2009 New York Auto Show: Scion iQ Concept

#NYIAS The Scion iQ is the best and most interesting Scion concept we've seen since the original bbX.

Granted, you have to look past all the oversize fascias, skirts and "bubble flares" that Five Axis (a Huntington Beach, California-based aftermarket company specializing in Toyotas) has added to the New York showcar. But if you do that, there's a Toyota iQ underneath. And in marked contrast to the overgrown, current-generation Scion xB and the rather hideous Hako concept, the iQ takes the Scion brand back to where it started: small for small's sake and styling that's "with it" without pandering to perceived Generation-Y whims.

Mike Michels, communications director for Toyota, tells us the company will make a decision whether to import the Toyota iQ to the U.S. as the Scion iQ before the end of the 2009 calendar year. Since the iQ was designed for world consumption, minimal modifications will be necessary to meet U.S. crash standards.

Curiously, it might not be the entry-level car of the Scion family. "The point on this wouldn't be cheap, it would be cool," Michels told us. "I wouldn't say that it's even intended to be the least expensive car in the Scion lineup."

More photos and details after the jump. Update: Video added after the jump.

The iQ is just over 10 feet long, says Scion, with a 78.7-inch wheelbase. That's a lot smaller than a Mini Cooper (145.6 inches long, 97.1-inch wheelbase) but still bigger than a Smart Fortwo (106.1 inches long, 73.5-inch wheelbase).

This is a front-engine, front-drive car, and we'd expect a U.S-spec version to get the largest of the JDM engines -- a 1.3-liter VVT inline-4 -- paired with either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). The concept car has biggie-size 18-inch wheels, which make all the sense in the world in a car that's light on low-end torque, right?

Seating is 3+1, meaning three full-size adults can fit in the car, plus one additional child or moderately sized pet. A massive 10-inch LCD screen is the primary control interface. It's so large that the gauges are located properly on the left side instead of in the center. The seat cloth is "irridescent green and grape honeycomb upholstery." And the exterior paint is "Radioactive."

To allay safety concerns associated with small cars, the iQ has nine airbags. Beyond the usual array, the Scion/Toyota iQ has an airbag that would cover the rear window to protect rear occupants' heads in the event of a rear-end accident. There's also a driver knee airbag, plus an additional bag for the front passenger seat bottom cushion. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor