When a new vehicle is introduced to the automotive public, the automaker generally takes its time and only releases bits and pieces of information about the vehicle until it's ready to unveil the design drawing. Then, a prototype version emerges that is usually photographed by a "spy" photographer somewhere, and we finally get a glimpse of the new vehicle. Months later, the first of the new vehicles are shown at major auto shows, where the automaker can gauge the amount of interest the vehicle will have with its target market.
During this time, you'll notice that magazines such as Mini Truckin' try to drum up interest in the new vehicle by passing along as much of the information released by the automaker as possible. We're doing our best to keep people informed, and to help the aftermarket's creative minds pump out ideas to better each and every vehicle that comes to market, regardless of whether it's a re-design of an existing truck, or a whole new line of vehicles that fit within the spectrum our readers will accept as mini-truckin' fodder.
The first production versions of the new vehicle finally arrive on dealer lots after months of anticipation by those in the know. For those who customize their vehicles, they've already had time to think about what they'd like to do to the vehicle in an attempt to improve it. Unfortunately, new mini-trucks only come along every three to five years. When a new compact pickup hits the scene, there are usually a handful of people who scramble like mad to be the first to fully customize that new version of truck on the market.
From a publishing standpoint, magazine editors want to keep to the basics of what works for their magazine, but at the same time, new blood is very important to the magazine's future. With the introduction of such new vehicles as the GMC Canyon/Chevy Colorado, Toyota Scion, and others, there's a whole lot coming in the way of fresh platforms to try to build the newest and coolest customs that the planet has seen to-date. This is actually why we recently asked you, our readers, what you thought of the new Toyota Scion xB - a blend of car, van, and sport utility vehicle. What we got back from the responses we received was that, unlike Chrysler's PT Cruiser, Mini-Truckin' readers already think of the xB as a mini-truckin'-type vehicle and not some re-bodied car trying to pass itself off as an SUV. From there, we kept an ear to the ground hoping someone would step up to the plate and build a cover-quality xB worthy of being featured on the front of the line for MT.
When we found out that the guys at PTAP/Autowerks were working on a Scion xB, we quickly got on board with the project and kept asking them for updates. Over the course of only five weeks, an xB was delivered from Long Beach, California, with 18 miles on it and built from the ground up in Columbus, Georgia. Then, this never-before-seen vehicle was loaded onto a trailer and towed back to California for the cover shoot of this month's issue of MT. When we dropped by the dealership PTAP/Autowerks had bought the Scion from to show off the fruits of the shop's labor, the group of salespeople and dealership staff just about fell on the floor, they were so impressed.
In the coming months, we're hoping to see plenty of the newest breeds from various manufacturers turned into creative custom examples that others can follow to build even more killer machines for future publication. As the new models become more and more popular, aftermarket companies will stand up and take notice to create even more cool items for them, making customizing those vehicles even easier. This will leave the custom enthusiasts more time to work on other aspects of the vehicle that he or she would otherwise have left alone.
Since we're sure these newly released vehicles will quickly be customized to the nines and be a smash hit with the general public, it's only a matter of time before they become feature material. The Mini Truckin' staff is dying to see the world's first body-dropped Canyon, Colorado, and other never-before-customized trucks and SUVs. It's our hope that these buildups come quickly, so that we can show the world what Mini Truckin' is shaping up to become in 2004 and beyond. The first vehicles modified, as part of the newest generation of customs, are likely to broaden the horizons of many and will only help Mini Truckin' grow as a magazine, as well as the lifestyle it reports on and revolves around.