Toyota contemplating the iQ for the US market
Click for a high-res gallery of the iQ
The Yaris may not remain the smallest car that Toyota offers in the US market. Toyota already offers several smaller cars overseas, including the Aygo in Europe (produced in cooperation with PSA) and an assortment of tiny cars in Japan and elsewhere. The Aygo shares a platform with the Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1. The 107 and C1 have been prowling the roads in the area east of Ann Arbor, MI and Toyota's US tech center for well over a year and I have speculated that Toyota may be the reason for these cars being present on US soil. Now comes word from the Tokyo Motor Show that Toyota is indeed investigating bringing smaller cars to America. Although gasoline prices have remained under $3 a gallon around these parts recently, the price of crude is still climbing and reaching $90 a barrel. Toyota US executive VP for Sales Jim Lentz commented that the iQ concept is something that might work in the US market. It's probably safe to assume that everyone in the business will be closely watching the sales of the Smart ForTwo after its US launch in January. If it takes off, cars like the iQ and Volkswagen up! (hopefully with a different name) will probably get the green light.
Gallery: Frankfurt 2007: Toyota iQ concept
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil L. 3:12PM (10/26/2007)
I like the look of the iQ. It clearly borrows from the Smart concept - but takes it in other directions.
Hopefully we'll be seeing an iQ EV concept sometime soon...
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bchis 3:39PM (10/26/2007)
BRING IT!!! Love the styling, looking at getting a small car next year, this would go straight to the top of my list.
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mike 6:21PM (10/26/2007)
Any chance there's a hybrid version in the works? Plugin hybrid?
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Chris M 3:07AM (10/27/2007)
Smart? iQ? Hmmm...
I think you're right. It looks like Toyota and VW are responding to the Smart, but with their own style, but whether they will go on sale here depends on how much buzz the Smart gets.
I also think the iQ is better looking than the Smart. I don't know if they will put their Hybrid Synergy Drive inside, but it would get outstanding milage if they did.
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Rick 12:50PM (10/29/2007)
Damn, the Yaris isn't small enough?! Toyota needs to bring over the 5 door Yaris instead of another small 3 door Yaris making one of the cars redundant and eating sales.
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