Bye-bye xB

It doesn’t seem that long ago, but you have to roll back the clock to 2003 to get to the first generation Scion xB. Who imagined (the people at Toyota I’ve talked with over the years about it certainly didn’t) that the boxy vehicle based on the Japan-market Toyota bB would become a success for the youth-focused brand?

While many Scions have come and gone over the years (xA, xD), the xB has been quite the stalwart.

But now it’s time to say goodbye. . .

Yes, the run of the xB is about to close.

So rather than go out by slipping behind the curtains, hoping no one will notice, Scion has had 686, a snowboard technical apparel company, to come up with what will be the final special edition model xB.

The xB 686 Parklan edition, which was announced on Monday, will have limited production: just 686 will be produced (clever number choice, eh?).

The vehicle features seats that have the quilted patterning and cubist camo design of 686 wear, and like a jacket, there’s a zippered pocket on the driver’s side. The floor mats are all-weather, presumably for the melted snow from a day spent on the slopes. There are 686 logos on the 16-inch gloss-black alloy wheels. The car is painted Cocoa Bean Metallic with red accent lines, again glossing 686.

“The xB has been part of Scion from the very beginning, and we wanted to give it a meaningful sendoff,” said Scion vp Andrew Gilleland.

Gilleland, incidentally, was named head of Scion last week.