Toyota Revives Scion Name For Wild SEMA Off-Road Concept

Remember the name Scion?

If there is one defunct car brand that I entirely miss, it would be the Toyota-based sub-brand known as Scion. Established in 2003 and sold exclusively in the United States and Canada, Scion attempted to tap into the youth market long before social media influencers became a phenomenon. The idea was simple: Scion was meant to be different than Toyota in a “not your dad’s Toyota” type of way. Its initial models, the subcompact xA and box-on-wheels-shaped xB, were touted as affordable, fuel-efficient runabouts that were ever-customizable with extensive first-party and aftermarket support for everything from rims to stereo systems.

Throughout its 13-year run, each subsequent Scion model that joined its evolving lineup adhered to the same ethos. Over the years, the lineup would grow to include the tC coupe, the xD, the smart car-sized iQ, the rear-wheel-drive FR-S coupe, the iM hatchback, and the iA subcompact sedan.

Scion is back (as a new SEMA concept car)

The Scion brand may have departed in 2016, but Toyota has revived its name to introduce a new off-road concept that will take the stage at the 2025 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas this week.

Dubbed the Scion 01 Concept, this special concept is Toyota’s reimagination of an all-terrain side-by-side (SxS) vehicle, a type of 2- or more-seater utility vehicle commonly used for recreational purposes. Toyota says that the concept was dreamt up by North American Toyota engineers at its CALTY facility, who have a passion for off-roading and sought to combine Toyota’s expertise in hybrid performance and durability with “Scion’s experimental DNA to imagine new possibilities for exploration, performance, and design.”

“The Scion 01 Concept is about taking what we do best at Toyota and blending it with the passions that drive us,” said Don Federico, Toyota’s chief engineer and vice president of Vehicle Performance Development. “It’s the intersection of advanced performance and our deep enthusiasm for adventure. By bringing those worlds together in a side-by-side format, we’re exploring how Toyota performance can live in entirely new spaces — and inspire a new generation of enthusiasts to get out and go.”

This ain’t no ordinary Scion

Toyota says that the Scion 01 Concept has been purpose-built to be an off-road menace in ways that current side-by-sides on the market cannot. It claims that the 01 Concept is capable of tackling all types of off-road scenarios, including high-speed racing, rugged trail running, and technical rock crawling.

One department that seems to lead is the power department. Toyota has installed a turbocharged, four-cylinder hybrid engine from its truck lineup, which produces “over 300 horsepower,” in this machine. In addition, the Concept also features a Silent Mode, which allows users to use the hybrid’s electric motor to glide through trails in complete silence.

Although specific details about its powertrain were not provided, the 2.4-liter i-FORCE MAX turbocharged inline-4 hybrid engine in the current TRD Pro Tacoma generates a combined output of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. This power would give the Scion a significant advantage over established Side-by-Side (SxS) competitors like the Polaris RZR XP and the Yamaha YXZ1000R SS XT-R, whose engines produce a mere 115 horsepower.

In addition to its powerful guts, it also comes with a smattering of Toyota components to best the off-road trails, including driveline, suspension, and brake components from its trucks that have been “strategically selected for reliability in extreme conditions.” The automaker says that the Scion concept showcases “a vision of where performance, efficiency, and adventure meet in one incredible off-road package,” as it is envisioned tackling everything from sand dunes to days out on the off-road trail.

Final thoughts

Unfortunately, Toyota says that the Scion 01 is a special concept vehicle that will not be made available for sale, and honestly, I think that’s a shame. Toyota has been a highly respected brand among off-road enthusiasts since the introduction of the first Land Cruiser, and this concept builds upon that vision.

However, the use of the Scion name really evokes memories, as it was truly Toyota’s young brand that tapped into youth culture in many ways. I still remember getting mix CDs filled with tracks from then-obscure artists, branded snapbacks, and brochures when I’d peruse their booth at the New York International Auto Show, which always showcased customized iterations of their vehicles alongside “stock” variants. Hopefully, the Scion 01 Concept will lead to a 02 Concept that showcases another vision from Toyota’s visionaries.

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