2008 Scion Xb Base Wagon 5-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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2014 Scion xD's available two-tone paint says 'I'm still here!'

As we said in the title, the news here isn't a new, two-tone paint job for the Scion xD - it's that Scion is still building the oddly proportioned hatchback. For 2014, the xD will be available in two different color combinations, which will be split at the car's beltline.
The first combo, Magnetic Gray Metallic and Black Sand Pearl, puts the lighter shade on the bottom and the darker shade up top. The other combo, Sparkling Sea Metallic and Classic Silver Metallic (pictured), puts the more eye-catching color on the bottom.
Interested customers will need to shell out an additional $500 for the two-tone look. Other changes for the 2014 xD include a standard, 6.1-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth audio streaming and a iPod/USB connectivity.

Scion was slain by Toyota, not the Great Recession

Scion didn't have to go down like this. Through the magic of hindsight and hubris, it's easier to see what went wrong. And what might have been. What the industry should understand is this: Scion wasn't a losing proposition from the get-go. Its death is due to negligence and apathy. This is more than just the failure of a sub-brand. It's the failure of a company to deliver new and compelling products over an extended period of time. Toyota will point to the Great Recession as the reason it hedged its bets and withdrew funding for new vehicles, instead of using that as an opportunity to redouble efforts. This was as good as a death warrant, although myopically no one realized it at the time. Sadly, GM's Saturn experiment was a road map for this exact form of failure. No one at Toyota seemed to think the Saturn experience was worth protecting their experimental brand from. Or they weren't heard. Brands live and die on product. Somehow, Scion convinced itself that its real success metric was a youthful demographic of buyers. It seems like this was used to gauge the overall health of the brand. Look at the aging and uncompetitive tC, which Scion proudly noted had a 29-year-old average buyer. That fails to take into account its lack of curb appeal and flagging sales. Who cares if the declining number of people buying your cars are younger? Toyota is going to kill the tC thirteen years [And two indifferent generations ... - Ed.] after it was introduced. In that time, Honda has come out with three entirely new generations of the Civic. Scion wasn't a losing proposition from the get-go. Its death is due to negligence and apathy. At launch, the brand could have gone a few different ways. The xB was plucky, interesting, and useful – a tough mix of ephemeral characteristics – but the xA didn't offer much except a thin veneer of self-consciously applied attitude. That's ok; it was cute. Enter the tC, which managed to combine sporty pretensions with decent cost. It took on the Civic Coupe in the contest for coolness, and usually managed to win. More importantly, an explicit brand value early on was a desire to avoid second generations of any of its models, promising a continually evolving and fresh lineup. At this point, the road splits. Down one lane lies the Scion that could have been. After a short but reasonable product lifecycle, it would have renewed the entire lineup.

Scion xB gets one more special edition

The Scion xB, which is apparently still a thing, has added a final special edition to its long-running list, with the new 686 Parklan Edition. It's limited to, you guessed it, 686 units. As is so often the case for these special editions, there's a unique paint color, decals, wheels, and nifty little trim bits. That's good news for the Brown Car Appreciation Society, as Scion has opted for a handsome Cocoa Bean Metallic paint that almost feels wasted on this aging box. The gloss black wheels, mirror caps, and tailgate handle all feature bright red accents, but it's the cabin where we really see big changes. The 686 has dictated an outdoorsy interior theme, with plenty of camo fabric and quilted finishing on the seat uppers. There are a couple of zippable pockets in the front seats, including a rather hefty storage area in the seatbacks, while the floor and cargo area are protected by 686-branded rubber floormats. The xB 686 Parklan Edition, which can only be had with an automatic transmission, will be priced at $20,480, with sales slated to begin today. Read on for the official press release from Scion. Scion Checks the Box With Final xB Special Edition Model September 28, 2015 TORRANCE, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2015) – As Scion's iconic box, the xB, ends its run, Scion is taking the road less traveled to a place where the mountains meet the streets. Scion has partnered with 686, the snowboard technical apparel company, to create the xB 686 Parklan Edition. Starting today, a total of 686 xB special edition models are available for buyers seeking a unique combination of fashion and function. It will be priced at $19,685, excluding a delivery, processing and handling fee of $795. The 2015 xB 686 Parklan Edition incorporates seats with the quilted patterning and modern cubist camo style reflecting 686's design influence. Gloss black 16-inch alloy wheels featuring the 686 stamped logo tie in with the black-out badges, side mirrors, rear license plate garnish and door handles. On the outside, the Cocoa Bean Metallic paint is accented with red lines in the front, rear and on the side mirrors to capture 686's brand. For added functionality on the slopes, there is an incognito driver's side zippered storage pocket and zippered seat back pockets. Each xB 686 Parklan Edition also comes with all-weather floor and cargo mats. Additionally, a custom INNO Cargo Box and Roof Rack system is available.