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Even if the iQ is not the huge success its maker hopes for, lessons learned in the construction will be far reaching, with ripples felt from Detroit to Frankfurt and beyond. (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fv20080907pl.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Toyota_iQ_production_version.jpgPeter Lyon – Japan Times – Sept. 7, 2008

The iQ – Small, more fuel efficient and far less costly than the Prius.

It may never be offered in the US but with more fuel economy and better build quality than the Fortwo, it certainly adds some excitement to the micro segment. -- Ed.

As a reporter who covers motor shows in Paris, Geneva and Frankfurt, I get to chat with a lot of European car engineers, designers and journalists. And I'm sorry to say but, no folks, they are not all in a lather about skyrocketing oil prices. Global warming's No. 1 cause, rising carbon dioxide levels, is the issue on everyone's lips and the one being addressed on every manufacturer's stand.

A look at cars displayed by Toyota, Mercedes-Benz or General Motors, for example, shows that making smaller cars in response to high gasoline prices is a secondary priority for carmakers...

But those are cars of the future. Of the ones available right now, the iQ offers the breakthrough engineering of the moment — not just in regard to emissions, but also its size. If you thought Toyota's Yaris was small, get a load of this. At under 3 meters in length, the iQ is considerably smaller than the Yaris. Japan's No. 1 carmaker is calling it the world's smallest four-seater car. That it may be, but really the iQ will seat only three adults reasonably comfortably, with the fourth space, behind the driver, basically providing enough room for shopping or one anklebiter.

The iQ is only marginally bigger than the German two-seater Smart microcar. But at a test drive of the iQ in Japan in August, chief engineer Hiroki Nakajima stressed that the chunky Smart was not Toyota's benchmark, despite the similar name and looks of its own microcar. "Our aim was not to make a four-seater Smart. In order to ensure a sustainable future, there was a need for a radical change in vehicle packaging. We needed to create a breakthrough, away from the traditional belief that small is basic." … http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fv20080907pl.html

O no, another capable car we can't have, like the Polo.

Is this some kind of modern torture?:mad: :mad: :mad:

This would make a great city/commuter car here in the States.

You might think with the US car safety standards, the US would be closer to having the highest life expectancy in the world, but it's surpassed by numerous European states and Japan.

List of countries by life expectancy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy)

This would make a great city/commuter car here in the States.

Yes!

There is a Smart dealer near where I work. I have been there with different
people 3 times. The Smart is tempting.
I can’t afford to have multiple cars, the iQ would be a commuter car that could
work in a pinch for more then just a commuter car. That is a big +.

You might think with the US car safety standards, the US would be closer to having the highest life expectancy in the world, but it's surpassed by numerous European states and Japan.

List of countries by life expectancy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy)


Off topic... but it's because many Americans are obese and also tend to shoot each other.

Got me thinking. So I looked up US traffic death’s VS traffic deaths from other countries.
When sorted by accidents per population numbers, USA is 2nd from the bottom.

Wikipedia is sorted alphabetically. I have posted here sorted by accidents per population.
Original Data is from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

Country   Road fatalities
per 100,000
inhabitants in
developed countries  

 Netherlands 4.5
 Sweden 4.9
 Switzerland 5
 Norway 5.2
 Great Britain 5.4
 Denmark 5.4
 Japan 5.7
 Israel 5.9
 Germany 6.2
 Finland 6.4
 Australia 7.7
 France 7.7
 Austria 8.8
 Canada 9.1
 Ireland 9.3
 Spain 9.3
 New Zealand 9.4
 Italy 9.7
 Luxembourg 9.9
 Belgium 10.2
 Iceland 10.3
 Czech Republic 10.4
 Portugal 11.8
 Hungary 12.7
 Slovenia 13.1
 South Korea 13.1
 Poland 13.8
 USA 14.7
 Greece 14.9
 Lithuania 22.3

You might think with the US car safety standards, the US would be closer to having the highest life expectancy in the world, but it's surpassed by numerous European states and Japan.

List of countries by life expectancy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy)

When I first went to Japan a couple years ago I was looking out the window of the plane as it flew over the highways and it struck me immediately as to the difference in driving technique. The vast majority of cars we actually leaving adequate space between them and the vehicle in front of them. I've since spent close to 6 weeks in Japan and I have yet to witness an accident scene and I have only seen one vehicle with a dent of any sort.

I would feel safe driving Pinto filled with liquid nitrogen with the type of skill exhibited by the majority of Japanese drivers in Japan.

I really think the iQ could be an all around practical car for quite a few people -- me included. With its stubby shape it probably doesn't get tremendous (Insight like) highway mileage but I'll be it isn't half bad. Around town this thing could turn out incredible numbers if equipped with a manual transmission.

I hope it comes to the US...

I also hope we get an Electric version. :D

I also hope we get an Electric version. :D
Like the Smart EV.......:)

ollie

When I first went to Japan a couple years ago I was looking out the window of the plane as it flew over the highways and it struck me immediately as to the difference in driving technique. The vast majority of cars we actually leaving adequate space between them and the vehicle in front of them. I've since spent close to 6 weeks in Japan and I have yet to witness an accident scene and I have only seen one vehicle with a dent of any sort.

I would feel safe driving Pinto filled with liquid nitrogen with the type of skill exhibited by the majority of Japanese drivers in Japan.


I can't speak on Japan but after spending a month multiple areas of China this past fall, I noticed a HUGE difference in driving technique. In the cities, I would say they left far less buffer rooms between cars (many near-misses). However, average speeds were much slower to allow for greater reaction time, therefore I saw less (I can't think of any) accidents.

Got me thinking. So I looked up US traffic death’s VS traffic deaths from other countries.
When sorted by accidents per population numbers, USA is 2nd from the bottom.

Not really, you should have used the 2nd collumn which accounts for number of miles.
We are middle/top of pack in that group. Not great, but not bad either. Even those number don't take into account driving factors, like speed.

^ agreed about deaths vs miles and not population. Just an example: From England's northernmost point to its southernmost is 530 miles. I can drive from my front door for 750 miles and still be in Texas.

This car would be much more useful to me than the Smart. Seating for 4. With two kids, sometimes we might want to use this instead of the van.

This car would be much more useful to me than the Smart. Seating for 4. With two kids, sometimes we might want to use this instead of the van.

That's my thought too, Andrew! I like the idea of the Smart (if only it got better mileage!) but I need a back seat for the little girl who will soon be here.