Scion Announces Pricing For New iA And iM

Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented sub-brand, has announced pricing for two key new models, the iA andiM, set to go on sale in September.

The Scion iA, which is the company's first ever sedan, has a starting price of $15,700 for the basemodel with a six-speed manual transmission and $16,800 for the one equipped with a six-speedautomatic.

The larger Scion iM, a sporty hatchback, starts at $18,460 with a manual transmission and $19,200with the continuously variable automatic transmission. All of the prices exclude a mandatory $795delivery charge.

Scion is unique in that it has a no-haggle Pure Price strategy where the manufacturer suggestedretail price is the price customers pay, no matter what.

The Scion iA and iM are very different vehicles, but both reflect a shrewd approach to boostingsales--one that requires little upfront investment.

The 2016 Scion iM is based on the Toyota Auris, a hatchback version of the Corolla sold in Asia andEurope. (Credit: Scion)

The Scion iA is a tiny sedan based on the latest version of the Mazda Demio (called the Mazda 2 inthe United States). The Demio debuted in 2014 and features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine thatproduces 106 horsepower. The only difference between the Demio and the iA is the front and rearstyling.

Scion touts a high level of standard equipment on the iA, which includes a voice-recognition-capablemultimedia system with seven-inch touchscreen, and a low-speed pre-collision safety system thatuses cameras and radars to detect and warn drivers of impending collisions.

The Scion iM is larger and more powerful than the iA, with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine thatproduces 137 horsepower. The iM is essentially a restyled Toyota Auris, which is a five-door Corolla-based hatchback sold in Asia and Europe.

The 2016 Scion iA is based on the Mazda Demio, known as the Mazda 2 in the United States.(Credit: Scion)

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewdepaula/2015/06/30/scion-announces-pricing-for-new-ia-and-im/