Toyota Raises Its IQ

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Toyota's iQ city car is coming to Europe next year, competing in the "small but premium" category. (Translation: Toyota's pricing the not-so-mighty midget be priced between Fiat's 500 and BMW's MINI.) But the folks at Autocar UK thought that Toyota was too smart to develop a unique platform for just one car, so they asked "senior sources" if there was more iQ to come. Too right, mate. ToMoCo will also use the iQ platform on a (somewhat) larger car, which will compete with VW's forthcoming up! city car. Meanwhile the iQ will not be offered in hybrid trim; Toyota's boffins reckon a hybrid drivetrain would be too heavy. Thus the Yamaha-sourced one-liter, two-cylinder motorcycle engine (what, no R1 mill?) equipped with start-stop technology, and a diesel. Sometimes the highest IQs favor the simplest solutions. And the worst jokes.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Anonymous Anonymous on May 01, 2008

    If the iQ needs to be biggie sized to compete with the Up! from VW, it's also going to be smaller than the Aygo.

  • Steven Lang Steven Lang on May 01, 2008

    Is it my imagination or do Toyota's small cars all look like ugly bugs?

  • Chanman Chanman on May 01, 2008

    It reminds me of a Smart Fortwo with a less cartoonish length-to-height ratio, actually

  • Johnson Johnson on May 02, 2008
    KatiePuckrik: Something doesn’t make sense here. If Toyota bring the iQ to Europe, what’s going to happen to the Aygo? As far as I know, Toyota can’t make Aygos fast enough, so if the iQ comes along, there’ll be some cannibalisation, surely? Nope. The iQ is a much more premium car than the Aygo. The iQ will be more expensive and will be aimed at a different group of buyers than the Aygo. Steven Lang: Is it my imagination or do Toyota’s small cars all look like ugly bugs? It's just your imagination.
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