05 Mar 08
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.
