Toyota Allowing Dealers to Drop Scion but Tells Them That New Product On Way: FR-S Ragtop, Small CUV

TTAC Staff
by TTAC Staff

Toyota FT86 Concept

A dealer attending Toyota’s U.S. dealer meeting in Atlanta earlier this month has told the Automotive News that the automaker is now letting its dealers drop underperforming Scion franchises without any penalties. Those dealers that keep their Scion stores open will likely get two new products that were teased at the convention. Toyota Senior Vice President Bob Carter declined comment though he hinted at changes, “We’re not ready to go public with that yet.” Toyota Division General Manager Bill Fay recently told WardsAuto that Scion “has a few too many stores.”

About 80% of Toyota’s 1,225 U.S. dealers also have a Scion franchise, about 30% more than Toyota anticipated when it launched the youth-oriented entry level brand a decade ago. Scion sales in the U.S. peaked at 173,034 three years later but deliveries have dropped significantly since than. Other than the FR-S sports car that is sold as the Toyota GT86 outside the U.S. (and also as a Subaru) the current Scion lineup is aging and there has been little news forthcoming about revised or new product.

Earlier this year, at the Geneva auto show, Toyota revealed a convertible version of the GT86, called the FT86 concept. At the Atlanta meetings, dealers were shown the same concept badged as a Scion FR-S. Carter said the FR-S convertible “is under study but has not been green-lighted.” Toyota/Scion dealers were also shown a sketch of a subcompact CUV that one dealer described as having a “racy silhouette”. A Toyota source said that it would slot in below the Toyota RAV4 and compete with Honda’s upcoming Fit based CUV.

TTAC Staff
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  • Jpolicke Jpolicke on Aug 19, 2013

    Finally Toyota enables its dealers to get all those kids off the lawn.

  • Rolladan Rolladan on Aug 19, 2013

    The ft 86 should have been a corolla from the get go. Thats what its named after. They'll never make one because new Toyota is a bunch of pussies but there needs to be a celiac all trac to fill the void mitsu will leave. Don't let subaru take all the awd turbo business.

  • Type57SC Type57SC on Aug 19, 2013

    With Akio's desire to inject sportiness and fun in Toyotas, the rationale for Toyota and Scion to exist grows weaker and weaker.

  • FJ60LandCruiser FJ60LandCruiser on Aug 20, 2013

    The FR-S was a victim of its own hype. Toyota dealers were happy to oblige and gouge early adopters 4-6k over MSRP. There was a time you couldn't test drive one without putting down a deposit and promising to buy one. Now my Toyota dealer has 3 collecting dust in the showroom, they'd put them out back but they're the only 3 Scions for sale at the dealership and the "Scion Store" would look pathetic empty. Most people saw a small, fun, somewhat underpowered, and ridiculously overpriced and overhyped car. I thought about offering my Toyota dealer list for one of the 2013s he can't move, but I just don't think it's a nice car at any price given its rather unimpressive specs. If I'm looking for a sports car, for the money, I'd probably get a Mustang.

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