GENEVA — Toyota took the wraps off the production version of its iQ urban car at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show on Tuesday — but told Inside Line that it is bound for Europe and not the United States.
"The iQ and the [Toyota] Urban Cruiser will be European products," said Toyota Motor Sales USA spokesman Curt McAllister on Wednesday. "The iQ is tiny. It's basically a Smart car with a third seat."
Apparently the punsters at Toyota thought the moniker iQ would be an interesting jab at the Smart car. The two are fairly similar when it comes to proportions. The production iQ has a 78.7-inch wheelbase and is 59.1 inches tall. The Smart Fortwo has a 73.5-inch wheelbase and is 60.7 inches tall. Toyota says the iQ can carry "three adults plus a child or luggage."
The Japanese automaker says its new city car will be offered with a choice of one diesel and two gasoline engines. It expects to sell 100,000 iQs in the first full year of production.
One of the more intriguing details on the production iQ is a flat fuel tank, which helps to reduce the car's overall length. "A flat fuel tank has traditionally been considered difficult to engineer," Toyota said in a statement. "Persistent engineering efforts to downsize and find the best position for functional parts have enabled such a tank to be developed, delivering significant space savings."
The iQ's cabin features a "floating V" center console and a steering wheel with a flat bottom to give the driver more legroom.
Toyota's iQ concept, which the automaker dubbed the world's smallest four-passenger concept car, was displayed last fall at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.
What this means to you: This is not Toyota's answer to the Smart Fortwo in the U.S. market, but it should find fans in Europe. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
"The iQ and the [Toyota] Urban Cruiser will be European products," said Toyota Motor Sales USA spokesman Curt McAllister on Wednesday. "The iQ is tiny. It's basically a Smart car with a third seat."
Apparently the punsters at Toyota thought the moniker iQ would be an interesting jab at the Smart car. The two are fairly similar when it comes to proportions. The production iQ has a 78.7-inch wheelbase and is 59.1 inches tall. The Smart Fortwo has a 73.5-inch wheelbase and is 60.7 inches tall. Toyota says the iQ can carry "three adults plus a child or luggage."
The Japanese automaker says its new city car will be offered with a choice of one diesel and two gasoline engines. It expects to sell 100,000 iQs in the first full year of production.
One of the more intriguing details on the production iQ is a flat fuel tank, which helps to reduce the car's overall length. "A flat fuel tank has traditionally been considered difficult to engineer," Toyota said in a statement. "Persistent engineering efforts to downsize and find the best position for functional parts have enabled such a tank to be developed, delivering significant space savings."
The iQ's cabin features a "floating V" center console and a steering wheel with a flat bottom to give the driver more legroom.
Toyota's iQ concept, which the automaker dubbed the world's smallest four-passenger concept car, was displayed last fall at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.
What this means to you: This is not Toyota's answer to the Smart Fortwo in the U.S. market, but it should find fans in Europe. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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