The Auto Writer

Once in awhile a concept car comes along that catches my attention, a vehicle that I believe should be built. Most recently, it was the Cadillac CTS coupe — which was shown as a concept at this year’s Detroit (NAIAS) auto show. Already, I have heard that the coupe is a go, providing quick feedback for GM from adoring fans that the car is wanted.

Another concept unveiled recently was from Scion, Toyota’s youth-oriented brand. At the New York Auto Show last week, Scion revealed the Hako, developed by the Toyota Design Division which studied youth trends from around the world. The photos that you see here is the result of that study.

Get a load of the top of the Hako’s roof:

The Hako has a tremendous amount of glass and the driver looks as if he would be sitting behind the controls of his favorite video game. Quoting Scion:

“Scion’s Hako Coupe Concept embodies a distinct global perspective on today’s youth,” said Jack Hollis, Scion vice president. “This type of forward thinking complements the Scion philosophy of intently listening to our customers and being willing to take risks to help us see where our brand should be. We took the xB’s iconic boxy shape and explored something more vivacious, yet just as emotionally appealing. This concept is the sporty version of a box.”

Speaking about video games, this is what you see on the front passenger’s portion of the dashboard. Take a close look at the foot pedals:

Finally, the rear passenger seating area has an embedded screen on the side of the cabin. I wouldn’t be surprised if this same screen finds itself on the seatback or pulled down from the roof if the Hako ever sees production.

Clearly, the Hako is geared to serving today’s youth and I’m not the consumer Toyota has in mind with this vehicle. Is it radical? Absolutely. Then again, the Scion brand is supposed to demonstrate everything that young people want including vehicles like the Hako which clearly are a departure from the so-called norm.

(Source: Scion Public Relations)

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Scion concept cars are featured on Auto Trends, your source for cutting edge automotive news!