Spy Shots: A New Scion Sedan?

by Ronnie Schreiber

Published: November 2nd, 2013

Many automotive companies test cars and components for resistance to radio frequency interference not far from where I live in suburban Detroit. There are a number of radio and television broadcast antennas in the area, so it’s not uncommon to see camouflaged preproduction cars driving in the neighborhood or parked in the shadow of one of the radio or tv towers.

I was running over to my ex’s to give my younger daughter a ride to her teaching job, when I spotted this car. The driver was concerned about getting into trouble so I told him that I’d obscure his face, but I suppose he was a bit freaked out that I knew what he was doing there because he pulled away and drove around the corner. My first guess, based on the shape of the headlamp units is that it’s a sedan version of the Scion xD, which is currently sold here as a five-door (Toyota has a large R&D center in Ann Arbor and a technical center in Plymouth), though it doesn’t necessarily have to be a car intended for the U.S. continent.

Automotive suppliers with R&D facilities in southeastern Michigan will sometimes test foreign market cars in the same neighborhood. What do you think it is?

#PreproductionCars #Scion #SpyShots

Ronnie Schreiber

Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, the original 3D car site.

More by Ronnie Schreiber

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8 of 129 comments

Lie2me on Nov 03, 2013

(scratches head)... Now I'm not sure what it is, but then again it's not the kind of car I'd be interested in anyway

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- Marcelo de Vasconcellos on Nov 03, 2013
  
  I Cn't resist! But your kids or grandkids will!!! Sorry...
  
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- Lie2me on Nov 03, 2013
  
  @Marcelo de Vasconcellos Qu'ils mangent de la brioche
  
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Tresmonos on Nov 03, 2013

The yellow windshield labeling indicate it's a PD fleet car via Ford. The upper left or right labeling gives it away as Ford is the only OEM dumb enough to label a preproduction build to make their future product stand out further. In this case, it looks to be a TT build of some sort.

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- 28-Cars-Later on Nov 03, 2013
  
  So you're certain its a Ford?
  
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- Tresmonos on Nov 03, 2013
  
  @28-Cars-Later It looks like some sort of test mule. If it was a sensitive prototype, you would see canvas / 3D camo on it. Probably a regional A car with extreme carelessness was just partially unveiled (unlikely, but you never know). If I were a betting man, it has the snout of the global Fiesta / new Fusion, just blocked off to hide the aston grin and allow proper air flow. It's the new Ka. So it is probably someone at PDC crapping the bed and driving this around without full camouflage. Those damned FCG's and suppliers.
  
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- Tresmonos on Nov 03, 2013
  
  @28-Cars-Later If Ronnie has a up close photo of the Tag # (The yellow label), he could really get the dude in trouble. If it's a Tag # with a W, it's a non saleable vehicle. If it has a T, it can be retrofitted with job 1 intent parts and made saleable. If it's a Y, it's saleable. I think thats the way it went... it's been a few months. I'm positive it's a Ford. Those yellow tag labels give it away. PDC fleet.
  
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- Tresmonos on Nov 04, 2013
  
  @28-Cars-Later This could be a Figo or the fact that it doesn't have canvas camo leads us to believe it's significance has been reduced due to a cancellation or reveal event. I think this may be a Figo, based upon the door handles and mirrors.
  
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