Toyota Brings Scion Back From the Dead in a Decidedly Unexpected Way

No doubt, if you saw the word "Scion" in the headline before seeing the lead image on this story, you might have anticipated a revival of Toyota’s former youth-courting brand that ran from 2003 to 2016. You know, the one that tried eliminating price haggling, offered multitudes of custom parts and accessories to be installed by the dealer, and that helped revive the RWD sports coupe segment with the FRS. Unfortunately, that’s not what this Scion is about. But it could signal another foray into a market heretofore untapped by Toyota: the side-by-side (SXS) segment. The Scion 1 SXS even brings some of Toyota's automotive expertise to bear in featuring what is emerging tech for the off-road crowd, a hybrid powertrain with an all-electric mode.

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If the Scion 1 makes it to market, it would give Honda, BMW, and Volkswagen (through Ducati) another competitor as automotive manufacturers that also dabble in powersports and/or motorcycles. Under the 1's rear bodywork lives a hybridized 300-hp turbocharged I-4 based on the 2.4-liter iForce Max that serves in the Tacoma pickup truck. Exactly how much is direct carry-over isn't explained at the moment. Toyota was more eager to discuss the Scion 1's “Silent Mode” function, marketing speak for electric-only propulsion. That means you won't hear this coming. Well, if you can ignore the crunch of gravel, dirt, and other natural features under its knobby off-road tires.

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Jokes aside, a silent running mode is a feature hunters, nature lovers, and wildlife photographers can appreciate. Moving at low speeds to minimize other noises, it would allow them to get from spot to spot without spooking the wildlife, or to simply enjoy the outdoors without the constant noise of an SXS exhaust. It’s also nice for neighbors who might not like the raucous sounds a typical SXS can make, which in turn might keep more land and trails open to these vehicles. And, just like the hybrid passenger vehicles, once battery power is exhausted, the Scion 1 can continue to move along using the engine as a propulsion unit as well as a generator for the battery.

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The engine and hybrid system aren’t the only Tacoma-inspired parts on the Scion 1. The driveline, suspension, and brakes are also based on Toyota’s production truck components and should make the Scion 1 at least as capable off-pavement as its pickups. This SXS also features an FIA-compliant roll cage, which might point to a competition future for Toyota side-by-sides in SCORE rallies or even Dakar, which feature SXS classes.

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It's worth mentioning that if this eventually becomes a reality, the Scion 1 (or whatever name it wears in production) won’t be the first hybrid UTV or SXS in the market. While Toyota says this Silent Mode is a “groundbreaking” feature, brands like Segway, HuntVE, Textron, and others offer or once offered hybrid powersports vehicles that also offer a pure electric drive mode. We’ll also call out Toyota’s claim on the FIA-compliant cage being a “first of its kind.” While it’s true that most SXS cages are not factory-designed to be FIA-compliant, there are some manufacturers that do offer a bolt-in solution. Also, depending on how you view Speed UTV as a manufacturer—as its SXS vehicles are mostly built-to-order—they do have cages with FIA- and SCORE-compliant features built-in from the get-go.

Those things aside, it's still notable what Toyota is doing with the Scion 1. It’s a bold move for an automotive OEM to enter a new market, and this should also give traditional powersports manufacturers pause as a global player with vast resources encroaches on their territory.