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Toyota recalling 11,200 Scion iQ models over faulty passenger sensors

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Scion

Toyota has announced a voluntary recall of 11,200 Scion iQ models from the 2012 and 2013 model years. According to the manufacturer, the problem with these pint-sized hatchbacks concerns the front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) weight sensor cables.

The OCS sensors in the front passenger seat control the operation of things like the airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioner. In these affected models, the cables for these sensors located in the seat track can become damaged as the passenger seat slides forward and backward. And if the cables are damaged, the airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioner may not function properly.

No injuries or crashes have been reported in conjunction with this issue.

Toyota says that owners will be notified by mail beginning in early December, at which point the vehicles will be repaired - free of charge - at dealerships. The automaker has also confirmed that this recall only affects vehicles in the United States, and that no other Toyota, Lexus or Scion products are involved.

Scroll down for the official press release.

Continue reading Toyota recalling 11,200 Scion iQ models over faulty passenger sensors

Toyota recalling 11,200 Scion iQ models over faulty passenger sensors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Scion iQ

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Scion, New Car Reviews

Smarter

"Not so 'Smart' after all?" The older gentleman in the grocery store parking lot asked as I wheeled my loaded cart to the back of the 2012 Scion iQ.

On the contrary, sir. After he finished chuckling and drove away, I successfully loaded $150 worth of groceries into the iQ's cargo area, including a pallet of 24 water bottles. And upon returning to my loft, I effortlessly backed the little Scion underneath the awning that covers the entrance to my building, keeping myself out of the rain while unloading my goods.

Seems pretty smart to me.

But that's not the only reason why I like the iQ. Once you get past the novelty of its you-can-park-me-anywhere size, you aren't left with a completely miserable little machine. The Scion's list of good virtues doesn't consist of a single, solitary bullet point, and during my week with the tiniest Toyota, I was determined to see if the iQ was more than just a smarter Smart. There's a smattering of excellent subcompact offerings available to Americans these days. To say we could all do without the ForTwo is a no-brainer. The iQ, however, certainly has potential.

Continue reading 2012 Scion iQ

2012 Scion iQ originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SR Auto's Scion iQ looks like it swallowed a Mitsubishi Evo... and an Angry Birds pig

Chris Tutor — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Budget, Hatchback, Scion, Canada, Design/Style

Canada's SR Auto Group likes to take a car, any car, and make it wilder. The Audi S4 they did looks intriguingly evil. The wheels they've created for the Lamborghini Reventon are amazing.

Their latest canvas is the Scion iQ, which became Project Pryzm. "The objective behind Project Pryzm was to create a car that would leave you speechless," says SR Auto. Let's just say they're getting really close, but we still have a few things to say about it.

These guys apparently took inspiration from the Mitsubishi Evo and one of the pigs from Angry Birds, and we think they've come up with mixed results. We like the idea of a more aggressive iQ, we're just not sure we're fans of one with this much going on. Passengers are treated to an upgraded interior with leather seats and diamond-stitched suede inserts on the seat centers and door panels.

Check out our gallery for more images, then let us know what you think of this pint-sized mouth-breather.

SR Auto's Scion iQ looks like it swallowed a Mitsubishi Evo... and an Angry Birds pig originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scion puts bikini models and donuts in iQ to spin up some sales

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Scion, Humor

We're speechless.

Well, maybe not... but, at the very least, we're surprised by Scion's latest marketing campaign for its iQ minicar. There are a lot of reasons to be interested in the iQ - its small size makes for easy parking, it's not terribly expensive and it's nicely fuel efficient - but its ability to do donuts with four full-size occupants isn't one of them.

Not just four occupants. How about four bikini models? Not your style? There's four dudes, four bikers and four police officers, too, each in their own video. They're all eating donuts and drinking milk while being driven around in backward smoky burnouts and reverse donuts.

And suddenly, we're leaning toward speechless yet again.

You can see all four videos below, but we warn you, it's all complete and utter nonsense.

Continue reading Scion puts bikini models and donuts in iQ to spin up some sales

Scion puts bikini models and donuts in iQ to spin up some sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota greenlights iQ Supercharger Concept for production [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Budget, Performance, Etc., Japan, Videos, Hatchback, Scion, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon

Here's a surprise: Toyota has announced the company will produce the iQ Supercharger first unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon in limited quantities. The automaker has confirmed the development at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon. The vehicles will be built by partner Gazoo Racing and will feature a brawnier version of the same 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine found in the standard iQ. With a little forced induction on its side courtesy of a supercharger, the engine should be good for 130 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque. That's an increase of 36 ponies and 44 lb-ft over the stock configuration.

Like the concept, the production model will wear a not-so-subtle widebody kit, stiffer suspension and more aggressive brakes than its standard siblings. A six-speed manual transmission will be the only gearbox option. Indoors, buyers can expect to find custom seats and gauges that read all the way up to 124 mph.

Toyota and Gazoo Racing only plan to produce 100 of the muscle-bound iQ Supercharger models, and there's no indication its Scion cousin sold in the States will receive a similar treatment. What a shame. Hit the jump for a brief introductory video featuring the original concept as well as the full press release.

Continue reading Toyota greenlights iQ Supercharger Concept for production [w/video]

Toyota greenlights iQ Supercharger Concept for production [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Scion iQ

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Scion, First Drives

Scion's Supermini Outsmarts Smart

Despite a flurry of media attention at launch, sales of the Smart ForTwo have done a nosedive since its Stateside debut in 2008. Unsurprising, considering you could strap a lawnmower engine onto Yao Ming's left rollerskate and build a better car. But the ForTwo wasn't a failure of vision, it was a botched execution. Yet despite being underwhelming, overpriced and fitted with one of the worst gearboxes ever crafted by man, we're still seeing a slew of them puttering around San Francisco during the our first drive of the 2012 Scion iQ.

Coastal-types and urbanites are apparently hard-up for something spectacularly small, equally frugal and simple to park, so bringing the iQ to SF was a no-brainer for Scion. Its quirky shape and minimalist-at-all-costs design is the kind of thing Northern Californians should eat up with an oversized ramen renge. As well they should. The aptly named iQ outsmarts Smart at its own game, minimizing the compromises and creating something better than a pint-size commuter.

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2012 Scion iQ originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Scion iQ priced from $15,995*

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Scion

2012 Scion iQ - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Scion iQ will be priced from $15,995 (including destination charges) when it hits U.S. showrooms this fall. Scion says the iQ's U.S. launch, which has been postponed on numerous occasions due to various issues including the March 11 quake in Japan, will hit the West Coast first in October, followed by southern states in January, then the East Coast and, finally, the Midwest.

In typical Scion fashion, base models are well equipped and there are few options. The mid-level stereo includes Pandora integration, and an up-level version will be available with navigation. As with all Scions, loads of accessories (i.e. springs, body kits and wheels) will be available for the iQ.

For comparison, the iQ's $15,995 price tag means that it's slightly more expensive than both the $15,500 Fiat 500 and the $14,730 Mazda2, both of which offer significantly greater utility. And with fuel economy ratings of 36 mpg in the city, 37 on the highway and 37 mpg combined, it's not the fuel miser something of its size might suggest. Full details in the press blast after the break.

Continue reading 2012 Scion iQ priced from $15,995*

2012 Scion iQ priced from $15,995* originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Scion iQ delayed again, this time due to quake-related parts shortages

Aaron Richardson — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Scion, Toyota

2012 Scion iQ - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Scion iQ will be getting the States even later than we thought, thanks to Toyota's parts supply woes. According to TheDetroitBureau.com, Scion now says the microcar, which was supposed to bow late this summer, has been postponed indefinitely.

Scion brass won't speculate on when the iQ will actually be launched, which makes sense since Toyota hasn't yet figured out when it can resume a full production schedule post-earthquake. The current word is that North America's iQ might not hit dealers until early 2012. This postponement marks the second time Scion has delayed the iQ's launch, and the third time the company has reportedly changed its mind about the car's on-sale timing.

Whenever it does appear on our shores, the tiny tot will look to pick up where the Smart ForTwo trailed off, with a raft of features you wouldn't expect in a diminutive econobox. Chief among those will be no fewer than 11 airbags, including rear-curtain units to protect passengers in a rear-end collision.

Gallery: New York 2010: Scion iQ

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2011 AOL

[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]

Report: Scion iQ delayed again, this time due to quake-related parts shortages originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Scion iQ delayed until Summer

Zach Bowman — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Japan, Scion

Scion iQ - Click above for high-res image gallery

Word on The Internets is that the Scion iQ won't be hitting our shores anytime soon. The pint-sized hatch was originally supposed to arrive here in the United States by March of this year, but GreenCarReports.com has indicated that the city car may not arrive until sometime this summer. The move is thought to be as much about production delays as marketing. Scion has said that it wanted to give the 2011 tC enough time to have the company's stage all to itself without having the limelight stolen away by its newest sibling.

At the same time, the company said that the first prototypes from Japan were a few months late in arriving and that the delay pushed back the production schedule. Whatever the hold up, buyers clamoring for a competitor to the Smart ForTwo will have to wait a few more months for the pleasure of grabbing the keys to a Scion iQ. As of this writing, there's no telling whether the car will show up as a 2011 model as first thought or whether it will be labeled a 2012 when it finally shows up.

Gallery: 2011 Scion iQ

[Source: GreenCarReports.com]

Report: Scion iQ delayed until Summer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Scion iQ headed for America by early 2011 with a few changes

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:27:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Scion, Toyota

Scion iQ Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

As expected, Toyota's youthful Scion division will indeed get a version of the diminutive iQ for the North American market, possibly by either the end of 2010 as an '11 model or in early 2011 as a '12 model. According to Motor Trend, the car will cost about the same as the Yaris and get the usual modifications for the American market, such as slightly extended bumpers and recalibrated airbags.

Fortunately, the Big Wheels body kit fitted to the conceptual Scion iQ shown off at the New York Auto Show won't come to the States as standard equipment. We're not entirely sure what powerplants Toyota plans to use in the American iQ, but in other markets it's available with three engines displacing between 1.0- and 1.4-liters, and no hybrid iQ is currently planned due to cost and packaging considerations.

Interestingly, MT also reports that the Toyota FT-EV electric car concept from this year's Detroit Auto Show, based on the iQ minicar, will hit the market by 2012. At this time, the Japanese automaker may still be deciding between tried-and-true nickel metal hydride batteries or more powerful but unproven lithium ion units. Regardless, Toyota's aiming for a 50-mile range and an eight-hour recharge from a standard wall outlet.

Gallery: New York: Scion iQ Concept

[Source: Motor Trend]

REPORT: Scion iQ headed for America by early 2011 with a few changes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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