Comments on: Details Emerge About Toyota’s iQ

By: offroadinfrontier

offroadinfrontier — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:34:15 +0000

I love the idea, and I love small cars.

But, my xA has room for 2 adults (albeit temporarily), gets 30MPG with my average speed of 29-30mph, and only weighs 380lbs more. When I first saw the iQ, I expected sub-ton weight… I’m picturing driving a 1-ton car with less than 100HP and no back seat. With that much weight, IDK if the (possibly) great gas mileage will be worth the loss of acceleration over my xA.. and man is that saying a lot.

If, somehow, this car manages 40MPG in city, I’ll take one. Other than that, I’ll stick with my xA (and future Yaris).

By: Theodore

Theodore — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:11:58 +0000

I can’t decide if it more closely resembles a toaster or a washing machine.

By: hwyhobo

hwyhobo — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:03:14 +0000

Landcrusher wrote:
I suspect that it’s an American ton referred to – 2000 pounds.

Indeed, I suspect the same. So, if it is a US ton (aka “short ton”), then it would be 907 kg. So, two tons would make 1814 kg.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:14:29 +0000

I suspect that it’s an American ton referred to – 2000 pounds. Close to the original Miata IIRC.

By: shaker

shaker — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:46:11 +0000

Brancho: “Storm Trooper Helmet”

Indeed — this car looks great in white…

I’ll have one with the 5-Speed and telescoping wheel also.

By: carlisimo

carlisimo — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:22:07 +0000

I don’t think it’ll be all that cheap – but it’ll work out better than the smart (which would be a passable car if it only had a better transmission, imo).

By: whatdoiknow1

whatdoiknow1 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:11:43 +0000

Wow, knock those Japanese if you must but You have to admire them!
Let someone else design the concept spend all the money to get the world to take notice and than take the orginial design fix all that is wrong and STUPID and beat your adversary at their own game!
Add a little bit of wheelbase here, a bit of cargo room there, make a little room to fit an extra passanger, install an engine that is acutally efficient with enough power to porperly move the vehicle, Add Toyota quality and sell for less than the “less than ” Smart.

So unbelievably simple and smart (pun intended), why the hell didnt everyone think of it!

The IQ really does make the Smart look rather silly and non-useful in comparison.

By: marc

marc — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:10:51 +0000

“It looks like a storm trooper helmet.” – Bancho

Best comment of the day!!!

I like this little thing. Being from SF, I’m seeing the dumb cars all over the place. 2 seats, premium fuel required, mpg not much better than a Yaris and pricing in the teens? Not too smart. This thing seems to have the dumb beat on all levels. Obviously we have to wait and see. But we know it will have more efficient packaging. It comes from Toyota, not MBZ, so it has to be cheaper. And mpg? well if the Yaris can hit the high 30s, this should have no problem breaking mid 40s, and likely on regular fuel.

By: Jeff Puthuff

Jeff Puthuff — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:41:48 +0000

TM should just make it a 2-seater and call it perfect for DINK’s.

By: ktristan

ktristan — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:14:38 +0000

Wait.
It weighs a ton? As in 1000kg? As in 2200 pounds?
Seriously, what in the world are they making it from, lead?

By: altoids

altoids — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:11:32 +0000

A pretty good-looking car! I’ve been very critical of the Smart as a over-priced penalty box for narcissists, but the iQ (despite it’s name), is shaping up to be a practical, reasonably-priced city car.

This is what Scion should be.

By: hwyhobo

hwyhobo — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:04:42 +0000

Reminds me of Toyota Aygo. I like it. I like small, frugal hatchbacks. It looks practical and should take care of my transportation needs provided it has a telescoping steering wheel, so I could push the seat back a bit for comfort.

By: radimus

radimus — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:35:49 +0000

If it will eat 87 octance and like it then they will be on to something.

By: Bancho

Bancho — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:10:23 +0000

I like this thing. It looks like a storm trooper helmet. I’ll definitely be checking them out when/if they ever arrive in the US.

By: carlisimo

carlisimo — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:02:00 +0000

Some of us are even obsessed with cars, which is why we’re here. I’m down to just weekend driving though!

By: JK43123

JK43123 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:52:21 +0000

This is the future the enviros longed for.

Funny how all the enviros I know drive cars. Funny, that.

John

By: Sherman Lin

Sherman Lin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:47:48 +0000

I vote republican I am pro nuclear and I am for drilling oil everywhere but I like small micro cars and I expected ever higher fuel costs due to China India and other joining the middle class consumer world. So I don’t fully understand you bluecon. Do you really think that when 200 million out of say a billion Chinese have reached the ability to have cars and to have air-conditioning that oil wouldn’t go through the roof. Don’t forget other countries are going nuclear and drilling away like mad. Markets are affected not only by America. Supply is supply no matter where it is.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:33:06 +0000

This is the future the enviros longed for.

The enviros have stopped drilling for the massive avilable oil resources, stopped the building of nuclear plants, stopped the development of hydro electricity and everything else and energy costs have skyrocketed. Do you think it is a coincidence?

By: JK43123

JK43123 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:20:41 +0000

I hope people aren’t going to be disappointed after their SUV hangovers.

HA! That’s funny…we have kind of been on an oil drinking binge, haven’t we?

John

By: gimmeamanual

gimmeamanual — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:46:22 +0000

Ingvar :

Just lobby Congress to get rid of all those pesky crash test regs, and those pounds will melt away!

By: Ingvar

Ingvar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:19:48 +0000

“weighing in just over a ton” ???

I remmeber when the first generation Volkswagen Golf weighed in at 800 kg.

By: virages

virages — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:19:34 +0000

This actually looks pretty good… I hope people aren’t going to be disappointed after their SUV hangovers. These types of cars have their environments where they shine. As a vehicle for home-to- work commuting in urban environments they’re great. Family schleping around the ‘burbs, less-so.

This looks like a good car for what it’s meant to do, and it will be an interesting comparo with the Smart.

Waiting for first “deathtrap” comment….