Comments on: Toyota Launches iQ Microcar

By: Driveit

Driveit — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:56:16 +0000

I test drove this car last week, and on the same day test drove a Smartfortwo. There is no comparison. The IQ felt much bigger inside than it looks. My parnter is six feet tall and had no problems driving it. It’s very nippy. It held the road. The turning circle is very small. It made the Smart seem like a heap of junk. Test drive one before you judge it and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I want one. Now. Please.

By: Loyal Toyota Owner

Loyal Toyota Owner — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:23:23 +0000

As Toyota/Scion Dealers are already taking orders for this vehicle for delivery in Summer 2009 – you all posting “It’ll never be here in the US” ….Ahem….It’s already available here. Get informed. If the wussy Smart car made it here, you honestly think the Toyota mini car wouldn’t?

By: UC DAVIS

UC DAVIS — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:59:46 +0000

I forgot to mention the fact that a Smart ForTwo takes 20 long seconds to go from Zero to 60 mph at $15,000USD and EPA of 36 miles per gallon there are better options.
Do your homework Toyota, what we want is an exceptional 21th century automobile, vastly superior engineering, superb ergonomics, reliable, light and powerful, able to reach top highway speeds with ease, great stability and maneuverability, easy access, roomy, efficient, low noise, economic, and good workmanship, we want materials that don’t look cheap and panels that fit seamlessly, look at the past build for the future.

By: UC DAVIS

UC DAVIS — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:58:04 +0000

A noble concept and looks ergonomic. My idea of a Micro Car is a fun to drive, cheap build for the masses, & most importantly great design like the Peel P50, Messerschmitt Super Record Breaker, FMR TG500 Special, Brutsch (Opelit) Mopetta, Isetta, Berleley, Goggomobil Dart, among many others. Many of this microcars got over 70 miles per gallon with 1940′s technology.
The bottom line is not who builds microcars Toyota, GM, BMW but how they are designed, a beautiful car, quirky but practical, think of electric, and other great options available today.

See New York Times article on ZAP Electric Car http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/automobiles/09DEALER.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Zero Emissions Boutique Factory http://www.daviselectriccars.com

The following link is for a Peel P50. Originally Recorded in 8mm film on the Isle of Man by the Peel Factory. This movie has no sound..
http://www.microcarmuseum.com/video/p50.html

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:33:30 +0000

I think the car would be significantly cheaper, if it makes to the US, as most of the cars.
And as far as I know, safety requirements in US are less demanding that those in Japan and Europe. Specifically, if you bring car to Europe from US, often you have to replace things like braking assemblies (for European version of the stuff from the same producer) to fulfill limits and register it in EU. Similarly, European producers strip down some tech. performance (thus cost) of their model for US and usually put more into eye candies. So typical American VW is not exactly same as the “same” model in Europe. However cars as small as those would be on the edge of possible design limits and most likely would be same everywhere. The concern is, that with so many SUVs, 4WDs and other large cars on the road in US, the probability of fatal crash in this small car would be really highter, as larger heavier cars have more kinetic energy.

By: rytmitz

rytmitz — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:17:03 +0000

This stuff is cutie. I’m willing to buy this one too.

By: Michael-59

Michael-59 — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:45:03 +0000

Absolutely would love to have one of these. I always feel safer and more in control in a small car. If this could sell for around $10K to $12K it would be a no-brainer for me. I’d give my Suzuki SX4 to my wife.

By: Paul Rivers

Paul Rivers — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:52:47 +0000

Even if I was willing to buy a minicar, I still would NOT buy this one, Toyota or not. In a car this small your best bet for safety is to avoid hitting/getting hit by other cars and not get into an accident. I’d never feel confident about doing that because they destroyed rearward visibility with that pillar on the side where a window should be.

This is an extreme example of Toyota’s new “styling over function” design process. I miss the days when Toyota made boring looking cars you could easily see out of!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:16:45 +0000

Even if this vehicle did make it to the US market, the mods required to meet US safety and emission standards would decimate the 55MPG number.

By: Tote Barr

Tote Barr — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:53:50 +0000

As a viable alternative to the Smart car this is outstanding. I hope it makes it to this country.
Tote