Jalopnik: Scion Hako

Toyota Resorts To Building Taco Truck Scions Ahead Of Financiapocalypse

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:40:00 EST

It takes a certain kind of genius to combine two seemingly disparate products like tacos and paint into one business venture. It took Toyota to do 'em both in this Scion xB modified for duty as a taco and paint truck. See, now that you've seen it, the imaginary palm to forehead moment is inevitable. This particular ~~Scion Hako~~ xB was customized under the hand of Louie Contreras and painted by Kenton Parker and contains complete facilities for the cooking up of tacos and the selling of paint. We absolutely love the picture of the anthropomorphized taco and spray paint can. If SEMA was made up of cars like this, it would be a heck of a lot more fun.

[Source: Toyota, Carscoop]

Postal Service Scion Hako Takes Top Honors

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:45:00 EDT

Congratulations to reader and USPS aficionado suzq044, for the commentariat have dubbed you the winner of the Scion Hako Redesign competition. We were pulling for the Hakominos and earlier the paper-and-tape Rothified Hako, but saying so may have steered voting so we decided not to. We have to say the entries were most impressive, ranging from incredible technical prowess to displays of absolute comic genius. To claim your prize suzq044, send an email to me and we'll get those sweet, sweet Scion hats in the mail tout de suite. Thanks to all who entered and hopefully Toyota got the clue that we were none too thrilled with their latest box on wheels.

Choose The Winner Of The Scion Hako Redesign Contest

Ben Wojdyla — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Despite the mass confusion we caused when the underfed server hamsters failed to order the galleries properly, yesterday's voting saw some clear front runners emerge in our effort to redesign the ugly-stick inspired Scion Hako Concept. While we're kind of disappointed the Burberry Wert version didn't make the cut, we completely understand there's only so much Wert the commentariat can take. In any case, the final five have been selected and now it's up to you to vote for our winner. If yours is among the chosen, make sure to jump into the comment section and lobby the cause. We'll be declaring the winner on Monday, so good night, and good luck.

Scion Hako Redesign Contest, Let The Battle Begin

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EDT

We tried, we really did. We just couldn't cut the entries from the Scion Hako Redesign Contest down enough to make this voting process even mildly manageable. We apologize if your entry got left on the cutting room floor, but we were inundated with chops that ran the scale from amazing to amazingly awesomely bad. What we're left with is a set of forty of the best, worst, and most amusing redesigns for the fug-nasty Scion Hako. Since there are so many entries, we're going to let you narrow things down a bit. To keep things fair we stripped the names off and we're not going to name names on this round, just so some of you more popular hooligans don't win by sheer wit. Browse through the gallery and pick out your favorite, make a note of the number above the image and vote away. We'll take the top 5 vote-getters and have a vote-off tomorrow afternoon then send the winner some rad hats.

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*EDIT: We tried to put the pics in order, but the internets are confounding us today

Redesign The Scion Hako Concept - Win Some Scion Hats

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EDT

To say the Scion Hako Concept went over poorly with the Jalopnik staff would be something of an understatement. Every time we checked the front page we'd recoil in horror as the Hako scrolled past on the screen. It became the generic stake by which other cars were measured. "At least it's not the Hako" was heard more than once. Now, considering the depth of photochopping skill we see ~~from Chrysler~~ here on a daily basis, we're betting you guys can do better than the awkward and boxy "American vintage style" Scion touted at the New York Auto Show.

Instead of being only a contest for Photoshop whiz kids, for this one, we'll be giving bonus points to those who use the crudest software drawing package. If you send us a design using ASCII, you've got a better chance at winning than the guy using MSPaint who has a leg up on the guy using Photoshop. This is not to say the people using P-Shop can't win. Perhaps he or she uses a design completely consisting of a mosaic of kittens duplicated with the stamp tool. Be creative, be inventive, be original, and use curves, heavens knows Scion didn't. Send us your submissions via a post on this thread, or directly to myself at the address on the sidebar by Wednesday of next week. We'll cull the initial entries and let you all vote on the winner, then that lucky artist will see both of those sweet Scion hats arriving by mail for the efforts. Good luck, and may the best crappiest design win.

Scion Hako Coupe Concept Live Unveil

Travis Hudson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:57:26 EDT

Scion is known for trying to be hip with the kids, but I have a feeling its latest concept, the Hako, is a couple steps too far, even for the spikey haired, angsty kids of America. Hako means box and this is very boxy, even more boxy than the xB. If you remember, Scion originally teased the Hako Coupe concept two weeks ago, but here she is in all of her ugly glory. Original speculation suggested that this could take the place of the xA, but something tells me that wouldn't fly too well.

The Hako Coupe was designed by Scion's Tokyo design division and it was supposedly inspired by the emergence of American vintage style among young Japanese trendsetters. If this is American vintage, then I don't know if I want to be American. I'm sorry, Scion, this is a bit much. Oh and if you are wondering, on the rear, the right circle on the lower side is the exhaust, and the matching one on the left is the reverse light. Yes, very strange.

This inside of the Hako Coupe is a bit more valid than the exterior. The inside is chock full of futuristic doodads including a trackball-like interface on the steering wheel. The passenger side has two LCD displays where media can be controlled. The backseat of the Hako also includes screens that are connected to video cameras placed on the outside of the Hako. Let the YouTube hoonage commence.

Scion Reveals Hako Coupe Concept At The 2008 New York International Auto Show Related Media
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03/19/2008

March 19, 2008 - New York - Scion unveiled its Hako Coupe Concept vehicle at a press conference today at the New York International Auto Show.

Scion's Hako Coupe was developed by Tokyo Design Division, which studied global, youth-inspired trends. Japanese and American youth cultures often influence each other and are interpreted with a unique twist. The Hako Coupe Concept was inspired by the iconic xB and the emergence of American vintage style among young Tokyo trendsetters.

"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."

Tokyo Design developed the Hako Coupe with classic American coupes in mind. The car's geometric profile conveys a powerful stance in a compact and bold package. Its trapezoidal LED headlights lie parallel with a large and aggressive, rectangular upper grille. The lower rectangular grille anchors the front fascia and continues to communicate the Hako's aggressive attitude. Round fog lights, symmetrically placed high on the front bumper, have integrated turn signals.

The Hako's silhouette is accentuated by slim, race-car-inspired side mirrors that also feature integrated turn signals. Powerful, flared fenders add dimension and contrast to the concept's boxy shape and smooth surface planes. The Hako concept hugs the road with custom 18-inch deep dish five-spoke wheels and tires with a "Scion" custom tread.

The Hako Coupe features a vertical windshield as the concept sits upright and ready to attack the road. A high linear beltline along with a blackened and chopped greenhouse seamlessly wrap around the rear to provide a mysterious profile. As an example of potential personalization, the concept is equipped with a flat, panorama roof that features a random, barcode-like pattern that can be seen on the exterior and from the interior.

The rear features LED taillights that echo the shape of the headlights. To complete the package, the rear bumper has an integrated fog and back up light on the left and exhaust on the right.

Inside, the Hako is accented with orange and metallic detailing that exudes a modern environment with entertainment possibilities. The front and rear seats are covered with urethane and rubber-like upholstery for easy cleaning. The contemporary front bucket seats flow to the floor and incorporate a geometric design on the seatback. The seats are separated by a center console that features a large storage crevice for storing magazines, cell phones, and other small items. Two cockpit-like rear seats also share a storage crevice.

The orange driver's seat has a gaming theme. Instrumentation and warning lights cascade from the art inspired instrument panel to the steering wheel. The shifter, located on the center console, resembles a large joystick. On the steering wheel is a simple button to start the engine and a track-ball type control for the Hako's entertainment system located on the passenger dash. The entertainment system consists of two video monitor screens mounted on the dash for radio, video, and music capabilities. Users can upload their videos and music through a Bluetooth® connection. The front passenger controls the system using a large rollerball mounted on the center of the dash. A black seat differentiates the front passenger area.

Video monitors located on each door and on each side of the rear seating area project distorted fish-eye images from orange filtered cameras mounted beneath the A-pillars. While the vehicle is parked the driver and passenger can edit the scenes captured by the cameras to show their friends where they have been and perhaps even post the clip online for others to see.

"As you know, polarizing style fits in well with our lineup," said Hollis. "And of course we love a good box. We'll listen to the feedback from this concept to help us determine how our brand could evolve and grow over the next five years."

Scion Haku Spied Before Press Conference

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:50:00 EDT

It was like a scene from The Sting, with yours truly and Robert Farago of The Truth About Cars as the fast talking, quick thinking con men (we'll let you decide who is Newman and who is Redford). The Scion press room was surrounded with security but the awkward prize, the new Scion Hako (aka Scion tC replacement), was waiting within. Farago deftly distracts the first guard with the old "Excuse me ma'am but have you seen my puppy" trick while I used my mistakingly printed manufacturer's pass to sneak past the second one. We were able to get on stage and snap a few pics before a security official put his chest into my camera. More coming soon.