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

Alex Nunez — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:38:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Japan, Crossover, Hatchback, Toyota

click either image to enlarge

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.

Joining 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]

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Geneva '08 Preview: Production Toyota iQ, Urban Cruiser revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota prepping Urban Cruiser-inspired SUV for Europe

Alex Nunez — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Toyota

Click image for hi-res gallery of the Urban Cruiser Concept

While its RAV4 is a sales success in Europe, Toyota has no entry with which to compete in the constantly-growing small SUV segment. The solution? Take the JDM Toyota Ist, which is essentially the USDM Scion xD, and make an SUV out of it. The butched-up variant will bow in March '08 at the Geneva show and go on sale in Europe shortly thereafter. According to Automotove News, the still-unnamed sport ute will derive its styling from Toyota's 2006 Urban Cruiser concept (above). No word yet on what the powertrain offering(s) will be, but we'll find out soon enough. March isn't all that far off.

[Source: Automotive news, sub. req'd]

Gallery: 2006 Toyota Urban Cruiser Concept

Toyota prepping Urban Cruiser-inspired SUV for Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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