Truemors
Scion is coming to Canada! Toyota finally announced they will be introducing the Scion brand to Canadian consumers in 2010.
After years of analysis and market research, Toyota Canada has announced plans to introduce the Scion brand to Canada in 2010.
Following the model in the United States, Scion will be established at select Toyota Dealer locations, using a "store within a store" concept, and will be rolled out in phases, starting with launches in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2010 and followed by other Canadian urban centres. More information is available at www.scionnation.ca.
"The critics and public has been asking us for years about Scion and as we've said right from the time it was introduced in the United States in 2003, 'we're studying it all the time and when the time is right, we'll make a decision,'" said Stephen Beatty, Managing Director of Toyota Canada Inc.
"Well, and everything aligned to make it the right time to bring Scion to Canada."
That alignment, says Beatty, revolved around three important factors -Generation Y becoming an increasingly influential force in the market place (some six million potential drivers will be looking at new vehicles in the near future), the marketplace's becoming more receptive to smaller, stylish, fuel efficient vehicles, and a buyer desire for leading edge design with increasing levels of personalization.
"Scion is an authentic brand, created to mesh with youthful tastes and sensibilities, and we're excited to expand our presence in Canada with new vehicles that offer a unique blend of flexibility, personalization, afford-ability and fuel efficiency," said Larry Hutchinson, Director of Toyota Canada Inc. "The time is right to bring Scion culture to Canada."
I myself was one of the first in the states to have a Scion tC. I went into the Toyota dealership looking for a Celica and they let me know the tC from Scion would be replacing it. I test drove a used Celica and a new tC and the tC drove way smoother and had way more room. So I ordered mine, it took 6 mths before they shipped it over from Japan and it was well worth the wait. Sadly, when I decided to immigrate to Canada of all the Scions, the tC was not allowed in Canada at all. I was able to have it here as a visitor, but I couldn’t import it at all. A lot of cars on the inadmissible list you can modify, but something on the tC you just couldn’t fix and therefore couldn’t import it or insure it. Before selling it in the states, I had a lot of complements on it. No one here had a tC. You see a lot of the XB’s but no tC’s. It was a great little car, most of my friends were impressed with the moon roof. After selling it in Washington, I ended up getting a freakin Pontiac, a G5, but it still isn’t the same. I’ve missed my tC everyday since I had to sell it. I cannot wait for Scion to come here, I will be the first one to trade in my car and get another one tC. When I sold mine, they said they’ be unveiling a re-design as well. The car will be much sportier and in line with the Celica which a lot of people don’t know it actually replaced. I’m not a big fan of the other models, but they are all great cars. The tC to me was just perfect, little sporty coupe. I wouldn’t recommend it for tall people at all though. Anytime I had anyone over 6 feet in my front seat I had to open my sun roof in order for them to fit, it was funny.
"Scion is a unique brand, yet still a member of the Toyota family so it benefits from the same high standards as our Toyota and Lexus lines," added Hutchinson. "As such, Scion will be an important avenue through which we reach new drivers - those who represent the greatest future growth of the market - and give them the opportunity to experience, first-hand, Toyota's reputation for quality, fuel efficiency, safety and value."
Despite their low price points, Scion models don't come bare bones, which should also suit Canadian buyers who tend to spend more on options and accessories on average than American consumers. Models arriving in 2010 will feature standard air-conditioning, cruise control and high-grade audio/communication systems while the brand's a la carte option program will let buyers pick and choose between options best suited to their wants and needs. Everything from custom alloy wheels, shift knobs and sport pedal systems will be offered, as well as Toyota Racing Development (TRD) components to spice up performance. Satellite radio will also be on the options list.
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