Geneva 2008: Toyota iQ

[Overheat]

The iQ city car was previewed in concept form at last autumn's Frankfurt Motor Show. It's smaller than the Aygo in length - less than 3m long - but nearer the Yaris in width and height, and has a cleverly-designed cabin to optimise interior space.

The iQ was developed at Toyota's ED2 design studio in the South of France, and is intended as a rival for the likes of the Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Up!. It can carry three adults, with a fourth foldaway seat to accommodate a child or make room for luggage, thanks to clever packaging - a flat under-floor fuel tank helps create extra cabinspace.

The wheels are pushed right out into each corner, creating a long wheelbase - the cabin is actually 100mm longer than that of the much larger Yaris. Further space-saving measures include an ultra-compact air conditioning unit, allowing the front passenger seat to slide up nearer the windscreen, and the repositioning of the engine, gearbox and differential to make for a very short front overhang.

The Geneva show car rides on 16-inch alloy wheels, and displays features including door mirrors with integrated indicators, smoked glass headlamp units, a V-shaped centre console and flat-bottomed steering wheel (to save space) and ultra-slim seatbacks. There is a storage tray below the rear seat, and the 50:50 split rear seats can be folded flat.

Toyota is aiming for a five-star result in the Euro NCAP crash tests, and carbon dioxide emissions under the 100g/km mark. Two petrol engines and one diesel will be offered.

It will go into production at the end of the year, with UK sales in spring 2009; Toyota hopes to sell 100,000 iQs a year worldwide.

[fbc]

Funky looking thing - I like it, and I'd certainly buy one of those rather than a Smart.

[Blayde]

Reminds me of the Aygo, should be a nice city runabout

[Armunn]

With the wheels right on the corners it should handle reasonably as well. Well for a city car anyway.

[static]

It doesn't follow Toyota's design language at all, looks like it's been subcontracted with a chinese workshop and then got a Toyota badge.
And it's too similar with Aygo, I can see little room for this one.

[AiR]

It's got a real nose, two pointy eyes and a manta's mouth

[luvcars]

I like it! It didn't make sense to me at first. But i think it will slot in neatly between the Aygo and Yaris!

[NooDle]

bumpedy bump.
Now that this thing is actually on the streets, looking as was promised, I'd like to hear some people's thoughts.
I the looks but have to admit it is verrrrry tiny to use as a car that needs to do everything. I haven't seen the interior yet so I can't comment on that.

Thoughts?

[edkwon]

Don't forget Fifth Gear's recent road test of the car, I like it and this is stuff Top Gear will never bother to cover, but is probably more significant than the latest supercar.

[nouseferaname90]

I have to see it here in person before I make a concrete judgment, but so far, I like it. I kinda like the looks of the thing and the well planted image it gives

[Vette Boss]

Genuinely good little car, very well thought out. You don't see that much these days.

[The Fishman]

If they made a convertible out of it, I would get one in a heartbeat. I like small convertibles.

[Wizegui]

I love the look of this car. Unlike the smart, the engine is in the correct place.

[nouseferaname90]

I have a feeling that there will be a minority that will turn into horrible carbage...probably more than the number of smarts that turn to carbage.

[jensked]

After i've seen Tom Fords review in Fifth Gear, i LOVE it! So much more clever than a 2 seater Smart!

[NooDle]

I looooove the look of it, but judging by the prices on the website, we're getting ripped off through every hole imaginable. They're asking 16k€ for the basic diesel one. Thats pretty ridiculous for a car so small.

iQ 3 door 1.4 D-4D manual 6V sol 16.535,00

Yes, it's cool and funky, and yes, it has lots of entertainment and media and shit, but 16k? That gets you a standard Golf, which is atleast 2 sizes bigger, just as safe, and can carry 4 people + luggage.

I just went to check, and even the most expensive Citroen C1 (=Aygo) on the site is not even 14k€. And thats with all the options you'd ever want in a car. (I left out a roof rack because it would be ridiculous on an Aygo)

* basic price (incl. btw) € 11.600,00
* Radio CD + rev counter + airconditioning + Aluminium wheels 14'' € 1.600,00
* Colour (incl. btw) :Black Caldera € 330,00
* Cloth Interior (incl. btw) :Sèvres mistral red cloth € 0,00
* Accessories (IBTW) € 427,62
*
o Door for glove compartment € 55,25
o Roof spoiler € 297,39
o front mud guard € 37,49
o rear mud guard € 37,49
* Total price (incl. btw) € 13.957,62

I don't know how big the difference is with the "official" price and the price you actually pay, but this car should be around 12k or under if they want to sell it to lots of people. Especially since the last Citroen I bought new, I paid 9k€ less than sticker price. If I can do that for the C1 I can walk away with a car for 5k €.

I doubt Toyota will be so flexible on their prices, even if there is a crisis and everything...

[AiR]

Toyota overcharge for their badge. Which is why they sell very few cars (744 187 in 2008).

[ahpadt]

Originally Posted by AiR

Toyota overcharge for their badge. Which is why they sell very few cars (744 187 in 2008).

...and here they sell tons. Luckily, I'll never be a costumer.

[AiR]

Here is all of Europe, including Norway. Toyota may be the worlds biggest manufacturer but in Europe they are slipping (down 16% from 2007) and are now only just above BMW and Audi at #8 spot on the top 10.

[edkwon]

Originally Posted by The Fishman

If they made a convertible out of it, I would get one in a heartbeat. I like small convertibles.

Where would they put the fold down top,