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Spy Shots: Tiny Toyota iQ caught testing
by John Neff on Jun 9th 2008 at 10:02AM 
Though Toyota already unveiled the production version of its diminutive iQ city car at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show last March, this is the first time anyone has seen the vehicle testing out in the wild. These spy photos of the iQ also give us a good sense of the car's true scale, which is to say that it's really friggin' small. Not MINI small, smart small. Unlike the smart fortwo, the iQ can reportedly carry three people and a child rather than just two adults thanks to its clever 3+1 seating arrangement. We're not sure if anyone but the driver would be comfortable were the iQ filled to capacity, but at least it's possible in a pinch. As you can see, there's virtually no overhang on the front or rear of the iQ, which allows Toyota designers to maximize the space between. Winding Road also reports that the car will feature a unique flat gas tank to save space, thinner seats and smaller heat and air conditioning units. Toyota expects to sell 100,000 units of the iQ in its first year of production, which should start later this year, and while nothing's been confirmed, the Japanese automaker could be eying North America for some of those sales considering our current lust for small, fuel-efficient vehicles. Gallery: 2009 Toyota iQ
[Source: Winding Road]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SNIFFDAR 10:15AM (6/09/2008)
This is far better looking than the Smart.
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Nuieve 12:30AM (6/10/2008)
Hell yeah!
WANT! WANT! WANT!
MajorGeek 10:15AM (6/09/2008)
Would love to see crash test ratings on this. Just looking at it and you know that it might seat 4, but I would not want to be one of those 4 in an accident.
"Not MINI small, smart small."
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Adam 11:17AM (6/09/2008)
The SMART car tests very well (far better than the typical mini-van for example.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s
MajorGeek 11:22AM (6/09/2008)
Awesome info, thanks! Impressive.
Soccer Mom 10:18AM (6/09/2008)
Seeing this car undergoing testing is far newsworthier than another story about umpteen versions of Mustang.
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SNIFFDAR 10:19AM (6/09/2008)
Amen Sister!
SNIFFDAR 10:20AM (6/09/2008)
And now that it costs more than $75 to fill up my GTI, I'm looking at it like it's a pig. Honestly, $115 a week for gas is out of control. I guess we'll all be driving death traps soon enough...
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Barrett 9:15PM (6/09/2008)
But once we are all driving them...they wont be death traps.
SNIFFDAR 10:56PM (6/09/2008)
Trust me, I have no problem driving small cars. I've been pretty lucky to have never had an accident in one. I think my smallest car was the infamous Suzuki Swift GT. This IQ would make the Swift look like a AMC Matador...
another_one 10:34AM (6/09/2008)
Bring and I will buy it.
As for the Prius argument:
That would be dependent on the profit margin (which I understand is quiet slim in the value segment).
I think that the Fords are loosing money on their
hybrid(s), is Toyota?
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MajorGeek 10:46AM (6/09/2008)
Depends who you ask. Toyota brought the Prius to market at 21k, products like the Volt are looking to be double that. Rumor is the Japanese government put money into it. Most people believe that because the Prius costs half what it should. Too bad our government didnt get involved in hybrid development for the good of the country. We can afford a war which did not bring oil prices down, nor stabilize the situation, yet we can't help our own people by backing hybrid development, even if they had to do it stealth-like, as the Japanese did, or like this war was started.
And thats from a Republican.
Ian 12:16PM (6/09/2008)
We did have govt backed hydrogen/alternative fuel engine development... its just too bad that when they presented their findings to Bush, he told them to eff off and cut their funding. Smart move.
gstillmilkman 10:49AM (6/09/2008)
I think it not only looks better than the smart car, but I think it also looks better than the Yaris liftback. This car would do very well in the U.S. Especially with the Toyota badge on it.
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SNIFFDAR 12:04PM (6/09/2008)
I'm really surprised that more people aren't commenting on this vehicle. Given our current gas pressures, you'd think more drivers would have something to say about the possiblity of it being offered in North America.
Perhaps it would be better to have a Scion badge on it. Given the fact that Scion sales have been off for the past couple of months, this would seem like a non-brainer.
This would be the perfect car to reignite the brand.
Pacman 11:08AM (6/09/2008)
I still like the looks of the Smart car better - inside and out, but I bet the Toyota is a better product.
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Adam 11:55AM (6/09/2008)
These ultra-compacts remind me of when university kids realized that the MG or other tiny sports car their professor drove to school was incredibly easy for a few guys to carry up stairs and put in his office ...
I see a few Smart cars ending up in faculty buildings ... not that I'm trying to encourage that kind of thing.
ps. If you take the wheels off, that saves a lot on weight and makes it easier to tip a bit sideways to get around the corners in the stairway ... I would imagine ...
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Dude 12:47PM (6/09/2008)
A SMART car will also fit in a dumpster.
Throwback 12:32PM (6/09/2008)
This car could certainly give Scion back some buzz.
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Grant 1:45PM (6/09/2008)
Please bring it to the States, Toyota. But please change the name.
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