Toyota iQ Concept: Compact 'Green' Car

Motoring Channel Staff - 13/September/2007

Frankfurt, Germany — Though there was no sign of reborn Toyota Supra at the Toyota exhibit during the Frankfurt Motor Show, the world's most popular automaker did take the wraps off the iQ concept.

This tiny little concept car was designed to show off Toyota's environment friendly attitude, and also a possible new model that would be smaller than the Yaris. With low fuel usage and even lower carbon emissions the Toyota iQ Concept was created by the company's ED2 design studio in the South of France.

It measures just 2.98 metres in length but is wide and tall enough to house four passengers in 3+1 seating arrangement. Toyota describes the new iQ Concept as an ultra-compact vehicle that achieves exceptional space efficiency, one that is perfectly tailored to the lifestyle needs and environmental concerns of Europe's modern metropolitans.

Wahei Hirai, head of design at Toyota said that the new concept was built to "reflect and enhance the lifestyle of its owners". 

Hirai continued: "In an urban environment, people want to express themselves through dynamic and on-the-edge design, but at the same time rational factors such as size, functionality and CO2 emissions cannot be ignored. Bringing these contradictory aims together in synergy was critical to the iQ concept, it's a way of thinking we call the 'J-factor', a philosophy at the heart of all our activities."

Sitting on 17-inch wheels with minimal overhangs, the design is clearly compact. Inside, the instrument panel has a simple geometric form that contributes to the overall open feel of the interior, while the centre console flows in a manta ray-shape – complete with chrome finished 'tail'. 

Intelligent space-saving design and miniaturised technology help free up interior space explained Toyota. One example is the ultra-compact heating unit that takes up less room in the centre console. Audio and navigation controls are integrated into the steering wheel, with the route-finding sat nav information projected in a head-up display.

There's also a panoramic glass sunroof, and Toyota insists that the iQ's small size has required no compromise in safety standards, with a strong passenger compartment safety cell that ensures optimum impact energy absorption.

There's talk that the Toyota iQ Concept will spawn a new ultra-compact production model to be sold in Europe, and could arrive as early as 2009.

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