NO SCION HYBRIDToyota may flesh out its
Scion brand by adding a couple of vehicles to its current lineup of three
products but plans to limit sales to about 150,000 vehicles a year for
the foreseeable future. Mark Templin, Toyota's Scion chief, ruled out
a gasoline-electric hybrid because it was too pricey for the affordable
brand — adding, however, that many Scion buyers are asking for a
convertible. In related news, Toyota is expected to introduce its Yaris
in the USA by spring 2006. The Yaris, which will replace
the Echo, is being introduced via live
webcast at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Nov. 2.Toyota "Best Value"
Toyota Motor Sales USA leads the way in the 2006 IntelliChoice.com "Best
Overall Value of the Year" Awards announced at the Chicago Auto Show,
the PR
8:49 PM 3/11/2008 Newswire reported Feb. 9. Toyota and Lexus models won in five overall
categories: Prius (Best Car Value Under $23,000); Lexus
LS 430 (Best Car Value Over $23,000); Highlander Hybrid
2WD (Best SUV Value Over $28,000); Tundra Regular Cab
2WD (Best Truck Value Under $26,000); Tundra
Double Cab 4WD, Best Truck Value Over $26,000. In addition. In addition,
12 Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicles were named Best Overall Value in
their respective model segments. The Scion xB was named "best small wagon."HIP TO BE xB:A group of 16- to 22-year-olds surveyed by CNW rated the xB the "least stodgy vehicle" on the market, The
Detroit News reports.FLYING HIGH Toyota
shares hit a record high Friday, Feb. 17, and are set to go higher, analysts
told Reuters.
Toyota's market value of more than $200 billion now exceeds that of retail
giant Wal-Mart. It is now worth more than double the combined value of
DaimlerChrysler AG, General Motors Corp.
and Ford Motor Co. SALES
BOOMING: Toyota's September sales rose
by double digits, U.S. chief Jim Press told the Reuters
Autos Summit in Detroit, Fox News reported on Oct. 1. Toyota gained 2
points of retail share during the first two weeks of September 2005, according
to J.D. Power.
Also at SEMA, Ken Freeze of teammiata
spotted these Scions:
FLYING
OFF THE LOTS: All three Scions are on the latest "hottest
models" list of The
Wall Street Journal. The list is based on the number of days that
a car stays on the dealer's lot. Of note: Eight of the 10 hottest cars
are Toyotas.SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES:
Sales of Scions and other small cars are rising now that gasoline prices
have exceeded $3 per gallon in many areas, according to the Oakland
Press. It's no wonder that Toyota has reported its best ever sales
month in August 2005.
GET SPORTY: Scion tC tops
the "sporty car" category in the latest Initial Quality Study
(IQS) released by J.D.
Power and Associates. SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL: Thanks
to high gas prices and a demographic shift that has led many baby boomers
to downsize as their kids go to college, small cars such as the Scion
have taken off in popularity, according to The
Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 150K UNITS IN '05? The American
International Automobile Dealers is predicting that Scion could sell
150,000 cars in 2005. This year, more than 100,000 Scions have been sold. tC IS KING: Among the hot
cars cruising today's campuses, Scion's $16,000 tC is No. 1, according
to Newsweek. SAVE MONEY ON GAS: Several
Web sites have sprung up to track gasoline prices and help you save money
at the pump. Here are some of them:
