Geneva '08: The 3+1 seat Toyota iQ
click the Toyota iQ for high res gallery
Toyota is officially jumping into the ranks of companies building city cars with the Geneva Motor Show debut of the new iQ. The 9.8ft-long iQ has a 78.8in wheelbase and seating for 3+1 in an assymetrical configuration. With such a short span between the axles, there obviously wouldn't be much room for passengers in the second row. The passenger side of the dashboard is farther forward than the driver's side allowing the seat to slide further forward ahead of the driver providing at least theoretical room for a third adult in the rear seat. The position behind the driver is strictly for kids or Cotton Hill. Overall for such a small car, Toyota has done some very nice packaging of components and developed smaller systems like the HVAC unit and steering gear. A flat fuel tank sits under the driver's seat. The company has designed the iQ to get a five star rating on the Euro NCAP crash test regime. Toyota hasn't provided powertrain details yet although they have said there will be two gas and one diesel engine when it goes on sale late in 2008. No word yet on pricing or whether we will ever see this car in the U.S.
Gallery: 2009 Toyota iQ
[Source: Toyota]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
s10 11:25AM (3/04/2008)
Bye bye Smart! This car will end your career before it started.
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why not the LS2/LS7? 12:03PM (3/04/2008)
Bring this to the US. Gas or Diesel it will likely produce the fuel economy the SMART can't seem to deliver.
And it won't have that awful gearbox from the SMART.
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Rojo 1:02PM (3/04/2008)
Better yet, call it the iSmarter. Or maybe the iShite. Ooh, iShouldBeEV. iShouldHaveABetterNameiNsteadOfThisiNcessantlySillyi-PrefixNomenclature.
Marketing departments of the world: Quit naming your products iAnything! Even if it's used as a snarky/semi-clever jab at a competitor, it's still iNnoying.
All that aside, I have to agree that this car would destroy Smart (and even damage Kia) in the US market. Assuming of course it had a decent price, irregardless of its resemblance to a constipated Pokemon character from the front view. I have to imagine Smart is very worried for the Euro market though.
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Tim 3:00PM (3/04/2008)
The name iQ is a horrible play on the smart name. Toyota should come up with its own identity not be known as a "smart with 3 seats". I think the smart looks far sportier and the power train details are not even out. So for now I still like the smart more. Expect a Japaneses K car engine though which doesn't produce good economy or acceleration in US driving. I'll take an Aygo over this. I couldn't imagine Toyota putting this car below the Yaris though. I mean 9000 dollar Toyota? Not likely.
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Karl-Uwe Strunzen 4:57PM (3/04/2008)
Comparing the Aygo 1.0l petrol 68bhp against the Smart Fortwo 71bhp 1.0l (US version ?) as well as the 61bhp versions:
fuel consumption (l/100km combined), CO2 (g/km), mass (kg), price (euros)
Aygo68: 4.6, 109, 840, 9000
Fortwo71: 4.7, 112, 750, 10600
Fortwo61: 4.7, 112, 750, 9500
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search/vehicleDetails.asp?id=15170
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search/vehicleDetails.asp?id=20088
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search/vehicleDetails.asp?id=20087
If Toyota put the same 1.0l engine in the IQ as the Aygo, it should run circles around the Fortwo. The Aygo outdoes the Smart, despite weighing substantially less, at powers both above and below its 68bhp. Since the Aygo actually costs less than the Fortwo, you'd actually end up spending less to have 3 seats instead of 2 and better fuel economy...
how about "smart with 3 seats and a real engine and a more honest price" ?.......
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Karl-Uwe Strunzen 5:00PM (3/04/2008)
...oops, I meant "despite weighing substantially more"...
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brn 1:20PM (3/05/2008)
Your terminology confuses me. How is this a 3+1? Really looks like a 2+2.
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Sam Abuelsamid 3:17PM (3/05/2008)
There isn't enough room behind the drivers seat for anyone larger than a small child, hence the +1. The front passenger seat slides further forward allowing (at least in theory) a third adult.
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mike 6:48PM (3/05/2008)
Karl,
How is 4.6 so much better then 4.7?
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bob 1:02AM (3/16/2008)
Just looked at cars available in New Zealand. Several small vehicles get close to 50mpg combined. Take a look at Nissan Micra. Cost $18000 NZ (about $16.5K US?) mpg 5L/100km = 76km/gal = 47 mpg. [http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/New-Cars/Nissan/Micra/index.html]
And I am sure there are other cars out there that do even better. SO WHY AREN'T they available here?
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D. See 10:49PM (3/17/2008)
Good God, Toyota, SEND THIS CAR TO THE US!!!!!
The Yaris has been a hit here, and I'll bet my gas-sucking Lexus that this will be an even bigger hit. A perfect commuter car that actually has some style! And yes, I would buy this & would NEVER buy a Smart (I drove one, and their crappy trans and even crappier warranty are going to be the death of that car).
In fact, I would easily pay $12,000 - $15,000 as for some nicer interior bits, as the Yaris, to me, seems a little cheap. Up the quality in that department, and it's a go!
I hope that this car has some nice fuel economy figures. 40mpg+ would be expected.
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Oblio A 4:58PM (4/16/2008)
The name iQ is a GENIUS play on the Smart name. Clever Toyota! And of course it will get better fuel mileage...the Japs ALWAYS out run the Krauts.
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sally 6:41PM (5/28/2008)
I went to a toyota dealership (bought me a corolla) and asked about the Toyota iQ and Toyota Aygo. The salesman said there had been talk about this type of Car but now they are hearing nothing. I think Toyota is worried about such a car competing with its Prius (which is more $$ lucrative).
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ken kinghorn 1:11PM (9/19/2008)
i own a toyota aygo its a great car excellent on fuel holds four adults comfortably enough room for your toolsand suitcase great looks the only downside i felt it could have come with spot or front fog lights we do live in great britain you know and fog is around in the winter to me this is a smart car only a bit longer not a patch in the excellent all round aygo.
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david 7:08AM (4/24/2009)
The iq has been out for a few months now in the UK and I think it's really hurting Smart sales. Smart now have some very fuel efficient diesel engines but without the 4 seats who's going to buy it? We also have a 1.33 varient now to keep everyone happy www.toyotaiqcentral.com
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