Toyota reportedly prepping hybrid version of new iQ mini
Toyota is expected to debut the final production version of its iQ super-min next month at the Paris Motor Show, one year after showing the original concept at Frankfurt. The production iQ is expected to get a 1.0L gas engine to move it along but the powerplant range is expected to grow with a hybrid model. Britain's AutoExpress got a preview drive of the 1.0L version recently but their prognostications tend to be a mixed bag (Edmunds liked it). While a hybrid version of the iQ is almost a certainty at some point given that Toyota has publicly stated its intent to offer hybrid versions of every model they build, AutoExpress is reporting that a 500cc plug-in hybrid iQ will debut in 2010. This seems like a very aggressive target given Toyota's stance on lithium ion batteries. A more likely scenario is some fleet testing of a plug-in iQ around the turn of the decade with a retail launch sometime after that.
Gallery: Geneva 2008: Toyota iQ
[Source: AutoExpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
don 6:43PM (9/02/2008)
That's nice and all, but the US will probably never see it.
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ryan 10:09AM (9/02/2008)
This car with a 1.0 liter gas engine (same one that comes with the base Yaris (Vitz in Japan)) even alone would do excellent. Pair that with a hybrid system and you have one hell of an amazing car. I would definitely get one.
Today I choose a bike, but if a car like this were available, I would probably pick one up for those odd rainy days or trips to grandma's!
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Gary 11:24AM (9/02/2008)
It seems ridiculous to put a hybrid powertrain into a car that already takes little gas. The math has been posted in the past on here showing where more savings are to be had if you put a hybrid system into a larger vehicle such as a delivery truck.
Quick math: 50% reduction in fuel usage on a thirsty vehicle will reap greatest savings, and 50% reduction again will reap less savings, 50% of that will be even less, and 50% of that will be insignificant, and so on.
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Nick 4:00PM (9/02/2008)
They definitely killed the front end of this. The concepts looked sleek, now this looks like another cartoon character.
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