Speculation that Toyota would pull the trigger and bring the Smart-fighting iQ microcar to the US as a Scion may have just come one step closer to fruition in Death Valley. You'll recall that a Scion iQ concept, based directly on the European-market Toyota iQ, debuted at the 2009 New York Auto Show.
This week our photographers caught a Toyota test group putting a Toyota-badged iQ through rigorous hot-weather tests, climbing mountains in the 120-degree heat.
Although the iQ is already on sale in Japan and Europe, the Toyota engineers were strangely protective of the test car, covering the car when they stopped for lunch, and using their support vehicles as shields during fuel stops. When a test car wasn't at the ready, engineers were quick to step in front of the iQ when at rest, all in an effort to prevent any clean shots.
More details and another photo after the jump.
Overseas, the front-wheel-drive iQ microcar comes with one of three engines: a 68-horsepower 1.0-liter VVT-i three-cylinder, a 99-hp 1.3-liter four-cylinder, or a 1.4-liter diesel four good for 90 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque. Both gas engines take a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the diesel gets a six-speed manual.
We most certainly will not get the torquey diesel, but the test car was wired up to monitor engine performance and diagnostics in the desert -- perhaps to test an American-friendly engine upgrade. Our photographers report that the Toyota iQ showcased some nice zip as it tried to accelerate away from our video cameras, and it charged up the steep mountain grades with gusto. We'll have to wait and see if that actually translates to more juice under the hood.
A U.S.-spec Toyota iQ, or 2011 Scion iQ, would certainly be aimed at the pricey Smart ForTwo, though we expect its packaging and its cuteness factor would provide competition for base versions of the Honda Fit and Nissan Cube as well. Fuel economy should be in play as well, as any of the existing iQ engines combined with the car's low curb weight, would translate to big mpg numbers on the EPA test cycle.
Is there room in America for another funny-shaped microcar? It will be interesting to find out, if Scion gets the iQ, as expected, in 2011.
billt9 says:
05:52 PM, 07/24/09
Should be a limited release in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and whatever other super crowded cities there are in the USA... I can't think of any other places.
Totally impractical outside of those 3 cities, which are built like European and Japanese cities.
alman08 says:
07:45 PM, 07/24/09
a SmartForTwo by Toyota? I like it! But I think the Fit still looks better.
4g63 says:
10:01 PM, 07/24/09
If the Smart sells in the US, this one will definitely sell. I think this is a cool car.
firstwagon says:
10:13 PM, 07/24/09
I think it's a perfectly practical little car for people who need affordable transportation.... no matter where they live.
Not a sporty car perhaps but that doesn't matter to most Toyota buyers anyhow.
inlinesix says:
10:40 PM, 07/24/09
Practical cars work great anywhere. A diesel would be fun.
redgeminipa says:
06:02 AM, 07/25/09
There can't be any room for a back seat. If there is, I surely wouldn't want to sit back there. I'll take a Tata Nano, thank you! LOL
iamz says:
07:55 AM, 07/25/09
"...Totally impractical outside of those 3 cities..."
Billt9,
If the car ends up getting something like 40 mpg on the highway, why couldn't I use it to commute my 86 mile round trip for work each day?
k55 says:
08:54 AM, 07/25/09
I like it ....but only if they drop in a 1.5 or 1.6 to give it some git go. Add a sport package similar to a Toyota Corolla XRS. Could be a MINI competitor if they add a sport version (as well as a high MPG version). If they added a sport version for around 15 to 16k I'm in.
gdstbarths says:
08:56 AM, 07/25/09
Great News ! The car looks goods, very pratical indeed for city life. It was about time Toyota started thinking differently.
flwind says:
11:53 AM, 07/25/09
k55-Toyota doesn't know what performance is anymore. A performance model would be pretty awesome with a 1.3L turbo similar to the 4efte used in the JDM Starlet GT Turbos/Glanzas in the 90s. Of course that will never happen, it will be just another pig like the rest of their cars Lexus not included.
stovt001 says:
11:56 AM, 07/25/09
99 hp seems just fine for a car of that size. That's only slightly less than the Yaris-Fit-Versa-Aveo cars are getting. If they do a better transmission than the Smart, I can see it doing well, but I question whether the fuel economy will be little more than just OK, like the Smart. That we won't get a diesel really annoys me. Why can't the American market get any of the good stuff?
atenza94546 says:
12:57 PM, 07/25/09
The iQ does appeal to be more suitable in a crowded citie such as NY, SF, an Chi. But look other smaller city people can buy it as a commute car or 1st car for High School or College. It an option between the Smart Car. Maybe is time for Smart to bring in Forfour and Smart Roadster.
accordguy0325 says:
11:37 PM, 07/25/09
I bet this car is OBAMA Approved !
firstwagon says:
04:34 PM, 07/26/09
You're likely right but it makes me wonder what would be Bush approved?
Likely something like a Hummer.
I guess that makes it a step in the right direction.
slickersdrip says:
09:09 PM, 07/26/09
Barbara Bush has a Smart Car, so likely depending on which member of the Bush family you're talking about, yeah, it probably would be.
mrryte says:
07:41 AM, 07/27/09
Where have I heard about this before? Oh yeah:
http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/06/aston-martin-developing-cygnet-city-car-based-on-toyota-iq.html
Believe it ladies and gents.
scottyscooter says:
09:48 AM, 07/27/09
Does anyone know how similar EPA fuel economy results are when compaired to the fuel economy testing they do in Europe? The official fuel economy rating in Europe for this car w/the 1.0 liter engine is over 65mpg...
firstwagon says:
12:55 PM, 07/27/09
If you convert it from gallons to US gallons, the mpg changes to 54 mpg.
I'm not sure what the conversion is to get an estimate of the more aggressive US testing procedure.
kneisl1 says:
08:53 AM, 09/ 9/09
A diesel engine option would put the iQ in the Prius catagory of "its not possible to recover the cost in fuel savings" with this car. Americans SHOULD be buying cheap, small, fuel efficient cars. But they dont. And Toyota isnt about to start selling them either. (for cheap that is)
im4eestor says:
02:50 PM, 10/28/09
Who CARES about "performance" (from Tootsie: "Shame on you, you macho shit-head!")?
KEEP THE MOST FUEL EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, AS IS!
You idiots wanna know WHY we haven't been the beneficiaries of diesel Smart Cars, the plethora of diesels in VW's European stable, why we've suffered YEARS of deprivation from KEI-class Japanese imports... and why our domestic fuel economy performance has declined for decades???
It's precisely because of your OBSESSION/FIXATION on "performance": 0~60 in who-gives-a-rats-ass?
Sheesh!
Time to GROW UP, and economize!
European streets are flooded with vehicle that routinely return 45~60+ mpg, with "pocket-rocket" performance, to boot!
Canadians enjoy the privilege of unrestricted importation of KEI-class vehicle from Japan that are 15 year of age or older (they're trying to reduce that to 10 years), while we American can only do so with those 25 years of age or beyond!
Detroit asks for billions to "help us engineer fuel efficiency", while at the same time selling the Chevrolet Matiz (an Aveo-like clone) in London for a street price of $11,500 USD - that gets 67 mpg!
Wanna see how fast they learn to build economy? Drop the importation restrictions to 10 years, and when KEI class and European equivalents start appearing, they'll "learn" overnight!
im4eestor says:
02:55 PM, 10/28/09
Who CARES about "performance" (from Tootsie: "Shame on you, you macho shit-heads!)?
KEEP THE MOST FUEL EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, AS IS!
You idiots wanna know WHY we haven't been the beneficiaries of diesel Smart Cars, the plethora of diesels in VW's European stable, why we've suffered YEARS of deprivation from KEI-class Japanese imports... and why our domestic fuel economy performance has declined for decades???
It's precisely because of your OBSESSION/FIXATION on "performance": 0~60 in who-gives-a-rat's-ass?
Sheesh!
Time to GROW UP, and economize!
European streets are flooded with vehicles that routinely return 45~60+ mpg, with "pocket-rocket" performance, to boot - copiously equipped with all those creature comforts that our protectionist domestic manufactures insist that we cannot live without!
Canadians enjoy the privilege of unrestricted importation of KEI-class vehicle from Japan that are 15 year of age or older (they're trying to reduce that to 10 years), while we American can only do so with those 25 years of age or beyond!
Detroit asks for billions to "help us engineer fuel efficiency", while at the same time selling the Chevrolet Matiz (an Aveo-like clone) in London for a street price of $11,500 USD - that gets 60+mpg!
Wanna see how fast they learn to build economy? Drop the importation restrictions to 10 years, and when KEI class and European equivalents start appearing, they'll "learn" overnight!