At November’s L.A. Auto Show, Toyota Motor Sales USA Vice President Doug Murtha introduced Scion’s next car — a hatchback based on the Toyota Auris — in concept form as the Scion iM. The new car will probably hit showrooms in late 2015. More significant, however, was Murtha’s announcement of how buyers will be able to shop for and finance future Scions.
The brand’s no-haggle “Pure Price” strategy will be augmented by a new program called Pure Process Plus, wherein buyers can research the purchase they want, find a specific car at a specific dealership, obtain a price, and secure financing all through a mobile app. Murtha noted that the mobile pricing program was developed in concert with Toyota Financial Services and RouteOne. Already testing in 50 dealerships, Toyota expects the program to be extended to the entire Scion dealer network sometime in 2015.