Scion’s axing has led to a different naming strategy for the vehicles that will live on as re-badged Toyotas.
Following the introduction of the facelifted GT 86, which will replace the Scion FR-S in the North American market, Toyota has announced two new names for the iA and iM, which will be known as Yaris iA and Corolla iM, respectively, when they will go on sale for the 2017 model year.
“When we announced the transition of the Scion models to Toyota we hadn’t planned on changing the names of our cars, but by popular demand, for our sports car, we decided to adopt the global name of 86“, said Bill Fay, Toyota division Group Vice President, in a statement.
As it will go forward with its new naming strategy, Toyota will report sales volumes of the normal Yaris and Yaris iA, as well as the Corolla and Corolla iM, together, as single units. However, while the Corolla iM hatchback is already a Corolla underneath the skin, things are more complicated when it comes to the Yaris iA sedan, as it’s based on the Mazda2.
Besides receiving new badges, the two vehicles will remain identical to their scions. The Yaris iA will continue to be powered by a 1.5-liter four-pot engine, mated to a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic gearbox, while the Corolla iM will be offered, as standard, with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder, paired with either a six-speed manual or a CVT.
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