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Scion to offer redesigned xB for 2015, FR-S sedan in 2016?

The future of the Scion brand remains up in the air, with a report from a few weeks back that Toyota dealers with attached Scion franchises could drop the youth-minded brand without penalty, rarely a good sign. That report was contrasted, though, with a story out of Australia that claimed we'd see a four-door sedan based on the splendid FR-S's overseas sibling, the Toyota GT 86. Now, we're hearing that a revised xB, Scion's formerly lovable toaster, is on the way. What gives?
As for the new xB, the news comes from our friends at Edmunds, which cites an unnamed source, who claims a new box-on-wheels should arrive in 2015 as part of potentially larger push for the Japanese sub-brand. Aside from the original xB, which enjoys a strong cult following, and the FR-S, Scion has had fewer home runs than Prince Fielder's post-season.
"In the next two calendar years, we will have a blend of both upgrades to the products we have in the market and at least one new model," according to Scion's vice president, Doug Murtha, who spoke to Edmunds via phone.

Aston CEO claims Cygnet cancelled because Toyota is dropping iQ in 2014

While slow sales and a $50,000 price tag may have been contributing factors to the Aston Martin Cygnet being cancelled last month, Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez is pointing the finger at Toyota for the demise of this luxurious little city car. In a discussion with Autocar, Bez is quoted as saying that the ultimate reason the Cygnet was cut is because Toyota plans on dropping the iQ (on which the Cygnet is based) in 2014 - a claim denied by the Japanese automaker.
Interestingly, the article also cites another publication reporting that a Toyota importer in the Netherlands heard the same news as Bez, and it has already stopped importing the cars. If the European Toyota iQ is cancelled, that would likely spell the end of the slow-selling Scion iQ in the US, which has sold just 3,365 units through September (a drop of 51 percent year over year).
Regardless of why production of the Cygnet ended, Bez also says that a lack of support from Toyota on the project prevented it from being offered in the US or receiving a supercharged engine, which are two factors that likely would have made the car appealing to more buyers.

Scion styles up the FR-S with 'Release Series 2.0'

Scion's long-running Release Series of special edition vehicles has just added its second FR-S, with the new Release Series 2.0. While the first special edition FR-S, which debuted at the 2014 New York Auto Show, placed a serious emphasis on sportiness, the second is a more balanced, perhaps more mature special edition. Release Series 1.0 had loud yellow paint, a lowered ride height, and chunky 18-inch TRD wheels on low-profile tires. The new RS 2.0 changes things up: The ride height appears unchanged. In fact, there doesn't appear to be any suspension upgrade in play, period. And while the wheels are still painted black, these 17s ride on slightly more reasonable 45-series rubber, rather than the 40-series tires used on the 2014 model. There's still an upgraded body kit, but combined with the Lunar Storm White hue, it's a lot more subtle than last year's aggressive setup and Yuzu Yellow paint. Where Scion didn't do much to the FR-S's interior for the 2014 special edition, the RS 2.0 gets luxed up with heated, two-tone Alcantara/leather seats. The black-and-camel color scheme works well here, appearing not just on the seats but around the steering wheel, doors, and dash. All 1,000 special editions will come with HID headlights, LED running lights, push-button start, and dual-zone climate control. Prices for the six-speed manual model start at $30,305, while the automatic adds $1,100, just like it does on the standard FR-S. Read on for the official press release from Toyota. SCION PAIRS SPORTS AND STYLE FOR 2016 FR-S RELEASE SERIES 2.0 TORRANCE, Calif., (Oct. 29, 2015) – Drivers of the 2016 Scion FR-S Release Series 2.0 will look better than ever in the most stylish version of the sports car ever offered. The new FR-S Release Series 2.0 comes with luxurious appointments and premium features, and with just 1,000 vehicles available, it's the most elusive and exclusive Scion Release Series yet. The interior creates the lap of luxury with heated seats in black Alcantara and leather with camel-colored accents. The same black and camel theme continues to the leather-trimmed steering wheel while the shift knob and parking brake lever are covered in black leather. Camel trim also appears on the door armrest and the upper door trim while the center armrest and knee pads are black. Camel accent stitching is prominent throughout the interior and embroidered on the dash insert is the release series badge, sequentially numbered from 1 to 1000.