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Toyota bB
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 The
first generation bB was named after a scientific concept, Black Box,
because its creator wanted buyers to care about its functions and
practicality instead of frills or gimmicks. It looked really like a
box, but it was popular to the hip-hop generation in Japan and USA,
where it was called Scion xB.
The second generation bB was born in December 2005. Style-wise, it
breaks away from the original concept of bB. Although still largely
boxy, the no-nonsense design of the original car is replaced with more
styling
gimmicks. Curves are built into the wheel arches and waistline to tell
us it is not straight-line boring, while the front and rear lights,
bumpers and intakes are no longer satisfied to be pure rectangular. Its
designers obviously wanted to inject more style into the car, which,
ridiculously, contradicts to the meaning of bB. But like the original
car, the styling of new bB divides opinions. Some people think it looks
funky, some regard it bulldog ugly. Myself belong to the latter crowd.
 The new
bB is no longer sold in the United States because Toyota America
requested for a larger car. However, it got a new twins brother,
Daihatsu Coo / Materia. Interestingly, Daihatsu claimed it led the
development of both cars. This may explain why the bB looks more like a
Daihatsu than other small Toyotas. However, the twins are built on
Toyota Yaris platform and use all Toyota components, such as the strut
and torsion-beam suspensions, electric power steering, 109hp 1.5-liter
VVT-i engine and 4-speed automatic gearbox. Compare with Yaris, it gets
80mm longer wheelbase as the wheels are pushed closer to the corners.
In addition to the elevated height (105mm taller than Yaris), the new
bB continues to provide a class-leading roomy cabin, especially
headroom. Luggage space is quite small, but the rear
bench can slide back and forth for a range of 220mm (like Yaris) to
liberate more luggage space in the expense of rear legroom.
 If we
talk of practicality, bB may not match an European MAV because its
seating arrangement is not as flexible, nor its storage facilities
worth any special mention. Its centrally-located instrument is silly
and the plastic quality is poor. The interior design is also very ugly.
However, what it really stand out is the audio system. This car has a
second name called "Car-shaped Music Player", according to Toyota. It
provides a CD / harddisk MP3 player with DSP Surround, up to 9 speakers
and 11 flashlights which follow the music beat to illuminate in soft
blue light. To enjoy the music more comfortably, you can drop down and
slide back the front seat by 80mm and 85mm respectively and recline the
seatback to just 20 degrees from horizontal. Close your eyes and enter
the world of Music Player the bB… Yes, this is not a car but a mobile
music player. You buy it
for listening music.
 Sorry, maybe I am outdated. I
still can't accept this idea. In my understanding, a car is designed to
be driven. If you tell me a car is a music center, a disco, a video
game center, an internet café, a Wi-Fi kitchen or a multimedia
toilet, then I don't know how to write a review. However, if we talk
about driving, then bB has little to impress. Well, its body control is
not as bad as its tall body suggested due to stiffer suspensions and
longer wheelbase, but its ride quality is average at best. The chassis
rigidity and NVH insulation are not as good as the best superminis. The
steering is too light and lacks feel. Performance is limited by the
combination of the small 1.5-liter engine and 4-speed automatic. The
combination of blocky shape and large frontal area means it struggle to
reach 100 mph.
But then Toyota already got Yaris for sensible people. Silly as it
sounds though, bB does appeal to the new generation of young people
that we
will never understand. |
| The
above report was last updated on 7 May 2007. All Rights Reserved. |
Scion xD / Toyota ist / Urban Cruiser
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Another
derivative of
Yaris / Vitz is Scion xD, offered exclusively to American. xD replaces
the unsuccessful xA, which was rebadged from the Japanese Toyota ist
and was never designed for the taste of American. This time Toyota
America successfully persuaded its Japanese headquarters to develop the
xD exclusively for the USA market. To resemble the body shape of
average Americans who eat McDonald's meals too often, Scion xD looks
larger, fatter and bulkier than Yaris. It is 180mm longer and 25mm
wider, but unfortunately the wheelbase remains the same as Yaris. This
means cabin space barely increases a little.
Well, size is not everything. If it get more upmarket packaging or
MPV-style flexibility, it may still present meaningful differences.
Unfortunately, Scion xD's cabin is as grey as Yaris. It employs the
same 60/40-split sliding rear seats, so there is hardly any advantages.
The normal positioning of instruments is a welcomed change, but the
dashboard design is rubbish and the plastic materials are no better
than Yaris. The center console is a mess, and the audio fitments looks
like aftermarket. Scion xD reflects American taste only in the way of
its poor taste and poor visual quality.
In mechanical side, there is no advantage over Yaris either. Toyota
American said it has a superior powerplant, Toyota's new 1.8 dual VVT-i
16V engine with 128hp and 125lbft of torque, but this engine already
debuted in the European Yaris TS which carries 65kg less than the Scion
and employs sportier suspension setup and stronger tires. The existence
of Scion xD is rather unnecessary. Seems that it will have a similar
fate to its predecessor.
Addition on 31 Jul
2007:
The Japanese version of this car is Toyota ist. It differs from Scion
xD only by a different grille and the use of a smaller 1.5-liter VVT-i
engine.
Addition on 20 Oct 2008: European version is called Urban Cruiser. It
is powered by either 1.3 VVT-i or 1.4D4-D engine.
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| The
above report was last updated on 7 May 2007. All
Rights Reserved. |
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