When horror-flick pioneer George Romero set out over 30 years ago to make his full-color, society-gone-mad splatter-fest known as Dawn Of The Dead, the zombie genre was barely on the public’s radar. Beloved primarily by members of the fringe element who found the excitement of venturing into otherwise forbidden neighborhoods to catch rare midnight showings an integral part of the experience, it seemed the living dead would never be ready for prime time. Fast-forward to 2015, and it’s nearly impossible to get through a day without at least one zombie reference sneaking into casual conversation or to scroll through the channels without inadvertently witnessing gruesome zombie action of some sort. So it should come as no surprise that carmakers like Scion—as previously seen with the Hyundai Elantra, Veloster, Santa Fe, and Tucson—now actively court the creators of zombie sagas to create vehicles for promotional purposes.
The latest entry in the zombie-vehicle sweepstakes is the Scion iA from Skybound Entertainment, which was built as a rolling tribute to Walking Dead author Robert Kirkman’s Outcastcomic book. Fittingly, the theme of the orange-, black-, and green-toned car is demonic possession, and it will “gyrate, smoke, change colors, and emit eerie sounds.” In other words, all of the behaviors typically displayed by cars when operating under demonic possession.
As you might expect, relying on the supernatural to perform these functions on cue (this is show business people!) proved to be highly frustrating, so the creators called in Trou Sumitomo and Geoff Curtis from Five Axis to outfit the iA with the gear needed to dutifully and reliably run through a two-minute presentation on demand. While the specifics have not been disclosed, the end product includes automatic opening of the rear doors, fuel filler, and glove box; movement of the steering wheel and front and rear wheels and suspension height; and animation of the front bumper and rear taillamps. The grand finale, of course, is the car filling with smoke from the HVAV vents, and the projection of blood splatter graphics on the windows.
- 2016 Scion iA Official Photos and Info: A Mazda 2 Sedan with a Scion Badge
- 2016 Scion iA Tested: Frightful to Look at, Delightful to Drive
- Scion Wins SEMA with this Sweet xB ’70s-Inspired Van (Including Fishbowl Window!)
Get past all the kooky spooky aspects, and it’s just a friendly Scion iA underneath. The 18-by-7.5-inch aluminum wheels are from FIVE:AD; the tires are 225/40 Toyo Proxes R1R front and rear; the paint, pinstriping, and aero kit are from Five Axis. We’re on the record with our appreciation of the technically not-a-Scion iA, and prospective buyers will want to remember: When there’s no more room in hell, the dead will roam the earth in efficient and reliable sub-compact automobiles.
Andrew Wendler brings decades of wrenching, writing, and editorial experience with numerous outlets to Car and Driver. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Car and Driver, Esquire, Forbes, Hot Rod, Motor Trend, MPH, MSN, and Popular Mechanics, among others. A Rust Belt native and tireless supporter of the region, he grew up immersed in automotive, marine, and aviation culture. A lifetime of hands-on experience and a healthy dose of skepticism provide him the tools to deliver honest and informative news, reviews, and editorial perspective. Of note, he once won a $5 bet by walking the entire length of the elevated People Mover up track that encircles downtown Detroit.
![1961 rollsroyce silver cloud ii paramount](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/ringbrothers-centerscene-paramount-53-6542c94684890.jpg?crop=0.670xw:1.00xh;0.133xw,0&resize=360:* "1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II "Paramount"")
