Toyota pulled off a surprise revival of the Scion nameplate with a brand-new side-by-side off-road concept vehicle, the Scion 01. The concept was revealed this week at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this week. What makes this reveal significant is how far it strays from the original Scion identity—and where Toyota appears to be aiming next.
Toyota has long been known for its trucks and SUVs, but venturing into the side-by-side (SxS) market places them head-to-head with established powersports players. Analysts say this could shake up the UTV/side-by-side landscape.
“At Toyota, innovation drives us to explore new possibilities and redefine the future of mobility,” said Mike Tripp, group vice president, Toyota Division Marketing. “SEMA is the perfect venue to showcase how Toyota’s powertrain diversity meets the needs of today while pushing the limits for tomorrow. Whether you choose gas, hybrid, electric, or hydrogen, Toyota vehicles prove that efficiency, performance and adventure are possible in every form.”
The Scion 01 is a purpose-built side-by-side concept developed by Toyota of North America engineers and features a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain (deriving from Toyota’s truck lineup) paired with an electric motor. Toyota states the combined output exceeds 300 hp. Actual full specs of the concept have not been released by Toyota.
