Toyota selling new Scions for $1 in Second Life

by James Ransom-Wiley { Feb 8th 2007 at 10:25PM }

Toyota held simultaneous launches of two new Scion models today. One at the Chicago Auto Show, the other in Second Life. Both the redesigned Scion xB and brand-new xD are being offered for 300 Linden dollars ($1 USD) for use in the virtual world; a nominal fee toward becoming one of Toyota's virtual "trendsetter" promoters. The cars are being sold at kiosks in Toyota's 'Scion City' district of Second Life, where the automaker hopes to also sell unused real estate to young entrepreneurs. The idea is to grow Scion City into a bustling ~~promotional~~ "cultural" mecca.

Last year, Toyota invaded Whyville, a virtual playground for tweens. Scions were peddled to under-agers, with the hope of infecting their lustful minds with the brand name; the payoff coming when the young'ns came of age. Toyota sold about 173,000 Scions in 2006 and is expected to challenge General Motors as the top global automobile seller this year.

[Thanks, Matt]

Tags: Linden Lab, LindenLab, Scion, Second Life, SecondLife, Toyota

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kevin @ Feb 8th 2007 10:46PM

I'm not too familiar with Second Life but it sounds like a bunch of micro-transactions to me.

3cubedminus3squared @ Feb 8th 2007 10:48PM

It won't be hard for Toyota, seeing how GM has cut down drastically in fleet sales. At the same time GM has the new Silverado and other new vehicles that are very competitive too. But I don't really know what those last statements had to do with video games at all though.

Rubang B @ Feb 8th 2007 10:59PM

I think video games are cooler than cars, and more fun to talk about. Conveniently, I sold my car to a junkyard today, and I'm gonna try to beat Superstar Saga tonight.

BPM @ Feb 8th 2007 11:06PM

Kevin, that's not entirely true.

The Linden Dollar (currency of Second Life) has real cash value. Very, very, very low, of course (US$1 nets you about 1,000 right now, I think). You could buy Lindens, or convert them to real money.

You can never buy Lindens if you like, as well. Enter contests, do jobs, "camp," or pick money trees to earn Lindens.