Scion to sell rebadged Tribeca?
07-02-07, 01:51 PM
#16
Lexus Fanatic
07-03-07, 01:19 PM
#18
Super Moderator
Subaru becomes Toyota . . .
Subaru becomes Toyota
Posted on 07.3.2007 15:00 by Ralph Kalal
We are now able to see the first circumstantial evidence that Subaru is likely to be absorbed by Toyota.
Toyota is about to start selling the Subaru Tribeca as a Scion.
Here’s how this works.
Fuji Heavy Industries is a Japanese company that produces all sorts of things, including Subarus. (Fuji is one of those megalithic companies of which the Japanese are so fond. Under a different name, its most famous product for many years were the Nakajima “Oscar” fighters produced for the Japanese military during World War II.)
Toyota owns 8.6 percent of Fuji.
This past April, Autoblog and The Car Connection picked up on a change in Japanese law that paves the way for Toyota to absorb Subaru. Until April, Japanese law would have prohibited a Toyota take-over of Subaru because the combination would have controlled more than 50% of the domestic Japanese market. In April, the regulation was changed to refer to the international market. That removes the barrier.
It seemed unlikely that the regulation would have been changed had not Toyota wanted it changed, and Toyota would have no reason to care, unless it wanted Subaru. Moreover, Subaru wants to be wanted. Its chief executive told Autoblog in April that the company’s best bet for survival was Toyota.
Now comes word from Motor Authority that one of the new United States market Scions will, in fact, be a modification of the facelifted version of the Subaru Tribeca SUV shown here. According to Japan’s New Model Magazine X, a version of the Tribeca with a Scion grill has been spotted testing in Japan. The magazine maintains this vehicle will, in fact, be sold as a Scion by Toyota.
It is difficult to see the advantage to Toyota of selling another manufacturer’s product under a nameplate it has put, and is putting, extraordinary effort into growing. Unless, of course, Toyota is confident that it will have complete control of Subaru.
Last year, it was reported that Toyota would supply Subaru with vehicles to be sold in Europe under the Subaru name
Posted on 07.3.2007 15:00 by Ralph Kalal
We are now able to see the first circumstantial evidence that Subaru is likely to be absorbed by Toyota.
Toyota is about to start selling the Subaru Tribeca as a Scion.
Here’s how this works.
Fuji Heavy Industries is a Japanese company that produces all sorts of things, including Subarus. (Fuji is one of those megalithic companies of which the Japanese are so fond. Under a different name, its most famous product for many years were the Nakajima “Oscar” fighters produced for the Japanese military during World War II.)
Toyota owns 8.6 percent of Fuji.
This past April, Autoblog and The Car Connection picked up on a change in Japanese law that paves the way for Toyota to absorb Subaru. Until April, Japanese law would have prohibited a Toyota take-over of Subaru because the combination would have controlled more than 50% of the domestic Japanese market. In April, the regulation was changed to refer to the international market. That removes the barrier.
It seemed unlikely that the regulation would have been changed had not Toyota wanted it changed, and Toyota would have no reason to care, unless it wanted Subaru. Moreover, Subaru wants to be wanted. Its chief executive told Autoblog in April that the company’s best bet for survival was Toyota.
Now comes word from Motor Authority that one of the new United States market Scions will, in fact, be a modification of the facelifted version of the Subaru Tribeca SUV shown here. According to Japan’s New Model Magazine X, a version of the Tribeca with a Scion grill has been spotted testing in Japan. The magazine maintains this vehicle will, in fact, be sold as a Scion by Toyota.
It is difficult to see the advantage to Toyota of selling another manufacturer’s product under a nameplate it has put, and is putting, extraordinary effort into growing. Unless, of course, Toyota is confident that it will have complete control of Subaru.
Last year, it was reported that Toyota would supply Subaru with vehicles to be sold in Europe under the Subaru name
07-03-07, 01:30 PM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
I just hope Toyota doesn't screw around with the boxer engine/AWD designs that Subaru has spent so much time and effort perfecting....unless Toyota can find a way to hook their superb engines to them. IMO Subaru AWD systems are the best inexpensive AWD systems on the planet.
07-03-07, 02:24 PM
#21
guys... you think Toyota will offer 30k Scion based on Subaru? Where is the world is the logic in that?
Scions go between 14k and 17k in pricing...
I bet what they saw is Toyota version of Tribeca, and as Toyota has 4 brands in Japan, some logos look a lot like Scion's....
Scions go between 14k and 17k in pricing...
I bet what they saw is Toyota version of Tribeca, and as Toyota has 4 brands in Japan, some logos look a lot like Scion's....
07-03-07, 02:42 PM
#22
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guys... you think Toyota will offer 30k Scion based on Subaru? Where is the world is the logic in that?
Scions go between 14k and 17k in pricing...
I bet what they saw is Toyota version of Tribeca, and as Toyota has 4 brands in Japan, some logos look a lot like Scion's....
Scions go between 14k and 17k in pricing...
I bet what they saw is Toyota version of Tribeca, and as Toyota has 4 brands in Japan, some logos look a lot like Scion's....
But I do agree that it seems unlikely to be a Scion model
07-03-07, 05:41 PM
#23
This doesn't make a lot of sense, I sat inside a Tribeca at a Subaru dealership when it first came out; this crossover is targeting the RX. To rebadge as a Scion would dilute the brand.
Not to mention, the grille photoshop makes the front look like the current Chryslers.
Not to mention, the grille photoshop makes the front look like the current Chryslers.
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