Video: 2008 Scion xB and XD at the Chicago Auto Show

The edges are still here but they've been rounded and the windshield isn't quite as vertical as the originals. The new xB's gauges are again mounted controversially in the center of the dashboard, rather than in front of the steering wheel. The xB gets a huge engine transplant, in the form of a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder from the Scion tC. Replacing a 1.5 liter, the transmission choices are a 5 Speed Manual or a 4 Speed Automatic with sequential shifting modes. Though the 2008 xB has been lowered a bit, it still surprises with its ample headroom and reasonable, if not excessive legroom. (rock music) The new model adds eight cubic feet of cargo volume behind the folding back seat, for a total 29 cubic feet. When the seats are folded, the floor is nice and flat. The Scion xA is actually replaced for 2008 with the xD. It may look like the xA, but the four-door hatchback is on a different platform, based on the Toyota Yaris. The xD seems larger than the model it replaces, but it's only about an inch wider and a half-inch longer. Its wheelbase has increased by almost four inches, which should improve its ride quality. The standard stereo has an audio input for a generic mp3 player, and also an iPod connector that lets you control the device through the stereo itself and with the buttons on the steering wheel. Unlike the xB, the xD has it's instruments mounted in front of the steering wheel. It may be a subcompact but the xD's backseat is workable for adults. With seats that adjust forwards and backwards and also recline. (rock music)