Aston Martin Cygnet, the 2012 Scion iQ Priced from $15,995 U.S.

After making the motorshow rounds, it’s time for Toyota to start preparations for the U.S. launch of its new Scion iQ mini that will begin arriving at dealerships on the west coast in October, and the rest of the country in early 2012.
The Lilliputian four-seater model that is sold in Europe as a Toyota and let's not forget, as an....Aston Martin as well, will carry a base sticker of $15,265. A $730 delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee brings the total to $15,995.
The iQ’s most closest rival in the States is the Fiat 500 that retails for $15,500 in base trim, not including destination and handling.
Compared to the Italian model, the iQ is almost 20 inches shorter at 120.1-in. but is also 2 inches wider at 66.1-in.
The iQ features a 3+1 seating arrangement that allows one tiny adult to sit behind the front passenger and a child or small package behind the driver.
In the States, the three-door hatchback model is offered exclusively with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 94-horsepower and 89 lb.-ft of peak torque, matched to a continuously variable transmission.
The Japanese company has packed the iQ with 11 standard airbags including the world’s first rear window airbag, as well as driver- and front-passenger airbags; driver- and front-passenger seat mounted side airbags; side curtain airbags; driver- and front-passenger knee airbags; and a Scion-first, driver- and front-passenger seat-cushion airbags.
Other standard features include antilock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TRAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Smart Stop Technology brake-override.

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New Generation Y Buyer Survey Spells Trouble for Detroit

Auto pricing website TrueCar studied the car buying behaviour of four million Gen Y (18 to 27 year-old) over a twenty-four month period and here’s what they found.

Scion took the crown for top brand, with 37.4% of the market and for top model (the tC coupe), with 21.2%, while second place went to Mitsubishi (32.1%) and their Lancer sedan (20.3%).

Mazda was the third most visited brand for Gen Y buyers, though only 17th in terms of model. The top four vehicle choices were Japanese, with a German in seventh place and a South Korean in ninth.

American carmakers secured fifth place in the model line-up with the Ford Focus Coupe, even though Ford only scored a mere 5.1% of the market overall.

Nissan and Toyota scored big on Gen Y appeal, with Hyundai and Honda following close behind. Kristen Andersson, one of TrueCar’s automotive analysts describes the generation thusly:

“Generation Y buyers want vehicles that look distinct and can be tailored to their individual tastes. Buyers from this generation are also looking for vehicles that have the technology features they are accustomed to built into the vehicle at an affordable price.”

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Scio Updated 2012 tC and New tC RS 7.0

It’s only been eight months in the market but Scion has already announced a 2012 model year version of its latest tC sports coupe. Leaving aside the equipment upgrades for the basic model, the most important news for the 2012MY is the launch of the first release series for the second-generation tC sports coupe.

The new 2012 tC Release Series 7.0 or RS 7.0 for short, is available exclusively in a “High Voltage” yellow exterior finish with contrasting black side view mirrors and black 18-inch alloy wheels. A sports package from TRD that includes front and rear lower valences and side skirts plus a honeycomb lower front grille is also standard.

Interior goods include “High Voltage” yellow accents with black and yellow seat fabric, a leather wrapped steering wheel with yellow stitching and an individually numbered badge.

In a first for Scion, the tC RS 7.0 features the so-called Smart Key, which includes a keyless entry system that unlocks the doors with a touch of the door handle and a red TRD push-button start.

Toyota’s subsidiary said it will only build 2,200 units of the tC RS 7.0, which is priced at $20,905 and $21,905 when equipped with a manual and automatic transmission respectively, not including a $720 delivery, processing and handling fee.

The changes to the basic 2012 tC are limited to a new standard Pioneer audio system featuring Bluetooth hands-free, Bluetooth streaming audio and HD Radio technology and an optional upgraded version enhanced with a 5.8-inch LCD touch-screen display, features iTunes tagging and Pandora internet radio connected through iPhone and six RCA outputs to add external amplifiers.

Pricing for the entry-level 2012 tC is set at $18,575 when equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox and $19,575 when ordered with a six-speed automatic (not including Scion’s $720 delivery, processing and handling fee).

Both the standard and the RS 7.0 Scion tCs are powered by a 2.5-liter inline-four delivering 180HP and 173 lb-ft of peak torque.

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Scion With The Death Metal Scene

Accοrding tο Automotive News, Scion is in the midst οf rethinking its company strategy tο help pull the Toyota οffshoot οut οf its current sales slump. Originally, the autοmaker's executives envisioned a brand with quick prοduct cycles that promised tο keep its hardware fresh and interesting. Unfοrtunately, that whole recessiοn thing happened. Scion has since stretched its refresh cycle tο save οn cash, but it sounds like the brand alsο has plans tο attempt to appeal tο an audience outside οf its current demοgraphic.

Apparently, Scion may even prοbe intο the death metal scene tο rummage up buyers. The Japanese brand οriginally marketed heavily to the alternative and hip hοp music base, but other brands have since caught οn tο the strategy. That helped tο turn those genres more mainstream, sο Scion is headed back οut tο the fringe.

In additiοn, buyers can expect to see twο new models in Scion shοwrooms sοon, including the $20,000-plus mοdel based οn the FR-S Coupe Cοncept and the iQ minicar. Sοmehow, we have a hard time picturing death metal junkies driving arοund in customized iQs, but what dο we know?

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2011 NYIAS: New Scion FR-S Concept

The most hotly anticipated model of the New York Auto Show, Scion’s version of the Toyota FT-86 sports coupe concept, finally made its world premiere today. The study is named FR-S, which stands for ‘Front-Engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport’, though we prefer the definition given by Jack Hollis, Scion vice president, during the New York Show presentation.
“FR-S stands for Front-engine… Rear-wheel drive… Sport. Pretty simple. I personally believe it should stand for Friggin’ Really Sweet… but the legal department at Toyota was NOT feeling the same way,” said Hollis.
The first thing most readers will notice about the FR-S is the refined design compared to the latest concept version of the Toyota FT-86, shown in Geneva this past March. Though it’s hard to pinpoint all the changes without having the cars side by side, the photos reveal a tweaked front end with revamped headlamps and a different bumper design without the aftermarket like add-on LED strips.
Looking at the coupe’s profile, we see beefier and more heavily sculptured front and rear fenders plus new side sills and mirrors, and larger alloy wheels with a different design. In addition, the FT-86 II’s gaudy fender air vents have been removed.
Moving on to the rear, Scion’s interpretation of the FT-86 includes a new rear fascia with a more protruding boot design that ditches the tuner-esque rear wing, different tail lamps and an impressive rear diffuser. Other changes include the roof that projects into the rear windshield.
The end result is a far more aggressive and sleeker design than the FT-86 II. Now here’s hoping that Scion won’t surprise us at the next major car show in the States with an FR-S II study…
As expected, Scion said the production version of the FR-S, which will follow in 2102, will be fitted with the same 2.0-liter boxer engine sourced from Subaru as the Toyota model. However, the company revealed that the flat four engine will incorporate Toyota’s D4-S injection system, which utilizes both direct and port injection, resulting in increased horsepower and torque throughout the entire powerband, without sacrificing MPG – or at least that’s what the company claims.

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