Toyota may sell IQ in US

Will be priced close to Yaris due to upscale interior
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/hatchbacks/toyota-may-sell-iq-in-the-us/

sweeeet. I like the premium idea but you know how stubborn people can be. They'll just equate size (oh how familiar does that sound) with cost. The bigger it is, the more expensive it should be. The smaller, the cheaper. Look at how people have been complaining about the smart. $12k for it.. omg I can get a Yaris for that. Well then no one's forcing you to get a smart, get your damn Yaris!


</rant>

anyway, hope we see it sooner than later.

sweeeet. I like the premium idea but you know how stubborn people can be. They'll just equate size (oh how familiar does that sound) with cost. The bigger it is, the more expensive it should be. The smaller, the cheaper. Look at how people have been complaining about the smart. $12k for it.. omg I can get a Yaris for that. Well then no one's forcing you to get a smart, get your damn Yaris!


</rant>

anyway, hope we see it sooner than later.I think the MINI has changed that thought process somewhat. Of course, maybe people won't be as kind with a mass-market brand name.

yeah... its' the same thing with the Echo/Corolla problem back in the day...

hmm.. $13k for a Echo with decent options... or $13k for this Corolla CE... hmm... with larger engine, bigger space... not as funky looking...

I think the MINI has changed that thought process somewhat. Of course, maybe people won't be as kind with a mass-market brand name.
But the MINI has a cache with it. It's an icon. The smart and IQ will be newcomers with no background in NA (and the IQ with no background at all)

yeah... its' the same thing with the Echo/Corolla problem back in the day...

hmm.. $13k for a Echo with decent options... or $13k for this Corolla CE... hmm... with larger engine, bigger space... not as funky looking...

ohh? I think we had a greater separation in prices in Canada.

sweeeet. I like the premium idea but you know how stubborn people can be. They'll just equate size (oh how familiar does that sound) with cost. The bigger it is, the more expensive it should be. The smaller, the cheaper. Look at how people have been complaining about the smart. $12k for it.. omg I can get a Yaris for that. Well then no one's forcing you to get a smart, get your damn Yaris!


</rant>

anyway, hope we see it sooner than later.

Sounds like me... LOL :lol:

Will be priced close to Yaris due to upscale interior


don't you mean close to the corolla?

it has to be under 10k
remove the fancy and leave us the plain
thats all we want
tiny and plain

i much rather prefer the Aygo but then again knowing toyota we won't get either one

anything small sells. should be a no brainer.

it has to be under 10k
remove the fancy and leave us the plain
thats all we want
tiny and plain

Exactly... no need to be fancy for a daily driver
Thats the point of a daily driver

I would like to have a upscale mini car like other countries have--small doesn't need to be bare bones basic...my 08 honda fit has cruise, front airbags,side airbags,head airbags,standard ABS, and the 09 is coming with stability and even a navigational system. Guys, i'm not asking for leather, but these features need to be standard on EVERY car. I was thinking of an 09 fit but if Toyota is gonna bring this little IQ to the states w/ the same options standard, i'll definitely wait and buy the IQ!!

i much rather prefer the Aygo but then again knowing toyota we won't get either one
I too prefer the Aygo, if the Aygo was available now I'd buy one. The Yaris is already quite fun to throw around, with the Aygo's lower weight it would probably be pure fun considering how well it moves thanks to Top Gear Aygo soccer. The Aygo is certainly going to be cheaper than the iQ and the Yaris, for me this time around I like the cheaper route.

My theory is that IQ is a replacement for Aygo.Now that this size car is entering the American market it must have a serious safety cage like the Smart.Toyota has the Mini and the A3 to thank for exploring higher price points on small cars but Toyota will bring more value to the equation.We may also see the Auris coming here as a upscale version of the Corolla.Especially with the advent of the Vavematic 2.0,this engine will probably only be available with high trim levels at first.The next Yaris (2010?)will be much safer and will probably offer the Valvematic 1.6(124 hp)for a great power to weight ratio(20 to 1) combined with small car tossability,hopefully at around 2400lbs.The IQ will have the award winning 1 liter,for a 55 to 60 mpg average.but at a weight(sub 1 ton) that will lend it only to city use.
http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/winners_08/sub1.html

The Aygo is bigger than the iQ right? i sure hope they dont replace the aygo cause that thing's got a 1.0L engine too and u get more cargo room and stuff, not that a 1.0L engine can haul much lol but im sure the aygo would sell for much less since the whole idea of the aygo was to be an economical city car with a basic interior....

by all means this iQ does look very fun and attractive...but if the price tag is around the corolla band then i don't think they'll sell too many of these things

Here are some answers regarding the European market.

My theory is that IQ is a replacement for Aygo.
I can asure you. It will not replace the Aygo. Both Aygo and Yaris sell well and there is plenty of room for another mini. Car makers like Citroën and Fiat have multiple small cars, some of them to an extend overlapping (Panda vs. 5000 and C1 vs. C2)


Now that this size car is entering the American market it must have a serious safety cage like the Smart.Toyota has the Mini and the A3 to thank for exploring higher price points on small cars but Toyota will bring more value to the equation.

Toyota has already said the iQ is designed for 5 stars EuroNCAP. Anything less will be a PR catastrophe. (For reference. The old Smart did only score 3 stars in that test and the new one only 4!)


We may also see the Auris coming here as a upscale version of the Corolla.Especially with the advent of the Vavematic 2.0,this engine will probably only be available with high trim levels at first.

The interior of the Auris is actually a bit cheaper than the one you find in the current European Corolla. The interior is more fancy looking and solid than soft and nice to the touch.


The next Yaris (2010?)will be much safer and will probably offer the Valvematic 1.6(124 hp)for a great power to weight ratio(20 to 1) combined with small car tossability,hopefully at around 2400lbs.The IQ will have the award winning 1 liter,for a 55 to 60 mpg average.but at a weight(sub 1 ton) that will lend it only to city use.
http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/winners_08/sub1.html
The next Yaris is scheduled for 2011 if Toyota intends to keep up the 6 year production runs, and I'm sure you could use a better engine than the 1.5 for America (the one you mention seems like a great choice), but it does also come with the 3 cylinder 1.0 you see in Aygo in Europe, an engine that has a lot of torque for its size and it's thus adequate for highway driving (I'm driving the old 1 liter Yaris, and it has no problem apart from the poor fuel economy at high speeds of 130+)

So. The engine in the Aygo has already won an award!? Neat! :)

Edit
I see it's the 1.0 3 cylinder Aygo/Yaris engine that has won. I thought it might have been the new one for the iQ, but we will still have to wait for more information about this one. I hope this is the one Yamaha has had its fingers on.

I would like to have a upscale mini car like other countries have--small doesn't need to be bare bones basic...my 08 honda fit has cruise, front airbags,side airbags,head airbags,standard ABS, and the 09 is coming with stability and even a navigational system. Guys, i'm not asking for leather, but these features need to be standard on EVERY car. I was thinking of an 09 fit but if Toyota is gonna bring this little IQ to the states w/ the same options standard, i'll definitely wait and buy the IQ!!


we dont say skip this
its a standard for most cars to have this for safete and practicality
what we mean by remove the fancy we mean remove the navigation systen the lcd's and all that other stuff
im sure people will buy some loaded to the brim with goodies

but for many this will be a daily driver
no need for a daily driver to be filled with alot of extra addons that people dont need

just plain
manual roll windows, cloth seats, heck ill even settle for manual lock dors :lol:
but anyways this is smaller than the yaris so it better comes out cheaper

CLRBLUELITE
More power to you if you want that stuff, nothing wrong with that. But as mentioned not all of us feel we need it or want it. Another thing is the U.S. is price sensitive. So its probably not going to happen. You'll always have a base model, middle trim and top trim, obviously depending on the car. Yes I'm sure smaller cars will become better equipped cause the market is shifting towards that area. But if all cars were like that then what's the point of having multiple models??? Okay maybe looks and how it handles okay size but it almost cancels out in price. I know Toyota is sorta moving the Yaris more upscale with more standard features coming 09 and probably beyond. So I guess the IQ will fit under there. Not many Americans will pay a lot for a car that small but then again if its niche or boutique car like the Smart maybe they will just to get the attention. Who knows? I'm glad the Smart is doing well in the U.S. I know its mostly cause its a "trendy" car but that will lead other car makers to over small cars like that.:thumbup:

I think this is going to be a hard decision for Toyota to make. A car isn't just judged by its options, standard features, ride, and performance for how "nice" it is.

The one and by far hardest decision to make is how much sound deadening and vibration dampening to use. For the iQ to hit the pricepoint/target it is going for right now, it will need a fair bit more than say your more spartan Yaris has. That isn't something that can be decided when you buy the car, and most likely cannot be changed depending on the trim level the car is. No matter which trim you get, the luxury, sporty, or basic manual everything, its going to get the same amount of deadening and dampening. I'm sure its not cheap to put in that stuff, and to research where to effectively put it on a car that's so light and so low on power. A 5lb piece of deadening means a lot more on the iQ compared to, say, a Camry.

Second thing is interior materials. Look at the Yaris, I honestly think the Yaris interior looks like shit. The materials are quite low end. And at that price point, Toyota most likely won't mold two dashes with different materials to please the different trim levels. Line it with cloth/alcantara whatever maybe, but you are still going to be stuck with the hard hollow plastic dash or nice soft touch plastic dash regardless of the trim.

They will have to decide how luxurious/"nice" they want it to be, and develop trims from there. Though don't really expect it to stray too much other than maybe a few more electronic gimmicks and or a sun roof or something.

I think this is going to be a hard decision for Toyota to make. A car isn't just judged by its options, standard features, ride, and performance for how "nice" it is.

The one and by far hardest decision to make is how much sound deadening and vibration dampening to use. For the iQ to hit the pricepoint/target it is going for right now, it will need a fair bit more than say your more spartan Yaris has. That isn't something that can be decided when you buy the car, and most likely cannot be changed depending on the trim level the car is. No matter which trim you get, the luxury, sporty, or basic manual everything, its going to get the same amount of deadening and dampening. I'm sure its not cheap to put in that stuff, and to research where to effectively put it on a car that's so light and so low on power. A 5lb piece of deadening means a lot more on the iQ compared to, say, a Camry.

Second thing is interior materials. Look at the Yaris, I honestly think the Yaris interior looks like shit. The materials are quite low end. And at that price point, Toyota most likely won't mold two dashes with different materials to please the different trim levels. Line it with cloth/alcantara whatever maybe, but you are still going to be stuck with the hard hollow plastic dash or nice soft touch plastic dash regardless of the trim.

They will have to decide how luxurious/"nice" they want it to be, and develop trims from there. Though don't really expect it to stray too much other than maybe a few more electronic gimmicks and or a sun roof or something.

Dealing with NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) is best done at the source, by trying to prevent it or at least minimize it as much as possible without masking it. As you mentioned, trying to mask it with sound-deadening pads, for instance, adds cost and weight.

The car engine is a major source of all 3, and rather than trying to mask it with sound deadening, it is best to try to design and construct the engine in such a way that noise, vibration and harshness are eliminated or at least minimized. The design and construction of the engine mounts can also help to reduce NVH. None of this will be different between trim levels, and is unlikely to be different between different cars that share the common engine.

Wind noise is a problem. This can be eliminated or minimized by careful aerodynamic design, first modelled on the computer during design, and then verified in wind-tunnel testing. This again will not differ between trim levels.

Tire noise is another potential problem. This one may be more difficult to design out, since that may be the one component that the vehicle's designer has so little control over. But there have been examples in the past of the automobile manufacturer working with the tire manufacturer to design a special tire for a particular vehicle. The vehicle manufacturer can also select one particular tire over another if one tire offers a feature (such as now road noise) that the other does not. This is one area where extra sound deadening on the car may be required. This may be different between trim levels. For example, a higher-level trim may have a sound-deadening pad placed underneath the trunk lid or under the hood, whereas a lower-level trim may not have this sound-deadening.

I do not, however, know of any example in Toyota vehicles -- cheap or expensive -- where the dashboard design and/or material is different between trim levels. Colours are different, to match the available interior colours, but material? I think it would be too expensive to do this. In fact, there has been criticism of Toyota for offering different back seats in the various levels of trim on the Camry (fold-down seats in the LE, and reclining but not fold-down in the XLE); and the Yaris (merely flop-down seatbacks in the lower trim levels, but a fold-down seatback with lowering seat cushion thereby offering full-flat cargo area on the top-level RS trim). The question asked by the reviewers was why go to the extra expense of offering different seats?

The different trim levels in the Camry may offer different rear seats, but not a different dashboard. The higher trim levels may offer a better sound system, or automatic climate control, but these are merely different components, designed to be swapped in; the better sound system or the automatic climate control box merely fits in the space that the lower-level component would have fit in. In fact, I have come to believe that these higher-level components cost not much more than the lower-level components, so the manufacturer makes more money from a higher-level trim than a lower-level trim. So, if it becomes difficult for Toyota to make money on the new iQ, they could offer "higher-level" components, making the car seem more luxurious, and then boost the price to what the market will bear -- which is more than what the higher-level components likely cost -- and make more money on the vehicle. It is more difficult the smaller the vehicle is to make the car profitable. (Despite its seeming popularity, the Smart car has not turned a profit for Mercedes-Benz.)

I do not, however, know of any example in Toyota vehicles -- cheap or expensive -- where the dashboard design and/or material is different between trim levels. Colours are different, to match the available interior colours, but material? I think it would be too expensive to do this. In fact, there has been criticism of Toyota for offering different back seats in the various levels of trim on the Camry (fold-down seats in the LE, and reclining but not fold-down in the XLE); and the Yaris (merely flop-down seatbacks in the lower trim levels, but a fold-down seatback with lowering seat cushion thereby offering full-flat cargo area on the top-level RS trim). The question asked by the reviewers was why go to the extra expense of offering different seats?

Great post!

Might I point out the LS600h L Executive Package with its leather-trimmed dashboard unique to that one package?

Yep, smart's just got into the black with the launch of the new model (last spring/summer in Europe) after 10 years of being in the red.

Huh, neat little car. Better looking than the Smart for sure, but still a little funky for my taste. I think slightly smaller rims would be better, and calm the front end down a little bit. But that's just me, I'm not really in the tiny car scene. :D

I bet they'd sell loads of them in the U.S., especially in tighter urban and city areas, where people don't neccessarily want to drive a friggin' ocean liner everywhere. Kinda like how they drive tiny cars in European areas where the streets are all cramped. I don't know, maybe I'm just talking out my butt, but I think they should bring it here. They should bring back the Supra in the U.S. while they're at it. :D

the thing that kinda makes me reserved about this little car is in the article it mentions it'll be more fuel efficient than every car EXCEPT for the prius...which gets like a max of 48mpg.....the Aygo gets like 50 something mpg and easily knocked the prius out....if they're gonna import an ultra compact that's ultra gas efficient...why not just bring the aygo over

the thing that kinda makes me reserved about this little car is in the article it mentions it'll be more fuel efficient than every car EXCEPT for the prius...which gets like a max of 48mpg.....the Aygo gets like 50 something mpg and easily knocked the prius out....if they're gonna import an ultra compact that's ultra gas efficient...why not just bring the aygo over


You have a good point. Maybe they're talking about the up and coming Prius? Well as we should all know mileage numbers aren't set in stone. So it can obviously get better than a Prius if your right foot isn't too happy.:thumbup: Plus its lighter so the power to weight ratio should be good. So at highway speeds or getting up to most speeds shouldn't take much cause its light. And then to keep it going it shouldn't take much as well. Of course it depends on transmission and gearing.

[mark albert]YESHHH!!![/marv albert]


seriously though. i hope it does come to the US. come on now toyota, need the official word.

Dealing with NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) is best done at the source, by trying to prevent it or at least minimize it as much as possible without masking it. As you mentioned, trying to mask it with sound-deadening pads, for instance, adds cost and weight.

The car engine is a major source of all 3, and rather than trying to mask it with sound deadening, it is best to try to design and construct the engine in such a way that noise, vibration and harshness are eliminated or at least minimized. The design and construction of the engine mounts can also help to reduce NVH. None of this will be different between trim levels, and is unlikely to be different between different cars that share the common engine.

Wind noise is a problem. This can be eliminated or minimized by careful aerodynamic design, first modelled on the computer during design, and then verified in wind-tunnel testing. This again will not differ between trim levels.

Tire noise is another potential problem. This one may be more difficult to design out, since that may be the one component that the vehicle's designer has so little control over. But there have been examples in the past of the automobile manufacturer working with the tire manufacturer to design a special tire for a particular vehicle. The vehicle manufacturer can also select one particular tire over another if one tire offers a feature (such as now road noise) that the other does not. This is one area where extra sound deadening on the car may be required. This may be different between trim levels. For example, a higher-level trim may have a sound-deadening pad placed underneath the trunk lid or under the hood, whereas a lower-level trim may not have this sound-deadening.

I do not, however, know of any example in Toyota vehicles -- cheap or expensive -- where the dashboard design and/or material is different between trim levels. Colours are different, to match the available interior colours, but material? I think it would be too expensive to do this. In fact, there has been criticism of Toyota for offering different back seats in the various levels of trim on the Camry (fold-down seats in the LE, and reclining but not fold-down in the XLE); and the Yaris (merely flop-down seatbacks in the lower trim levels, but a fold-down seatback with lowering seat cushion thereby offering full-flat cargo area on the top-level RS trim). The question asked by the reviewers was why go to the extra expense of offering different seats?

The different trim levels in the Camry may offer different rear seats, but not a different dashboard. The higher trim levels may offer a better sound system, or automatic climate control, but these are merely different components, designed to be swapped in; the better sound system or the automatic climate control box merely fits in the space that the lower-level component would have fit in. In fact, I have come to believe that these higher-level components cost not much more than the lower-level components, so the manufacturer makes more money from a higher-level trim than a lower-level trim. So, if it becomes difficult for Toyota to make money on the new iQ, they could offer "higher-level" components, making the car seem more luxurious, and then boost the price to what the market will bear -- which is more than what the higher-level components likely cost -- and make more money on the vehicle. It is more difficult the smaller the vehicle is to make the car profitable. (Despite its seeming popularity, the Smart car has not turned a profit for Mercedes-Benz.)

NVH from the engine, can be designed out to an extent, but however my experience with cars are, the smaller the engine, the worse it'll be. There is currently a design limit, IMO, to how much NVH to be designed out without costing too much. This is exactly what Toyota has to think about, how much do they want to sell the iQ for to warrant what levels of design spending. For a car this small, its not cost effective imo to offer more than 1 engine for it. 1 gas, 1 diesel is fine, but I don't see NA getting small diesels anytime soon.

About the tire noise, yes its what I'm talking about. While true you can put a piece of trim on the trunk on one trim and not another, some other places are harder to get to such as wheel wells and firewalls and flooring for the car. Isn't it harder to distinguish these on a assembly line compared to say a drivetrain?

About the dashboard, I was actually thinking the quality of materials used. Compare the Yaris and say, the Camry. The level of materials used is a huge difference. If they are going to bring it a up market car, they may want to use materials akin to what's used in a Camry, which makes it at least comparable to a SMART. However with a higher quality dash comes a higher sale price. Some people may want the car but not with the quality. NA are known for penny pinching and don't particularly care about the quality of materials as long as it works. What would they target the iQ to? the higher class SMART group, or the lower than Yaris group as I don't see them offering two dashes to satisfy both groups of consumers. A middle ground position is really delicate here because the higher class may just go to the SMART if the interior is not up to par, and if the price gets jacked up even more than 500-1000 too much, the lower group would just dismiss buying the iQ altogether.

Seats, are easily removable, and the flop down seat is probably A LOT cheaper to warrant that kind of trim discrepancy. Dashes aren't as easily designed and installed.

Very true on the line about the smaller the vehicle, the harder to make a profit. Which goes back to the discussion of whether if they can market the iQ as a up market car in NA. In Europe I can see it happening, and probably even in Canada, but US its a bit harder.

About the dashboard, I was actually thinking the quality of materials used. Compare the Yaris and say, the Camry. The level of materials used is a huge difference. If they are going to bring it a up market car, they may want to use materials akin to what's used in a Camry, which makes it at least comparable to a SMART. However with a higher quality dash comes a higher sale price. Some people may want the car but not with the quality. NA are known for penny pinching and don't particularly care about the quality of materials as long as it works. What would they target the iQ to? the higher class SMART group, or the lower than Yaris group as I don't see them offering two dashes to satisfy both groups of consumers. A middle ground position is really delicate here because the higher class may just go to the SMART if the interior is not up to par, and if the price gets jacked up even more than 500-1000 too much, the lower group would just dismiss buying the iQ altogether.


very simple
iQ ce- Classic economy, plain and simple, low end trim and stuff, from point A to point B

iQ Le - Luxury Economy - more fancy

iQ XLE - Super Luxury - All the bells and wistles you want

iQ S - its the Le with a ground kit lol and S badge more money same thing

iQ XRS - RAWR go go mini car go :lol:

very simple
iQ ce- Classic economy, plain and simple, low end trim and stuff, from point A to point B

iQ Le - Luxury Economy - more fancy

iQ XLE - Super Luxury - All the bells and wistles you want

iQ S - its the Le with a ground kit lol and S badge more money same thing

iQ XRS - RAWR go go mini car go :lol:

That still doesn't change the problem of what materials they want to use. Having garnish on the dash does not count lol. If they want to use Yaris grade materials, there is no way even the XLE will match to the SMART in terms of quality.

And lawl about the break down of Corolla trimming and applying on to the iQ.

iQ S - its the Le with a ground kit lol and S badge more money same thing


I see an issue here: "Nice Schumacher. You got your iQ lowered".



I can show you how the interior is gonna be once I get mine :D

^ LOL I didn't think of that!

I see an issue here: "Nice Schumacher. You got your iQ lowered".

I can show you how the interior is gonna be once I get mine :D

Hey guys check it out i lowered my iQ
:lol:

Oh the puns

^Lifted my IQ? :rolleyes:

^Lifted my IQ? :rolleyes:

i can alredy see someone down here in texas put a lift kit on an IQ :lol:

"My iQ's higher than yours!" :nana::slap::whatthe: