Geneva '08 Preview: Production Toyota iQ, Urban Cruiser revealed

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Unlike the Dodge Challenger Midwest Regional Auto Show, Geneva's shaping up to be bursting with new-car debuts. Toyota will be in the thick of it, showing off the production-spec version of the iQ microcar, which the automaker debuted as a concept last year in Frankfurt and will be heading to the European market. The little runabout measures just under 3 meters in length, and it should be as wide and tall as a Yaris, if the iQ concept is an indication. As a basis of comparison, the smart fortwo is 2.5 m long. Unlike the smart, the iQ has seating for three adults plus a child or additional cargo. (And hey, depending on your darling little one's mood, he/she might seem more like baggage on some journeys anyway.) Over at AutoblogGreen, Sam suggests that the iQ could get a 1.0L engine with stop/start functionality. Whatever the company sticks underhood, we do know this: the iQ will go into production at the end of this year.

2009 Toyota Urban CruiserJoining the iQ will be the Urban Cruiser, which appears to be little more than a jacked-up Toyota ist (Scion xD). Earlier reports said that it would borrow styling cues from the 2006 Urban Cruiser concept, but clearly the only thing the production ride cribbed is the show car's name. Toyota hasn't released tech specs for either the iQ or Urban Cruiser yet, and we'll bring you all the news from Geneva as it happens early next month. It's worth noting that the JDM ist is available with optional 4WD, which would be in keeping with the Urban Cruiser's SUVish stance.

[Source: Toyota]


PRESS RELEASE:

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FOR TOYOTA AT GENEVA

KEY POINTS

* World premiere of production-ready Toyota iQ at the Geneva Motor Show
* European debut of new Urban Cruiser SUV

Toyota is thinking big by creating a new generation of small cars designed to address the demands of modern motoring and the preferences of today's drivers. Two new models will take centre stage at the Geneva Motor Show.

Toyota iQ
First shown as a concept car at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, iQ is appearing for the first time as a market-ready design, ahead of production starting towards the end of this year. Although measuring less than three metres long, this compact urban vehicle can carry three people in comfort, with room to spare to accommodate a child or carry luggage.

The ingenious design was created by bringing together six linked, space-saving engineering innovations that mark a revolution in Toyota's vehicle development. iQ is rich in Japanese design elements and signals a radical shift away from the belief that small cars, although kinder to the environment, are inherently basic and less safe.

Urban Cruiser
Toyota is extending its sports utility vehicle range into the small car segment with its new Urban Cruiser.

Presented for the first time in Europe, it is an environmentally responsible SUV aimed at the market for urban all-road vehicles and meeting motorists' priorities for low fuel consumption and emissions.

In addition, Toyota will display its latest advances in creating urban environmental transport solutions, including a Plug-in Hybrid prototype and two concept cars: the Toyota 1/X Plug-in Hybrid concept in combination with Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) technology, and the i-Real personal mobility concept.

More information will be provided at the Toyota Motor Show press conference to be held on 4 March at 2.15pm in Hall 4.

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