Toyota IQ test drive since 2008 hatchback

Toyota IQ micro-Kara Review compared to Smart Fortwo

Revolution in Toyota
In my opinion, Toyota IQ is fraught with great opportunities for development, because, having started its development, Toyota for the first time in a long time has embarked on the path of creating a completely new conceptual model. Although not, it would be more precisely to say, an unusual model for the company, because, as everyone knows, Toyota, despite its scale, remains a very conservative company. Look at her Toyota cars have no equal in picked up and improve new ideas invented by competitors, she is not a specialist in the process of creating innovations. As someone aptly noticed, Honda sows, Toyota reaping the fruits.
Nevertheless, let's not forget that Toyota actually made a revolution in the automotive industry, releasing the first Toyota Celsior in 1989 and in the same year creating a premium-class car brand known to all under the name Lexus. Then, in 1997, Toyota became the inventor of the world's first Toyota Prius serial hybrid car, which to this day is an irritant for other companies, desperately trying to invent something similar. So, conservatism, competently involved with innovation, provided Toyota world leadership.
You feel similar feelings, looking at Toyota IQ: it seemed to me that this baby has the strength to change the market for small -scale cars. However, it does not have the certainty that is originally inherent in Celsior and Prius. For example, Celsior was definitely invented to compete with such grads as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and Prius was conceived by Toyota as a completely new direction in the automotive industry.
But what about IQ? Most likely, this is a model about which one can say appetite comes during meals, that is, it requires a certain time and effort to recognize it, but then the effect will be stunning. In this IQ, perhaps, you can compare with the famous Daimler Smart: people who really understand the real value of this machine (especially the Japanese) can be counted on the fingers. Therefore, I think, it makes sense to distract a little from our topic and talk here about Smart.
The story that began with the concept of a 2.5-meter car
Although the first generation of Smart babies appeared on the market in 1998 (a year later than Prius), its story dates back to 1970, when Mercedes-Benz developed the concept of a 2.5-meter compact city car. All these ideas gained shape in 1982 in the form of Nafa concept car (later found, by the way, the use of class A) in the prototypes of Mercedes).
20 years have passed, and, thanks to the Union of the Swiss company Swatch and Mercedes Benz, Smart familiar to us was born. Until the 2.5-meter shorty, with his appearance, wanted to kill several hares at once: exploitation in the realities of a crowded city, harmony with the environment, profitable contrast with existing models (including Mercedes-Benz). In general, the revolution of the philistine idea of \u200b\u200bthe car was brewing!
Analyzing the situation in the market in those days, you realize that the Smart position was quite uncertain (although the general situation was not as heated as it is now). The panacea was a rare style for cars, acquired from cooperation with Swatch. In addition, Smart added its maneuverability and ease of management, deservedly appreciated by the inhabitants of large historical European cities with many small confusing streets (Paris and Rome). The SMART recognition rate with a new automobile brand is very impressive. This is infrequently met in the automobile world.
And yet, despite the branded, Smart could not boast of a large number of people who wanted to buy it. The concept of the Toyota hybrid car, the production of which fell on the line of the century, was more understandable and close to users. The new generation, released under the Smart brand, did not use much success, and until now the baby brought its creators only losses. However, since last year, the situation gradually began to change for the better.
Now, at last, the time has come when consumers drew attention to low fuel appetites, minimal damage to the environment, not to mention the special unavailable external attractiveness of the car. Maybe this is the beginning of the Smart era?
Toyota IQ uncertainty
Probably, no one has doubts that the car for two is the fundamental concept of Smart, despite the fact that it greatly cuts the demand for it. Nevertheless, the model is quite popular in large cities, among users saturated with material benefits. However, whatever one may say, for the bulk of consumers, it does not represent sufficient interest, which ultimately affects sales levels. Still, Smart is still a little ahead of the era, and perhaps at the moment nothing can be done about it.
Why did Toyota pick up the relay wand from Smart? The answer is obvious: Smart is an ideal and understandable combination of modern functions with the only drawback of a tight double salon. Toyota turned this main drawback of Smart, because of which he could not achieve much success in 10 years, into a powerful weapon of the new Toyota IQ model.
With a length that does not even reach 3 meters, IQ has a 1+1 landing formula, that is, three adults and one child. This is a new concept, which, unfortunately, has not yet found a special response in the heart of a Japanese consumer. On the other hand, the soil prepared by Smart efforts in Europe will allow Toyota IQ to achieve a certain recognition among the inhabitants of the old continent as the successor of the baby Smart.
It is worth a little to go to IQ, as it becomes obvious: it exceeds Smart in such parameters as the quiet operation of the engine, comfort, fuel consumption. The only thing that IQ is missing and what is in Smart is perhaps the pleasure of controlling the rear -wheel drive (it is simply not provided for this model). And the fact that IQ is a four -seater car is a significant argument for practical Europeans.
As a result, IQ, in comparison with the German fellow, was very rationally developed, however, as always, in the style of Toyota. Nevertheless, no one knows what fate awaits IQ in the native walls. Indeed, in Japan, there has long been a well-established layer of low-profile cars (cay-jidos), the power and fuel consumption of which is practically no different from IQ, and the size of the salon allow four passengers to feel more comfortable than in IQ. In addition, for Kay-jisos in the country, a system of tax benefits is provided.
iQ also loses according to the price factor: the average price of 1 million 400-600 thousand yen allows you to easily purchase a high-class small class, such as Toyota Vitz, which has a larger salon with the same fuel consumption and taxes. Thus, the value of IQ in Japan is noticeably reduced, consumers do not respond to intangible, so far far from the actual dignity of the baby.
 

Will IQ turn out to change the world of low -profiles?
My answer is: no. In any case, in the current market in the current situation. But, nevertheless, the potential of Toyota IQ is fraught with great opportunities.
In addition to the main feature of the Toyota IQ length not exceeding 3 meters, this model makes attempts to position itself as a small-leaf car of the micro-premium class. The response to displeased opinions that IQ is not drawn to the luxury title was the statement of the creators of IQ about the introduction of a car personalization system. Details are still kept secret, but one thing can be said with confidence: IQ is pampering its owners, surpassing all existing accessories. Otherwise, it cannot be vital for IQ to invent something that is absent in the competitor Smart. Destroyed in the style of premium, IQ with its originality will be able to compete on equal terms with Kay-jidos and Vitz class.
As a result, IQ must be recognized as a car symbolizing a new lifestyle. It seems to me that IQ will extract the formula for success from the errors and flaws of the creators of Smart, and who knows, maybe in the near future this model will find understanding among Japanese drivers.
iQ offers super-efficient innovative solutions for the arrangement of the internal space: a power unit deployed 180 degrees, due to which the front wheels went forward, miniaturization of parts included in the climate control system, elegant front seats, a flat fuel tank located under the floor. All these original components will be the secret of the future success of the baby. With this optimal placement of functional parts, whether IQ had at the disposal of 3.4 meters of length, like a small-leaf of Kay-jisos, it would have turned out a CD with spacious rear passenger seats. At the length of 3 785 (like Vitz) in IQ with a strong desire could be installed by the third row of seats, in extreme cases. Well, if the length reached 4 meters, like Toyota Sainta, we would have a CD with three (!) Rows of comfortable seats.
One of the big mistakes of the creators of Smart was the release of the Forfour series built on the same platform with Mitsubishi Colt. Sales were soon suspended, because Forfour could not bring the concept of his predecessor Smart to the consumer not different from other compact cars. Nevertheless, Smart for four is that the company's designers really wanted to get. After parting with Mitsubishi, Smart was seen in negotiations with Suzuki about the creation of such a model, but this did not bring a positive result.
Thus, the new original ideas offered by Toyota IQ are very timely, and, most likely, IQ will become the factor that in the future will change the vision of cars from the Japanese consumer.
Our last hope?
IQ is a completely independent, exceeding the philistine representation of the car, the novelty, and it would be wrong to try to attribute it to, suppose, to the class of Kay-jisod or vitz.
We go further: there is a chance that Japan will follow the example of Europe and will accept a resolution on the restriction of the emission of CO2 for cars. And if such times come, the size of the car will be the most important factor, and a compromise option will be perhaps the symbiosis of the existing CD with the internal space like Kay-Jidia, that is, the spilled IQ! Well, when it comes to a hybrid or electric motor, you involuntarily begin to try it on IQ. Everyone says that IQ will soon fully declare itself.
At the same time, the car market is underway far from the best of times. Just think, only a year ago we are fans from Nissan GT-R. Remember those loud headlines that appeared after the Tokyo car dealership: one model bewitched the whole world, amazing characteristics, climbing the world arena of the Japanese miracle, it was a real breakthrough with a capital letter, the story of which will be transmitted from the mouth for a long time.
Since then, only a year has passed, and our worldview has changed against the background of global changes around the world. Despite the fact that the increase in gas prices gives us a small respite now, it is obvious that the current driver will think a hundred times before, until it stops to press the gas pedal.
In such conditions, the splash of GT-R seems to be an event of past days. Time is still tolerant, but I think that the era of fanaticism and dreams passed. It becomes a little sad from the loss of dreams, but the era of rationalism inevitably occurs.
Of course, Toyota IQ is not comparing with GT-R, this model is too mundane. I can’t think, but I’ll express the assumption that time will put everything in its place, and IQ will show the world what such a simple and at the same time is not like a similar model.
It seems to me that IQ is our last hope for success.
Technical characteristics Toyota IQ 100G
Full length: 2 985 mm.
Full width: 1 680 mm.
Complete height: 1,500 mm.
Wheel base: 2,000 mm.
Machine weight: 890 kg.
Drive: front.
Engine: volume 996 cubic meters. cm, 3-cylinder with a vertical cylinder arrangement, DOHC gas distribution mechanism, developed power 50 kW (68 hp) at 6,000 rpm, the largest torque of 90 nm (9.2 kg-m) at 4,800 rpm.
Machine price: 1 million 500 thousand yen ($ 16 850).
 

Source: carView.co.jp