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by Conor Twomey, 2005-Mar-25
New York Auto Show 2005
The New York Auto Show is the kind of event where you'd expect a stretched limo or an upmarket SUV to be launched but this year the Sport Compacts and Tuner vehicles were grabbing all the headlines.
Apart from the Nissan Sport Concept, Shelby Mustang and new Mitsubishi Evo IX, the big concept to wow tuning-obsessed showgoers was the Scion t2B Concept, so called because it's a "Tall 2-Box" design and also because something similar is going '2B' on the roads within a year. Jim Farley, Scion's vice president, explains that "The t2B combines the attitude of the xB with the comfort and sophistication of the tC to further reflect the dynamic nature of our buyers, and their desire to be distinctive." And distinctive it is. The t2B was designed at Calty Design Studios in California and uses more rounded edges and fewer symmetrical lines that the xB to create a look that's both sporty and functional. Scion tells us the t2B was designed to be more than just a mode of transportation. "It's a lifestyle," they say - as any Scion owner will testify to.
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The t2B's shape is actually a reverse trapezoid, meaning that the bodywork leans outwards slightly the further upwards you go, as opposed to tapering inwards like most cars do. This gives the t2B a unique wedge-shaped roof, which also increased the feeling of interior space dramatically. This is enhanced by expansive use of glass and the long, sliding passenger door, which gives an uninterrupted view of the world outside. There are also two full-length sunroofs and stadium seating so those in the back don't feel short-changed. The driver's side has a conventional front door and rear-hinged suicide rear door. This asymmetrical theme is also seen in the use of a single front fog-lamp in the front bumper and the asymmetrical tri-level instrument panel in the dashboard, which features a large information ticker providing information on movies, games and music the Internet. Other cool innovations include an Mp3 docking station, a projector which can display movies and images on the rear windshield (or onto a wall, if desired), docking ports for games consoles and a speaker system designed to direct sound inwards or outwards, turning the t2B into a mobile discotheque, movie theatre or games arcade.
The t2B is built on a long-wheelbase version of the tC platform and is powered by the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. And it runs - we saw it roll off the stand after the press conference before taking its place on the Scion booth in the 'Crystal Palace'. The tC is based on the platform of a European sedan called the Avensis, and the t2B rides on the wagon version of that platform. That means the t2B should feel a lot like the tC to drive and many of the tuner parts (including the TRD supercharger) will be available for the new car. The show car's 20-inch custom wheels look beautiful but production models will likely ride on 17-inch wheels and tires. The wraparound wheel arches give the t2B real muscle so we hope they'll make it to the street version. What makes it to Scion dealerships all depends on public reaction but Scion is pretty confident it's on to something here. They even showed off small design models of a fastback and pickup version of the t2B, indicating that what you see here could end up being one of the company's big sellers.
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