Scion facts for kids

Scion was a special car brand created by the Japanese company Toyota. It was launched in the United States in 2003. Toyota wanted to make cool, affordable cars that would appeal to younger drivers, especially those aged 18 to 30. Scion cars were known for being easy to customize, letting owners make their cars unique.

What Was Scion?

Scion was a car brand that focused on young car buyers. Toyota created it to offer vehicles that were stylish, practical, and fun to drive. The idea was to attract a new generation of customers who might not typically consider a Toyota car. Scion aimed to be different by offering cars with a simple pricing model and many ways to personalize them.

Why Toyota Started Scion

Toyota noticed that its main brand was very popular with older, more established car buyers. However, they weren't connecting as well with younger people. To fix this, they launched Scion. The goal was to create a brand that felt fresh and exciting. They wanted to build a loyal group of young customers who would eventually buy other Toyota vehicles as they got older.

Targeting Young Drivers

Scion's marketing was very different from Toyota's. They used music events, art shows, and online campaigns to reach their target audience. They also offered a "pure price" policy, meaning the price you saw was the price you paid, without much haggling. This was meant to make buying a car simpler for young people.

Popular Scion Cars

Over its time, Scion released several unique car models. Each one had its own style and appeal, but they all shared the brand's focus on customization and value.

The First Models: xA and xB

Scion's first cars were the Scion xA and the Scion xB.

• The Scion xA was a small, five-door hatchback. It was compact and fuel-efficient, perfect for city driving.
• The Scion xB was known for its boxy, distinctive shape. It offered a lot of interior space for its size and quickly became a favorite for people who wanted a car that stood out. Its unique look made it very popular.

Sporty and Stylish: tC and FR-S

Later, Scion added more models to its lineup.

• The Scion tC was a sporty coupe (a two-door car). It was designed to look sleek and offer a fun driving experience at an affordable price. Many young drivers liked its sporty feel.
• The Scion FR-S was a lightweight sports car developed with Subaru. It was built for performance and handling, appealing to car enthusiasts who loved driving. It was later rebranded as the Toyota 86.

The End of Scion

After more than a decade, Toyota decided to stop the Scion brand in 2016. This decision was made for several reasons, mainly because the car market had changed a lot since Scion first started.

Why Scion Was Discontinued

• Changing Market: The car market shifted, and younger buyers became more interested in small SUVs and crossovers, which Scion didn't have many of.
• Brand Overlap: Toyota's main brand had also started to offer more stylish and affordable small cars, making Scion less unique.
• Sales Challenges: While some models were popular, overall sales for the Scion brand began to slow down.

What Happened to Scion Cars?

When Scion ended, some of its most popular models were simply moved over to the Toyota brand. For example, the Scion iA became the Toyota Yaris iA, and the Scion iM became the Toyota Corolla iM. This allowed these successful cars to continue being sold under the well-known Toyota name.