Times are changing, gone are the ways of the oversized thirsty automobile in favor of leaner more efficient machines. Compact cars with sports inspired attitudes are where the future of fun to drive vehicles is going. The Japanese automaker well known for making fuel-efficient compacts, Toyota, is continuing the trend with their upcoming compact sports car, based on the small city-car, the iQ. The next generation sport compact is expected to make its auto show debut sometime next year.
According to the automaker, the new model will be a "fun to drive" car, created for younger new car buyers. The vehicle will combine a six speed manual transmission with Toyota’s new 1.3 Liter engine, the combination should be good for a very Prius-like 55 MPG. When it goes on sale, the vehicle should retail for around 200 Million yen, or around $20,000 if it ever comes to the U.S.
By now you have most likely heard about the world’s smallest 4 passenger car that comes with a 1.0 liter engine that gets 54 miles per gallon. The iQ is what Toyota likes to call a premium minicar, that is because even though the car is diminutive in size, weighing about 2,200 pounds, it is still priced around 1.5 million Yen (about $15,000). What you may not know is that Toyota has been planning on producing an open air version of the iQ for quite some time.
The Japanese publication, Motor Magazine, released this rendering of the funky roadster that sources at Toyota claim is scheduled to make its world debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon that will be held from October 23 through November 8, 2009.
After announcing that the small iQ might be offered on the US market, Toyota also announced that a roadster version of the iQ will be revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show (23 October to November 8). The car will come as a study, but will keep the same design line as the coupe version.
The spider version will be offered with a choice of 1.0 - and a 1.3-liter gasoline and diesel engine; while the safety features will include: numerous airbags, ABS and ESP.
Toyota revealed today the first commercial of the iQ minicar that has just been launched on the Japanese market. Toyota expects to sell 100,000 units of the iQ in its first year of production globally.
If Toyota decides to bring the iQ to the U.S., it may have to educate the American public on the benefits of a premium mini car. The 1.0-liter engine should be good for 54 mpg, but the little car may come at a relatively premium price. The Japanese version retails for between 1.4 million yen and 1.6 million yen ($13,860-$15,840). That kind of cash could buy a new Ford Focus or a slightly used Honda Civic (Toyota’s own Yaris starts out at $12,205.)
The only other premium microcar out there is the Smart ForTwo, a which is 12 inches shorter than the iQ and gets 44 mpg. But the ForTwo pricing also starts at about $11,000.
Toyota is targeting sales of 102,000 units a year. Sales of the iQ should begin in Japan on November 20, and in Europe by 2009. The iQ should find good homes in both of these places, because they are traditionally friendlier than the U.S. to the small car.
For the iQ to come to the U.S., Toyota must develop different airbags and improve bumper strength for the iQ to pass safety standards. Toyota may also change the iQ for comfort items, including upgrading the engine to 1.5-liters.
