Will Scion inject freshness into America's stale compact pickup scene?

Will Scion inject freshness into America's stale compact pickup scene?

Filed under: Budget, Truck, Scion

Scion Hako concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

We know that Scion will launch a new tC coupe and a tiny little iQ minicar before the end of the year, but what comes after that? Yoshi Inaba, president of Toyota Motor North America, admits that the Japanese automaker hasn't yet decided what future products make the most sense for the youth-oriented Scion brand, but Scion General Manager Jack Hollis tells Wards Auto that a truck is a possibility.

Take a look at the current pickup truck market and you'll see that the only currently available machine that even remotely fits into the compact role is the Ford Ranger, which hasn't been updated in eons and sees its sales dwindle every single year (55,600 in 2009). This being the case, there may be room for a small urban pickup from Scion, though the automaker indicates it would need to be careful not to infringe on the class-leading Toyota Tacoma.

If Scion did indeed build a true compact pickup with an eye toward reasonable fuel efficiency, what would it look like? Perhaps an xB with a small bed? Or might it look something like the Hako concept from the 2008 New York Auto Show (perhaps in modified form)? Refresh your memory of that odd-looking show car by perusing our high-res image gallery below.


Gallery: Scion Hako Coupe Concept



[Source: Wards Auto]Will Scion inject freshness into America's stale compact pickup scene? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



Permalink | Email this | Comments

More...

I doubt it.

I think I vomited in my mouth a bit, if thats the kinds of things that are coming from scion design centre then I think I have found my new calling... or frankly any dumbshit with a straightedge and an orange crayon.

pleas read the above statement as "that is the ugliest fucking car I have ever laid eyes on, and I use to work for ford"

both I think...

scion/toyota should fire some lead designers...

or at least stop using the company daycare as a design studio

This line made my day.

But realistically, I would buy a Ford over that any day. Ford's designs are actually getting better. I'll give them that.

no doubt about it, but lat 80's early 90's fords seriously left something to be desired. but then again so did 90 of the cars made in those 2 decades...

so which side is the front and which side is the back?

Dont you see the PT Cruiser looking shape up front?

granted..

lol no.

i knd of like it . . . .looks better than a few other things ive seen lately


looks like what the asian swat uses though . . . . . .at a homo parade in that color.

i think blacked out lowered with a wide offset and a few aero changes , this is something id teach my children to drive in.










































then give it to them.