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DAPHNE, Alabama — They arrived like an upbeat, teen-aged army dressed in black T-shirts and khaki shorts — and, yes, they were ready to drive.

The 50 high school seniors in this year’s Distinguished Young Women national competition spent Saturday morning touring Daphne’s Eastern Shore Toyota, a new sponsor for the program formerly called America’s Junior Miss. All of the girls got the chance to test drive a 2011 Scion, the Japanese automaker’s product designed to appeal to Generation Y consumers.

From the looks on most drivers’ faces, the plan worked fine.

“It was great,” said Savannah Nall, Arkansas DYW. “It rides really, really smooth, and I like the cloth seats—really breathable material — and the touch-screen radio.”

As far as drawbacks, well, she had to think a while.

“Well, the gas pedal was really touchy,” she said, “but it may just be different from what I’m used to.”

After the drivers took a spin through Daphne, complete with police escort, they all filled out surveys about the car that might make it all the way to the corporate design tables.

“This is an excellent opportunity,” said dealership owner Shawn Esfahani. “The Scion was meant to be accommodating for the Y Generation. We have the chance to gather information about the product from 50 of the brightest, most-focused and driven individuals our country has to offer. I plan to gather the surveys and send them to corporate headquarters, and get the information on to Japan to give an idea how we can improve out product.”

Esfahani said that thinking is part of the Toyota brand, and the goal is to always be improving.

“It’s not often when you can get this much brainpower in one location to give your product a good assessment,” he said.

Louisiana winner Alex Gulino patiently waited her turn to hop in and drive — either the boxy four-door model or the sporty two-door. She said a friend of hers had a Scion, and she was eager to give one a try.

The tour of the dealership was a great way to get an idea of how a multidimensional business runs, she said, from sales to service and marketing.

Organizers said the girls would have lunch at the dealership, and were scheduled to appear Saturday evening at Bel Air Mall to meet the public and sign autographs. 

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