Toyota ups the small car score with the iQ3 (iQ cubed)
Toyota iQ3 - Click above for high-res image gallery
The original iQ is such a museum piece. The new iQ3, which Toyota announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March, is now on sale in the UK. The iQ cubed adds a 98 bhp 1.33-liter engine with Toyota Optimal Drive to the small car line up and the start-stop system helps the iQ3 get CO2 emissions down to 113g/km. On the UK's combined cycle, the most efficient iQ3, the manual with a six-speed gearbox, gets 49 mpg (U.S.). Even with a Multidrive CVT transmission, the iQ3 can achieve 46 mpg (U.S.) and CO2 emissions of just 120 g/km. Both models qualify for the UK's Band B road tax, which is just £35 a year. The manual starts at £11,495 while the Multidrive begins at £12,495. If you have more money to spend, four trims are offered that add things like chrome (yay! chrome!) and Bluetooth connectivity. Find the details after the jump.
Gallery: Toyota iQ3
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE:
CLEVERER THAN EVER: INTRODUCING THE NEW TOYOTA iQ3
- New iQ3 (iQ cubed) powered by 98bhp 1.33 Dual VVT-i engine with Toyota Optimal Drive
- Toyota Stop & Start system increases fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions
- Class-leading fuel economy and emissions – 58.9mpg and 113g/km (six-speed manual)
- Also available with Multidrive CVT transmission – 55.4mpg and 120g/km
- Exclusive iQ3 equipment features, including 16-inch dual five-spoke alloy wheels and chrome door mirror housings
- On sale now, price £11,495 (manual) and £12,495 (Multidrive)
- Four accessory packs available – iStyle, iUrban, iSports and iConnect
- Optional Leather seat trim and Satellite Navigation
Benefiting from Toyota Optimal Drive technology for a class-leading combination of power, fuel economy and low emissions, it uses Dual VVT-i control of both intake and exhaust valves to deliver strong torque at low to medium engine speeds and achieve maximum efficiency.
The headline figures broadcast the exceptional customer benefits in terms of running costs. With manual transmission, iQ3 returns an official 58.9mpg in combined cycle driving, and 113g/km of CO2 – Band B for road tax (£35 annual charge) – both of which are best-in-class figures. Equipped with Toyota's new Multidrive CVT system, fuel economy is just as good, while emissions rise slightly to 120g/km, but remain within Band B.
This achievement is not at the expense of performance. The engine develops a maximum 98bhp at 6,000rpm and peak torque of 125Nm at 4,400rpm. Nought to 62mph can be achieved in 11.8 seconds (11.6 with Multidrive) and top speed is 106mph. This underlines the fact that iQ is more than just a city runabout, giving a strong, stable and enjoyable drive at motorway speeds.
Matched to a compact, lightweight six-speed manual gearbox, the engine features Toyota's Stop & Start system. This automatically cuts the engine when the car comes to a stop and the gear shift is moved to neutral; when a gear is selected, the engine restarts quickly (in just 0.4 seconds) and seamlessly, thanks to the use of a permanently engaged gear mechanism. In urban driving – iQ's natural environment – Stop & Start can yield fuel consumption savings of up to 15 per cent.
iQ3 is also available with Multidrive, Toyota's new stepless CVT (continuously variable transmission).
One of the key elements of the 1.33-litre engine is its piston design. Smaller and lighter than on the previous 1.3 unit, they are designed with a smaller contact area and use carbon ceramide, an advanced material more commonly used in Formula One engineering, to reduce friction.
iQ3 carries forward the premium specification of iQ2 but with some additional, exclusive features: the door mirrors have chrome-finished housings and the car rides on larger, 16-inch dual five-spoke alloy wheels. The choice of six paint finishes includes Decuma Grey metallic, which is also exclusive to iQ3.
The standard equipment features include automatic headlights and wipers, climate control, electric folding and heated door mirrors, Smart Entry and Start, auto-dimming rear view mirror, six-speaker sound system, front fog lights and a leather trimmed steering wheel. Nine airbags are fitted, including the world's first rear window airbag, and the active safety package includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRC).
iQ3 is on sale now. On-the-road prices are £11,495 for the six-speed manual version and £12,495 with Multidrive.
iQ Accessory Packs and Options
Four themed accessory packs have been assembled for iQ, giving owners an easy way to give their car that something extra.
- iStyle (£295) adds chrome surrounds to the front fog lights, chrome side sills, a chrome strip on the tailgate and aluminium scuff plates.
- iUrban (£345) provides rear parking sensors, a reversible rubber/velour boot liner (for use when the rear seats are folded flat) and carpet mats.
- iSports (£495) focuses on style with a neat roof spoiler, deep rear skirt and inverted delta-shape chrome exhaust tailpipe finisher.
- iConnect (£375) keeps you in touch on the move with Bluetooth, plus the neat detachable Glovebag to store documents and small personal items.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
guyledouche 2:09PM (6/18/2009)
It drives me nuts that these are not available yet here in the states. My wife would buy one tommorow if they were. She wanted a Smart car, but when we test drove it we could not get past the horrible jerky shifting of the auto trans in that thing. A toyota IQ with a 6 speed manual and room for the dogs in the back is the perfect answer for our second car needs.
Come on TOYOTA, stop bullshitting and let us have all of these other vehicles, or at least give us the IQ!!!
I suspect the IQ would quickly kill the Smart cars' market share and quickly become the dominating figure in the US micro car segment.
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MaLinda 2:59PM (6/18/2009)
I totally feel ya! I can't believe that the car companies are still pissing around and teasing us and taunting us with these amazing fuel efficient cars when they know they are ready to be put out on the road. Have you seen "who killed the electric car"? Pretty interesting movie I recommend it to all1
guyledouche 3:08PM (6/18/2009)
I have indeed. Excellent documentary. I have two copies that are almost always on loan to someone, LOL. Some people call it biased, I call it spot on. The story depicted in that movie is largely true and I consider it to be one of the worst crimes ever committed against the US people, AND WE DID IT TO OURSELVES!!!!
Just imagine how advanced, and affordable, and widely accepted EV's would have been by now if the big boys didn't kill that back in the 90's.
Its a damn shame.
NeilBlanchard 8:05PM (6/18/2009)
Hi,
I am soooooo ready to own one of these, and so is my wife -- his and hers iQ's? This is the first I've heard about the Stop and Go on the manual shift -- cool.
They seem to have gotten a lot of the aero tricks: small grill openings, tire deflectors, the little wedges on the back edges of the quarter windows, etc. I hope they are available with steel wheels so we can put smooth wheel covers on there. The stock Cd is 0.299 last time I checked...this car is right up there in Prius territory, and far lighter and more nimble.
Sincerely, Neil
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Jay 10:01PM (6/18/2009)
I would definitely sell my Smart for one of these. I like the size of my Smart but I hate the transmission and the fact that it has 2 seats. iQ fixes both of those issues and gets better gas mileage. Its a no brainer [pun intended]
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Roger 2:39AM (6/19/2009)
So the new and improved IQ gets 113 g/km CO2. How is it an improvement?
The old one with the 1.0 liter ICE (from the Aygo) gets 99 g/km CO2, 65 mpg (UK) and a Band A rating. And it is plenty fast enough for European roads.
http://www.carpages.co.uk/guide/toyota/toyota-iq-2-1.0-vvt-i-3dr-emissions.asp
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