Toyota’s iQ is unveiled at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on Wednesday.

Toyota says new small iQ offers quality

Thursday 16th October, 06:57 AM JST

CHIBA —

Toyota says it’s out to prove a tiny car can be top-notch with its new iQ “ultra-compact” that’s just a bit smaller than 3 meters but offers quality safety features, mileage and handling.

And it’s asking a bit more in pricing for the iQ, which seats three adults and one child or luggage in the fourth seat.

It goes on sale in Japan Nov 20 in Japan starting at 1.4 million yen, targeting selling 2,500 iQ cars a month.

It is planned for Europe early next year. Toyota Motor Corp did not immediately give a U.S. sales date.

It comes with nine air bags for the standard model, including a curtain shield air bag that deploys from the roof lining about the rear window to protect back-seat passengers heads in a rear-end collision.

It delivers 23 kilometers a liter, Toyota said.

“When it comes to cars, traditionally big has meant good. The iQ dispels that notion,” Hiroki Nakajima, iQ’s engineer, said.

He said he did not compromise on quality to achieve a spacious interior and stuck with quality raw materials.

Toyota said it made design innovations for a more efficient placement of the engine, fuel tank and other parts, as well as made backs for the seats thinner while not compromising on comfort for more leg room.

Toyota said in a statement the iQ’s “i” stands for “individuality,” “innovation” and “intelligence,” and “q” for “quality,” and hinting at “cubic” and “cue.”

“That’s why the iQ is all about being premium,” Nakajima said.

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12 Comments

neverknow2 at 09:00 AM JST - 16th October

Only 1 seat for a child or luggage?? I gues this company believes that Japan's population is in no way going to continue to grow. Maybe true.
fatloser at 10:59 AM JST - 16th October

A death trap!!!!!!! If the collision doesn't kill the occupants the airbags will!! Toyota-saving the enviornment by eliminating people!
Nessie at 11:34 AM JST - 16th October

Well you know what they say about people with a small IQ? Yeah, me neither.
electric2004 at 12:52 PM JST - 16th October

Looks like a Toyota Wish after washing with too hot water.
some14some at 01:51 PM JST - 16th October

How about "IQ Box Car", somewhat better?
amannin1 at 02:01 PM JST - 16th October

they probably named it "iQ" because of their competitor the "SMART" car -- then at some point decided to come up with a list of words that might possibly justify it as original...

anyways, these 3 cylinder micro-machines, get about the same gas mileage as other cars out on the market, only they are much smaller. If you ever drive/own one, you better hope you never have to drive up-hill.
thepro at 02:08 PM JST - 16th October

I wouldn't even fit in one
sageb1 at 01:11 AM JST - 17th October

IQ for the masses!
OgieDoggie at 03:04 AM JST - 17th October

It even comes with a built in can opener so you can get out of it once you've somehow gotten into it.

Actually it reminds me of the old british Austin Mini Coopers, it was fun in the 1970's to hot rod these things. It came with a shoe horn so you could get in also.
Freespeech at 04:27 AM JST - 17th October

Japan remains the kingdom of copycats !

The exterior styling of this (low) IQ is so shamefully copied from the SMART that I would not be astonished hearing about a legal procedure by Daimler Benz group for plagiarism. I hope they will think about it, Japan needs to be hit on its fingers with a heavy ruler so that the lesson is not forgotten.

This being said, amannin1 is perfectly right about the gas mileage, and the SMART I owned until recently (for use in the Paris area) was just as disappointing. Where amannin1 is wrong is about performance : if the SMART I had was quite limited in top speed (but who cares ?), it was respectable in acceleration and on twisty/hilly roads. The exterior package is diminutive but roominess is impressive (for 2 adults, do not misunderstand me).
usaexpat at 05:51 AM JST - 17th October

Ah but it's still from the Toyota school of ugly. Get a decent styling department and then get back to me.