Toyota iQ prices start at £9,495, deliveries start in January
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Coming to the UK in January, Toyota's fortwo challenger (should we call it the for3+1?) will be priced at £9,495 (1.0 VVT-i manual version) and going up from there. Options include £700 leather seats and £950 satellite navigation. The 1.0 VVT-i manual version gets about 55 mpg U.S. and will have road-tax-avoiding CO2 emissions of just 99 grams, Toyota expects. Toyota will take your order now, and anyone who orders before March 1 of next year will get a free metallic paint upgrade.
The iQ comes in two trim levels: the iQ and the iQ2. Both versions have a lot of safety features, including that rear window airbag. The short descriptions of the differences from Toyota's official announcement (pasted after the break) are as follows:
- iQ: 15-inch alloys, heated electrically adjustable door mirrors, air conditioning and six speaker audio system with auxiliary socket
- iQ2: high-gloss alloys, front fog lamps, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers, smart entry and start system and climate control
Gallery: Toyota iQ on the Road
[Source: Toyota]
PRESS RELEASE:
TOYOTA ANNOUNCES PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR NEW iQ
KEY POINTS
* New Toyota iQ available to order now, with customer deliveries from January
* On-the-road prices from £9,495 for iQ 1.0 VVT-i manual
* Two trim levels – iQ and iQ2
* iQ equipped with 15-inch alloys, heated electrically adjustable door mirrors, air conditioning and six speaker audio system with auxiliary socket
* iQ2 fitted with high-gloss alloys, front fog lamps, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers, smart entry and start system and climate control
* Standard safety features include ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Vehicle Stability Control with steering assist (VSC+) and Traction Control (TRC)
* Nine airbags as standard, including world-first rear window airbag
* Bespoke accessory packs available for equipment upgrades and personalisation
* Metallic paint free on orders taken before 1 March 2009
* 1.0-litre VVT-i engine with manual transmission set to return 65.7mpg and 99g/km (provisional), exempt from road tax
Order books are open for Toyota's revolutionary new iQ, with first deliveries to customers in January. An instant icon for modern urban motoring, iQ matches its advanced engineering and design with highly desirable equipment specifications: it's proof that thinking small no longer means thinking modest.
With carbon dioxide emissions starting at a road tax-free 99g/km and combined cycle fuel economy of 65.7mpg for the 1.0-litre VVT-i with manual transmission, iQ is more than a match for many of its eco-themed rivals. And it returns these remarkable figures without having to sacrifice style, creature comforts and ride quality.
Its ground breaking design makes it the ideal compact machine for around-town driving, but with all the stability and handling dynamics of a larger car to keep it on the pace on the open highway. It can turn on a sixpence and slot easily into parking spaces that are forbidden territory to its rivals, yet the interior is spacious and flexible.
At launch the iQ range offers a revised version of Toyota's award-winning* 1.0-litre three-cylinder VVT-i engine with a choice of five-speed manual transmission or Multidrive, the latest development of Toyota's continuously variable transmission. On-the-road prices start at £9,495.
(* 2008 Engine of the Year, sub-1.0-litre class)
iQ pricing and VED bands
| MODEL |
OTR PRICE |
CO2 EMISSIONS |
VED BAND |
|
iQ 1.0 VVT-i manual |
£9,495 |
99g/km |
A |
|
iQ 1.0 VVT-i Multidrive |
£10,495 |
110g/km |
B |
|
iQ2 1.0 VVT-i manual |
£10,495 |
99g/km |
A |
|
iQ2 1.0 VVT-i Multidrive |
£11,495 |
110g/km |
B |
iQ SPECIFICATIONS
It may be one of the smallest cars on the market, but iQ demands no "make-do" compromises when it comes to equipment specifications.
iQ is available in two grades, iQ and iQ2, both of which come with the kind of standard specification that reads like a larger, premium model and is almost unheard of in the city car segment.
The entry-level iQ rides on 15-inch alloy wheels and projects a clean, contemporary appearance with colour-keyed door mirrors and bumpers and heated electrically adjustable door mirrors with integrated indicator lamps.
Air conditioning keeps things cool inside, while the six-speaker sound system provides a radio, CD player and MP3/WMA file playing from disc. There is also an auxiliary socket for connection to personal MP3 players. Electric windows, remote central locking, dark tinted privacy glass in the rear window and leather trim for the steering wheel and gear knob are also all included, together with a tonneau cover for the rear luggage space.
Upgrading to iQ2 brings even more sophisticated features. The alloys gain a high-gloss finish, fog lights are neatly integrated into the lower front bumper section and there are bi-halogen headlights with a smoke-tinted finish to their glass covers. The door mirrors are electronically retractable – handy for those ultra-tight parking spots iQ drivers will be making the most of.
Climate control air conditioning, smart entry and push-button start, automatic headlights and wipers and an auto-dimming rear view mirror raise the quality bar even higher.
360-degree safety
iQ rebuts the assumption that small cars are less safe than larger ones with an exceptional array of active and passive safety provisions included as standard on all models.
Building on the inherent crash protection provided by iQ's multi-load path construction, which effectively absorbs and disperses impact forces away from the cabin, the car benefits from ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). The quality of braking performance is matched by the secure handling afforded by Vehicle Stability Control (VSC+) with Traction Control (TRC).
Should the worst happen, occupants have 360-degree protection from an array of nine airbags strategically positioned around the cabin. These include front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger; curtain shield airbags to guard the head and upper body of all four occupants; a driver's knee airbag; and an airbag built into the front of the passenger seat cushion.
In addition, iQ benefits from the world's first rear window airbag, giving extra head protection to back seat passengers in a rear-end impact.
iQ equipment specification highlights
|
iQ
|
iQ2 adds |
|
15-inch alloy wheels |
High gloss 15-inch alloy wheels |
|
Manual air conditioning |
Climate control air conditioning |
|
Electrically adjustable heated door mirrors with integrated turn indicators |
Electrically adjustable and retractable heated door mirrors with integrated turn indicators |
|
Remote central locking |
Smart Entry and Smart Start |
|
Colour keyed door mirrors and bumpers |
Rain-sensing wipers |
|
LED rear stop lamp |
Dusk-sensing headlights |
|
Electrochromatic auto-dimming rear view mirror |
|
|
Leather steering wheel and gear knob trim |
Bi-halogen headlamps with smoke-finished covers |
|
Six-speaker audio system with radio, CD player and
MP3/WMA compatibility from disc |
Chrome rear light cluster trim |
|
Auxiliary socket for MP3 player connection
|
|
|
Audio controls on steering wheel
|
|
|
Tilt-adjustable steering wheel
|
|
|
Electric windows
|
|
|
Rear window privacy glass
|
|
|
Tonneau cover
|
|
|
ABS with EBD and BA
|
|
|
VSC with TRC
|
|
|
Nine airbags
(driver and front passenger front & side airbags; driver's knee airbag; front passenger seat cushion airbag; curtain shield airbags; rear window airbag) |
ACCESSORIES AND OPTIONS
iQ owners looking for an upgrade will be able to add extra touches to their vehicle from a range of three bespoke accessory packs.
* iStyle: exterior styling elements, including chrome side sills, rear chrome garnish and aluminium scuff plates.
* iSports: sports styling features, including rear roof spoiler, rear skirt and chrome exhaust pipe finisher.
* iUrban: comprises rear parking sensors, reversible velour/rubber boot liner and carpet mats.
With such a high standard specification on iQ and iQ2, there are just two extra-cost options: leather seat upholstery and a fully integrated satellite navigation system with Bluetooth and iPod integration.
Accessory and option pricing
| ACCESSORYPACK/OPTION |
PRICE |
|
iStyle |
£250 |
|
iSports |
£400 |
|
iUrban |
£350 |
|
Leather seat upholstery |
£700 |
|
Satellite navigation |
£950 |
From launch, iQ will be offered exclusively in three metallic paint options (White Pearl, Black and Deep Amethyst) which will be free of charge for orders taken before 1 March 2009.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ryan 10:45AM (10/11/2008)
If they could deliver the same car in the U.S. at around the same price, it could possibly do pretty well.
Time will tell though if the American populace could accept a 1 cylinder engine and what would probably be a pretty cramped interior for the average person.
Reply
as2k 12:35PM (10/11/2008)
If they could bring it over for under US$10k people would DEFINITELY buy them up. If they were more expensive (as all of these "budget" cars end up being), it's less of a great idea.
Converted from £ to $ at today's rate, this is a $16k car.
Reply
slk23 1:02PM (10/11/2008)
Converting prices with the currency exchange rate doesn't always work. Car prices are usually higher in Europe.
The Toyota iQ is definitely not cheap; the Smart ForTwo Passion goes for £8,540 in the UK.
wave54 6:09PM (10/11/2008)
It's time to give up on any ideas about sub-$10K cars in the US from a major manufacturer. Even the cheapest Aveo is above $12K now compared to $9-$10K a few years ago.
It isn't less expensive to build a shorter, lighter car with all the standard equipment the iQ has compared to a traditional subcompact. Cars aren't priced by the pound.
On the Toyota UK website, the iQ's price starts a bit higher than the Yaris and at nearly the level of the Aygo's higher end.
http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/frame_start.jsp?id=homepage
When it comes to the US, it will probably be $13-$14K and be branded as a Scion, as reported earlier. It's much better equipped than a Yaris (at least the UK version of the iQ) and roughly the same starting price. US versions of the Yaris are pretty stripped, with no radio at all.
Don 12:04AM (10/12/2008)
Don't take FOREX rates literally...this size car would never sell in the States at $16,000 when you can purchase a larger Yaris for less.
Aimless Six 1:02PM (10/11/2008)
@ Ryan
The IQ will get a three cylinder engine with a displacement of 60 cubic inches or 1.0 liters. That's why its called a 1.0.
A similar engine is already in use in the European Aygo and Yaris. That one delivers 68 hp.
The Yaris sells from 9000 Pounds in the UK, 13000 USD in the States. Although the American version for some strange reason, needs a 100+ hp 1.5 liter engine just to drive to the grocery store .
So the IQ might be just under 15000 USD.
Reply
ryan 8:23PM (10/11/2008)
Aimless Six: I am aware of that. I personally used to drive a Vitz (as it is called in Japan) equipped with the 1 liter engine. Having driven a 660CC kei-car before, I was actually satisfied with the power on tap. The transmission definitely left some room for improvement, but the Vitz was only a '98. I am sure that the new CVT-equipped one would do better.
Unfortunately, people in America (at least in Michigan, where I am from) SLAM on the gas when the light goes green. I have almost been rear-ended, then flicked off for not flooring it when the light changed. People expect for everyone else around them to red line it upon take off. With a 1 liter engine, even doing so will still keep you from staying with the pack of rats. Oh, and it will KILL the possible FE that a 1.0 liter car should be capable of.
I would rather see this car come to America with a 1.2 turbo diesel.
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philmcneal 4:30PM (10/12/2008)
why the **** would i buy this over a 13000 CAD yaris 3 door hatch back?
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Anda 10:42AM (10/30/2008)
If they could bring the IQ to the US market around the same time, I think it would be a huge sell. I can see Canadians going to the US just to get one. I know I will! Just the fact that in the Smart you can pretty much only have one friend and in the IQ you can have more that one friend is a big deal! I am so excited! I can't wait! I want one now!
Reply