FACT or FICTION: Scion Considering Going Rear-Wheel Drive?

Scion has not exactly been known as one of those brands that you immediately think "Ah, yes Scion...performance."

It's more like "Ah, yes Scion...loud, thumping bass with some underage young'ns sportin' white rimmed sunglasses.'

Unfortunate but true; however, don't count them out just yet. According to Scion's VP Jack Hollis, rear-wheel drive has not been entirely ruled out of the gameplan.

Question is: would anyone want it? You tell us...

It could go either two ways: people love them and snap them up faster than they arrive to dealerships or a bunch of 18 year-old teens wind up wagging the car's tail so much they end up in some shrubs.


Scion vice president Jack Hollis is a former Stanford and AAA baseball player who, but for an injury, coulda been a contender, coulda played in the show.

He's not one to boast--he didn't tell us of his baseball days, we got it from someone else. Nonetheless, you'd imagine the 6-foot-2-inch auto exec would have a pretty good self-image. But when trying to describe his conduct in meetings with executives in Japan, he knows exactly who he looks like.

"Who's that kid in Welcome Back Kotter," he asks. "The one who's always raising his hand and saying, 'Ooo, ooo, ooo...

"...A rear-wheel-drive car would actually work," said the division head. "A rear-wheel-drive application would be great for Scion...

[Source: MSN Autos]








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DaHarder - 8/10/2010 2:22:10 AM

+3 Boost

This sounds more like SCION might be getting some 'iteration' of the upcoming FT-86 than anything, though I doubt it will be the production version of the concept already seen, as it would be competing for a market too similar to the SCION TC.

We'll See Soon Enough...

Whelan - 8/10/2010 10:00:22 AM

0 Boost

They are a FWD economy car with appeal to young kids and old women who like to pretend they are F&F. The Scion tC is on every corner and has not changed since it's inception. A TRD version with a turbo and some plus 200hp numbers would be nice but doubtful. You will continue to see girls and guys in white tC's with pink leis on the rearview. Ooooh I'm shaking.

Scion was supposed to be the fun sportiness that Toyota wasn't since they ditched the Corolla and Matrix XRS versions. They went from 180hp 6 speed only VVTL-i 1.8L to a 2.4L with only 164hp. That is a downgrade in a big way. They ditched the Celica and therefore all hope of being fun.

LexSucks - 8/10/2010 10:25:15 AM

0 Boost

Isn't FWD better than RWD? I spent my entire youth hearing that from car manufacturers and adults. Now they are going back to RWD? I knew which one was better even when I was a kid. Now its going to be hard to convince folks that RWD is better, especially after the decades of conditioning people that FWD is better.

On a side note: Toyota has truly lost its way when it comes to sporty vehicles.

LexSucks - 8/10/2010 1:09:25 PM

0 Boost

You mean that understeer is prevalent on the TL.

MorePower - 8/10/2010 5:51:00 PM

+1 Boost

The optimum powertrain for your vehicle depends on what you're going to use the vehicle for and your driving style. If you are talking the ultimate in performance and handling, simply look to the cars with six and seven figure price tags.

For the most part, if ultimate performance is the goal, you want a mid-mounted motor(preferably behind the driver and in-front of the rear wheels, with rear wheel drive. There are exceptions, you could look at the Veyron which has awd and I'm sure some Porsche fanatics swear by the rear mounted flat six in the 911's.