New Scion iM expected to be hot seller

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This article was published 18/09/2015 (4029 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 2016 Scion iM, the latest entry in the four-door hatchback market, is expected to be a high volume seller at Crown Toyota Scion. The first model arrived at the Waverley Automall dealership in early September and sold quickly. More have since arrived.

The iM is essentially the “spiritual” successor to the Toyota Matrix which was discontinued last year. Unique to its class, the iM is available in only one body style, but there are a number of options for customizing the vehicle. The exterior sporty looks include LED daytime running lights and 17-inch alloy wheels. Under the hood, the iM is powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 126 lb-ft of torque. The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) option promises good fuel efficiency.

Standard features include power folding mirrors; cruise control, dual-zone automatic A/C, Pioneer audio system with seven-inch touch screen, backup camera, leather-wrapped steering wheel and power windows and locks.

With eight airbags, the iM is also best in its class in terms of safety. The base price for the iM is $22,000 (plus freight and pdi).

Changes at Crown Toyota Scion

Over the past few months Crown Toyota Scion has added two new sales managers and several new sales reps to its team. New sales manager (as of February) Dhiya Dilawri brings with her a background in marketing and advertising. She has been working for the Dilawri Auto Group in various capacities for about 18 months — or since she returned to Winnipeg, her hometown, after living in Calgary. “I am spending a lot of time coaching our sales team in sales processes that are intended to make sure our customers have the best buying experience possible,” says Dilawri. “We have a strong sales team here.”

Mark Johnson is one of four new sales reps at Crown Toyota Scion. In Johnson’s case though, it has been more of a homecoming. Johnson worked for Sunshine Toyota (Crown Toyota’s former name) for 10 years in sales. He left in 2012 to pursue some other opportunities, rejoining the Crown Toyota Scion family in February. “I have come full circle,” he says. “This is a beautiful facility.”

Chan Paranaque also joined the sales staff in February. Paranaque has previous retail experience in electronics. “Electronics are a major component of cars today,” he notes. “Coming to Crown Toyota Scion was a huge opportunity. I am doing well.”

Yury Harczan was encouraged to try auto sales by Shaun Proutt, general manager for the Dilawri Group’s Crown Credit Solutions. “I had been a bartender for 20 years,” says Harczan who also has experience selling insurance. “Shaun is a member of a band that was performing at a function where I was tending bar. He thought that I had the kind of personality that would do well in auto sales and invited me to come and apply here.”

Harczan, who joined the Crown Toyota Scion sales team at the beginning of August, observes that, as a result of customers being able to get a lot of their information from the Internet, auto sales reps function more as product advisers helping the customer find the car he wants. “I am still learning the business,” he says.

New GM for Crown Mazda

In early September, Jason Khan was appointed as the new general manager at the Dilawri Group’s Crown Mazda store. Khan was previously in a management position at another Asian import store.

“This was an opportunity for me to move to a larger store,” Khan says. “I am looking forward to working for the Dilawri Family and helping grow Crown Mazda grow its sales.”

VW show a big hit

Last Sunday afternoon, under beautiful blue skies and record-setting temperatures, St. James Volkswagen Audi hosted its fourth annual charity car show — with donations in the form of cash or school supplies earmarked for Winnpeg Harvest’s Tools for School program.

The car show was open to all European makes and models and attracted 42 entries.

The winners were Kyle Hirsch for best in show Volkswagen with his 1989 Vanagon, Max Llanes for best in show-Audi with his 2001 S8, Emil Sosnowski for best in show non-Volkswagen/Audi, with his 1988 635 BMW CSI and Briget Sawatsky and Don Morrison, tied for best in show-classic with a 1974 Baja Beetle and a 1967 Type 3 respectively.

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