2008 Scion xD Preview

You might not have even heard of the brand Scion, and have never heard of the name xB, yet you could probably identify one if it drove right by. It's that little box on wheels that doesn't have a single rounded edge on its body, and is quite possibly the only vehicle on this planet that makes both the Honda Element and an old Volvo station wagon look curvy. Despite its immensely strong image, the rest of the Scion range doesn't stand out as much, and lurks in the xB's shadow. The tC, while important to the brand's youthful image, is somewhat forgettable, even though it remains the only Toyota passenger car, besides the Yaris, to bear less than four doors now that the Solara is headed towards the history books. But the most neglected seems to be the xA. It was born at the same time as the xB, and, besides the body that sits on top, is technically its identical twin. They both rode on the same Toyota Echo chassis, were powered by the efficient 1.5-liter VVT-i engine, and were highly customizable thanks to a massive array of factory-authorized

We can't help but think that with more power, more equipment and a new look, the xD will have a bigger impact than the xA. (Photo: Scion)

aftermarket parts. But the xA never rode the wave of success or notoriety in the way that the xB did.

But things changed earlier this year when Scion launched revised versions of its founding modelsat Chicago. The xB's name might've stayed the same, but everything else is different: it's bigger, less boxy, more powerful, and it's unrelated to the car of old. Likewise, things are different for the xA; it's bigger, also less boxy, more powerful and what's more, it's got a different name. Scion decided to start fresh from a new page and has shifted the name down the alphabet a bit to xD.

As far as interiors go, the xD is a big step forward over the very basic and somewhat bland

Most cars just have an aux-in jack, but the xD features a standard iPod jack that charges your player and allows control via the steering wheel or headunit. (Photo: Scion)

xA. Besides looking busier, and less simplistic, the most obvious change is a shift away from the central instrument layout of the old car to a more conventional location in front of the driver. The instruments also provide more information, and include an LCD display for fuel and mileage readings. Like the Yaris, the xD also has two glove boxes and deep door pockets for organizing life's clutter, and there's plenty of cubbies both hidden and open to stash and stow belongings. Another clever feature borrowed from the Toyota hatchback is a rear seat that slides forwards and backwards by six inches in order to increase legroom for rear passengers or cargo room in the trunk. The rear seat also reclines up to ten degrees, providing extra comfort.

Underneath though, the xD still shares its roots with Toyota's smallest

Very impressive standard equipment list; they didn't skimp out on safety features either. (Photo: Scion)

car,the new generation Echo otherwise known as Yaris. Dimensionally, the xD and the Yaris ride on the same, 96.9-inch long wheelbase, though it's longer and wider for a roomier cabin. The xD also features a simple, cost-effective layout consisting of struts up front and a torsion beam rear suspension for a good balance between cargo capacity and ride comfort; the brakes are discs up front and drums in back, though ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist is standard.

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