Monday, November 26, 2007

Scion Launches Bigger xB at Chicago Auto Show

This year's installment of the Chicago Auto Show has seen the launch of great vehicles for the 2008 model year. One of such vehicles introduced to the public at the said event is the all-new 2008 xB from Toyota's marque, Scion.

The so-called urban utility vehicle was first introduced to the public in 2003 and from then on, it has received quite a warm welcome from car buyers. The Scion xB is characterized by its boxy design and this has already become a distinction for Scion cars. It would seem that Scion car buyers loved the boxy design of the xB because the latest model of the vehicle is made even bigger and still has a boxy design. The latest installment of the Scion xB is the result of the feedbacks of xB owners that they wanted a bigger car.

The all new Scion xB is the result of a designing process that aims for distinction. Some of its exterior design elements are from the Scion t2B concept car that the brand showcased during the 2005 New York International Auto Show. Style characteristics like the angles between the cars panels, the high beltline, inset taillights, rectangular grille, and the distinct fenders are all taken from the concept vehicle.

The result of the integration of such design elements to the new Scion xB resulted to a more aggressive looking design. The vehicle now comes with the radical design elements and is now popular among the younger car buyers. Sure enough, the all-new version of the vehicle will surely not disappoint.

The exterior design is not the only improvement that the Scion xB has over the previous model. The redeveloped xB is much roomier than the old models. The wheelbase was increased by four inches and the overall length by twelve inches. The width of the vehicle is also increased by three inches while the height was decreased by more than an inch to ensure a comfortable ride. The wheels are also bigger than the ones used by the current xB model - the newest xB sports 16-inch wheels.

Car buyers can also choose between three wheel covers. The brakes that the new Scion xB will use will also be bigger than what is being used on the current model. Brake discs for the front wheels will be a 10.83-inch ventilated disc, while a 10.98-inch disc will be installed at the rear. These are about a couple of inches larger than what the first generation of Scion xBs used. The vehicle can also perform better if OEM parts of high quality are used. Just like Volvo OEM parts which makes parts replacement easy and gives reliable performance.

The interior of the 2008 Scion xB is also given much attention. This is evident in the lounge-like interior of the urban utility vehicle. And since the vehicle is made bigger, the cargo space is significantly increased. The cargo hold behind the rear seats offer 29.1 cubic feet of space. If that is not enough, the rear seat can be folded down flat which would dramatically increase the cargo space. The rear seat's 60/40 split configuration makes this car one of the more versatile load carrying cars there is. In addition to the fold down rear seats, the front seats can also be fully reclined which would even add more to cargo capacity.

Power is also upgraded for the new generation xB. Its powerplant is a 2.4-liter double overhead cam four cylinder engine. The engine is equipped with a variable valve timing technology which increases its fuel efficiency. The new xB's engine can provide 158 horsepower which is a huge increase from the 103 horsepower that the previous models' engine can produce.

About the Author
Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the Motor City and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field.

1 comment:

meep said...

Way to post news that's almost a year old.