S Florida Auto Show Gives Away a Box Full of Fun

MIAMI, Oct. 22, 2004 -- It's aimed at the youth market, it's economical to operate and it's fun.

This year's giveaway car at the South Florida International Auto Show is the Scion xB, one of Toyota's new lines designed for 20-somethings and those who want to feel like 20 again.

In this case the "B" stands for box, and a magic one it is. It's bigger than a bread box, but it's shaped like one and that allows lots of room for owners to haul stuff or customize with add-ons that include a subwoofer, roof rack, alloy wheels and carbon fiber trim doodads.

"Some lucky person will be twice a winner," said Cliff Ray, auto show coordinator. "These innovative and trendy cars came to the East Coast just recently, after last year's introduction in California, and whoever wins our giveaway car will be among the first to show off this exciting new entry from Toyota. From its introduction -- it has been a runaway sales hit."

The list of standard equipment on the Scion xB is impressive: air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, anti-lock brakes, even stability and traction control. A low emission 1.5 liter 4-cylinder engine delivers 108 horsepower.

The sound system includes a "welcome screen" that can be customized by the user and a digital equalizer for custom tuning MP3s and CDs for individual listeners. The xB has front sport seats. The rear seats fold and tumble to deliver a flat floor for hauling cargo for a day at the beach, the weekend game or that new landscaping project.

The South Florida International Auto Show is produced by the South Florida Auto-Truck Dealers Association, which comprises more than 220 dealers in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties.