Toyota’s Wild Scion Off-Roader Could Become a Production Reality

As part of this year’s SEMA show, Toyota paraded out no shortage of exciting concepts. From a sporty Camry GT-S and a colorful Corolla Cross Nasu to a restomodded FJ and a hybrid Tacoma, the Japanese automaker made sure its lineup was well-represented with tantalizing notions of what could be.

Among the more unexpected reveals at the show, however, was the Scion 01 side-by-side concept. In addition to reviving the long-dead sub-brand, it also demonstrated Toyota’s interest in breaking into the UTV segment.

Toyota

As unlikely as the notion seemed, though, the concept seemed to be pretty fully baked at the time. Now, as it turns out, it may have been previewing a forthcoming Toyota production offering.

Toyota sees lots of potential

While recently on the ground with Toyota and its Scion 01 concept in Arizona, The Drive had a chance to catch up with some of the personnel working on the project. Given some of what was discussed, it sounds like the automaker could be looking at the side-by-side segment in earnest.

Toyota

For instance, following on language like “we’re exploring how Toyota performance can live in entirely new spaces” that coincided with the concept’s debut last month, The Drive reports that the automaker had now made much more pointed statements like “if Toyota’s going to enter this space” while also specifically name-dropping companies like Polaris as competitors.

Moreover, chief engineer and vice president of Vehicle Performance Development Don Federico clearly feels that there’s high-potential for the application of Toyota’s automotive expertise — and it would address a need he himself can speak to. 

Toyota

“Like, why not have a commercial-grade automotive powertrain with a real transmission that’ll go 100,000 miles?” Federico told the site. He added, “Every time I go to my uncle’s cabin in northern Michigan, it’s like you get there on a Friday and then you spend ’til, like, Saturday afternoon trying to get everything up and running and stuff. [You] spent half your fun time fixing the stuff, and that’s what you don’t want to do.”

Considering that many states now allow for UTV usage on roads, and many manufacturers (looking at you, Honda and Kawasaki) are increasingly exploring such vehicles as enthusiast draws, it makes sense that Toyota would be eyeing up the segment — especially seeing as it has a parts bin full of potential.

Toyota

Many parts are in production

After all, one of Toyota’s main objectives for the Scion 01 concept was to prove that it could repurpose its automotive tech for UTV applications. If the demand is there, the initiative only makes more sense with the R&D the company already has invested into its off-road SUVs and trucks.

Toyota

As such, along with incorporating the 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder and hybrid drivetrain from the Tacoma, the Scion 01 also made use of suspension and brake components from throughout the rest of the lineup.

Now, according to the report from The Drive, the concept incorporates “more than 50 percent off-the-shelf parts,” though with a bespoke chassis, transfer case and differentials. As it sits, it rides on 26 inches of travel with a set of GR Corolla brakes providing stopping power.

Toyota

In any case, that’s already a lot of production-ready parts sharing for a vehicle to be strictly conceptual. When you consider that Toyota even took the time to build a rollcage that adheres to both SCORE and FIA racing standards, it sure seems like the automaker’s next enthusiast toy could be hiding in plain sight.

Toyota is apparently targeting a curb weight in “the low 3,000s” with “nearly 50/50 [front/rear]” weight distribution and an output of 325 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. Whether it’ll actually take the Scion name only time will tell, but this is one side-by-side that fans will surely get behind.

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