go with its mainstream Toyota and luxury Lexus brands.

Toyota declined to detail the initiative, saying plans will be revealed next month at the New York Auto Show.

 

It always amazes me when companies market things in North America using names where the pronunciation isn't immediately obvious. Like Sony's WEGA pronounced with a V.

 

so would it be pronounced Sci-on (like Science) or See-on?

 

They would have gotten young people if they would have been smart with the matrix. You can only get a stick and AWD with the less powerful engine. What is up with that?

 

Or sky-on?

 

Ehhh, thats a Double-V not a W........

For that matter, how about Volkswagen whichs is prnounced Wolksvagen?

 

Psion

sai-on?

 

the trial car's not even out yet and your judging the label
already ... :whatapity:

Regarding the matrix, theres more and more of that type of class lately
mini cooper, matrix, mazda protoge, pontiac vibe , civic hatchbk-r, ford focus, etc

i saw on motorweek, minicooper comes with 168 horses and navi (optional)

 

Its two overlapping V's in the graphic. But on the web page, its written as a WW, not two V's. http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/wega/

WV is different because they're German. And its two actual words, not something made up by a corporation.

 

Actually, if u look, it's overlapping V's. One black, one gray. The listing says WEGA cause it would look kinda dumb if the did VVEGA

 

Yea i saw on C&D that the vibe comes with a navi option as well... seems like a good idea since alot of younger people will think its COOL to have. Kinda like how i did when i bought the TL

 

Navi is close to being an option on almost every car. I'd be surprised if there was a car in 10 years that didn't have the option. Its like radios used to be optional. Then AM was standard and FM was option. Now CD's are either standard or at least available on all cars. I'm spoiled by navi. I don't want another car without one.

 

thanks for the history lesson, old man!!

 

I don't know who came up with this one for Toyota... There are religious and political implications all over the place. IMHO, not good for marketing purposes.

scion means son, or heir.

It sure sounds alot like zion or sion, which (from dictionary.com) means -

1a - The historic land of Israel as a symbol of the Jewish people.
1b - The Jewish people; Israel.
2 - A place or religious community regarded as sacredly devoted to God.
3- An idealized, harmonious community; utopia.

 

My sentiments (sp?) EXACTLY!!!!

 

Toyota has been very ambitious towards younger buyers' market lately. But I think the symbol has some problem. The first impression of the logo is that it is different from the ones of Toyota, which looks like a capitalized "T" and the one of Lexus, which is the "L". So I would assume it with a "S" inside a ellipse, but instead it says the whole name out like Nissan does.

 

lol

reminds me of my grandpa saying...
"back in my day we only had..." :o