During the recent SEMA, Toyota surprised the automobile world with a new-to-Toyota vehicle type: a side-by-side. That’s right. Toyota may be in the game of sports vehicles, a market dominated by Polaris, Can-Am, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and, some say, Honda. I said “maybe” because it is still a concept; I cannot be sure if it will materialize.
Anyhoo, the Scion 01, as it is called, is Toyota’s foray into the world of sports vehicles, and it has a very different idea. It looks like a life-size Tamiya buggy with a proper cabin. What actually goes under the hood is not clear, but it is a “high-output turbocharged hybrid setup paired with an all-wheel drive system”, all so you can experience maximum traction and capability across rugged terrain.
Adopting all-wheel drive is a no-brainer for a vehicle like the Scion 01. It allows power delivery to all four wheels, allowing it to tackle a variety of terrain with relative ease, including mud, sand, rocks, and, of course, scaling steep inclines.
Now here’s where Toyota goes full “Scion is back but not really.” Toyota says the Scion 01 is an engineering exercise meant to push boundaries. The powertrain is a turbocharged, four-cylinder hybrid borrowed from Toyota’s truck lineup that puts out more than 300 horsepower. That is a lot of juice for something that looks like it escaped from the set of a futuristic desert rally anime. The hybrid system even includes a “Silent Mode” that lets you glide through trails quietly, like a ninja who shops at REI.
The chassis is purpose-built for hammering through dunes, rock crawling, and high-speed desert running. Suspension articulation is described as exceptional. Track width is balanced. The footprint is tight enough for skinny trails. Toyota even slapped on a first-of-its-kind FIA-compliant cage that meets SCORE and FIA racing standards, just in case you suddenly decide your weekend hobby involves Baja racing. Many driveline, suspension, and brake components are pulled from existing Toyota vehicles for durability. In other words, it is built to take abuse.
Design-wise, Toyota’s CALTY team went full creative mode. The Scion 01 mixes sharp lines, rally-inspired proportions, and a proper enclosed cabin. It feels like a Tamiya model someone accidentally 3D printed at full size. And yes, it sits under the Scion name as a nod to experimentation.
The Toyota Scion 01 is a concept vehicle and not for sale. Toyota is probably just dipping its toes with this one. Not that I will buy one, but as a petrolhead, I secretly wish it would become a reality—just so I could write about it.
Images: Toyota.
