Scion pickup is not dead… yet!

Scion is known for its offerings of boxy hatchbacks and one sporty coupe but with the upcoming new lineup of products, its brand will be redefined. Scion said that the launch of the iQ minicar coincides with the “new urbanism” of the younger generation of buyers. Scion’s prices are expected to increase with the arrival of the FR-S rear-drive performance coupe as it gives tC owners an aspirational vehicle. The question now on everyone’s minds is what would become of the xD and the xB, the two boxy vehicles. At this time, these two would already have been redesigned if Scion kept to its short product cycles. Scion has said that the iQ, the three-occupant minicar, will arrive in the fall. Its wheelbase is 1 foot shorter than a Fiat 500. This is the first time that Toyota’s 1.3-liter, 94-hp inline-four-cylinder, mated to a continuously variable transmission, is applied.

The iQ has a price tag of just below $16,000. It has plenty of standard features and a total of 11 airbags. With its 13-foot turning circle, the iQ is expected to be an urban favorite. When asked about the xB, Scion said that it would have had to replace the boxy hatchback in the spring of 2011 if still used the traditional four-year cycle. According to Scion boss Jack Hollis, the current model may still be offered for a few more years despite a low volume. He also said that hints about the successor of the xB can be seen on the future development of Toyota's home-market Rumion. Regarding the xD, Scion said that this base-model hatchback would have to be replaced in the spring of 2012 if a five-year cycle is followed.

It has the same platform as the Japan-market ist, but there are rumors that Toyota may terminate the ist. This suggests that the new product may be based on the redesigned and pricier Yaris platform. Scion also said that the tC, the sport coupe, was redesigned in the summer of 2010. Arriving in the spring of 2012 is the FR-S, the rear-wheel-drive sporty coupe that would be Scion's new flagship. Powering the FR-S is a 200-hp, 2.0-liter boxer-four engine from Subaru. It will feature a 101.2-inch wheelbase and would be as long as 168.2 inches. It will be priced from $22,000, which makes it quite expensive for a Scion. Fans of the Mini pickup would be glad to know that the A-BAT concept won’t be killed off. This is the non-hybrid version of the A-BAT. Meanwhile, Toyota will receive a less stylized hybrid under the Prius lineup. The pickup would likely have both RAV4 and Prius parts and would be more of a parcel carrier instead of a cargo hauler. This is expected to be built for the 2014 model year.[via - 4wheelsnews]