Toyota set to unveil microcar in Frankfurt
by Damon Lavrinc on Apr 30th 2007 at 6:54AM 
Automotive News has a quick blurb about a new model set to debut from the folks at Toyota during this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. According to AN, Toyota's 3000mm-long microcar will be known as the Endo and will slot in below the Aygo, the smallest vehicle in the automaker's European lineup.
Styling of the SMART-competitor will be similar to the concept that debuted at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, sharing the same name. The seating arrangement of the Endo will be somewhat unconventional, with a 3+1 setup that will seat three adults, along with a smaller, foldable throne behind the driver's seat that can fit a youngin.
Automotive News' inside source says that sales may begin in the summer of 2008, although we wouldn't expect such a vehicle to find its way across the Atlantic – unless SMART starts doing a booming business.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Avinash machado 7:14AM (4/30/2007)
Looks a bit cartoonish.
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mike 11:12AM (4/30/2007)
Is it just me or are you guys starting to look at Toyota like a lot of programmers see Microsoft? The sad part is I kind of like this little thing.
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Fu 9:02AM (4/30/2007)
The mini Mini.
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Castle 9:37AM (4/30/2007)
>>Looks a bit cartoonish.
Like a Smart ForTwo, Mitsubishi i etc. Which I guess most microcars look cartoonish.
However, thats the Endo Concept, not the final car.
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Rene Curry 9:55AM (4/30/2007)
The design is innovative and not a copy. I give Toyota credit. It's too cute for me, but it would sell.
Looks like something that should be in an anime (spelling) series. Yes, that's the marketing ticket!
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Galley 10:54AM (4/30/2007)
I like it!
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jeremie 11:41AM (4/30/2007)
I wonder why they can't make a four seater like the have in Asia.
The 2 seat design of these micro cars are a big turn off for me.
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Toy Yoda 1:32PM (4/30/2007)
if they can make these cars cost $3000 bucks, I'd get one for sure.
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mr.ed 4:08PM (4/30/2007)
FYI, for the numbnuts at toyota, an endo is a pretty bad accident, where the vehicle goes end over end. If you're lucky, you won't get a Citation.
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Jeff 3:18PM (4/30/2007)
"The design is innovative and not a copy. I give Toyota credit. It's too cute for me, but it would sell."
Rene...it's a Saab 9X. Look.
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/04/someone_call_to.html
Same sloping roof, same pillars, simliar lines on the side, it even has 5 spoke wheels.
Yup, totally innovative and not a copy at all. I swear, when I see an original design come out of Asia I'll implode with surprise.
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Toy Yoda 4:44PM (4/30/2007)
9: "I swear, when I see an original design come out of Asia I'll implode with surprise."
Hey Jeff. I understand what you mean, but I think your criteria is a bit arbitrary and nebulous. What do you mean "out of Asia", when you consider that all the car mfgs swap designers all the time.
Ken Okuyama was the chief designer of the Ferrari Enzo, and he is Japanese, a major part of his education in Japan, another in California, and worked for American companies, and Italian companies.
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Barney 5:46PM (4/30/2007)
Back to the 1980s again. Small cars were in demand until people got use to the price of gas.
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PLP 9:38PM (5/11/2007)
Endo or Smart, can't choose? Relax. You can wear one on each foot. No kidding!
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Jeff 12:25AM (5/01/2007)
I meant "I swear, when I see an original automobile design come out of an Asian car company, such as Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, or Hyundai, I will be very shocked," but that was way too long and threw off the flow of my sentence :p I was using exaggeration to make my point that this new Toyota is a very small Saab 9X and that Asian car companies have a reputation for producing designs that look oddly familiar. Obviously, that isn't totally true. Take the Hyundai Tiburon, for example, that thing looks relatively original.
Swapping designers doesn't mean much, as the executives get final say on the designs. Also, I think the Enzo is butt ugly, but that has nothing to do with where the designer is from. You can't account for taste no matter what nationality you are :p
ANYWAY, no one has disagreed with the claim that the Endo looks like a small 9X, so does that mean that everyone agrees? Here's the picture again:
http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2007/04/someone_call_to.html
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bkcnk 12:37AM (5/01/2007)
Jeff, Japan has been making cars on a global scale for more than 50 years now. The fact that you aren't familiar with their innovative designs or cars with soul doesn't make you right.
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bkcnk 12:46AM (5/01/2007)
"ANYWAY, no one has disagreed with the claim that the Endo looks like a small 9X, so does that mean that everyone agrees?"
I was too busy laughing, I didn't think a joke like that needed a response.
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Jeff 2:22AM (5/01/2007)
It's not a joke. Did you look at the picture? Or were you too busy coming up with that ultra witty response? Everything above the beltline is near identical, only tinier.
OK, whatever, forget the fact that I think Asian car design tends to be unoriginal and soulless, that's my opinion and it has nothing to do with anything and I'm really sorry I brought it up, focus on this one tiny model and how Toyota ripped off a Saab concept with it, THAT'S the point I'm trying to friggin make. Can anyone tell me that I'm wrong here?
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bkcnk 5:22AM (5/01/2007)
http://images.intellichoice.com/images/AutoShows/Big/112_05fas_toyota_endo_s.jpg
http://www.autoplus.fr/diaporama/images/PROM-6R8CSW/$file/saab_9X-Concept_0004.jpg
Oh God, someone please stop Toyota before they completely destroy Saab.
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