Toyota iQ platform to be used for new hatchback, SUV and 7-seater MPV
In order to pack enough components and space into such a small little thing, Toyota’s new premium small car the Toyota iQ warranted an all-new platform with many newly designed components.
Some packaging innovations used in the new Toyota iQ includes a relocated differential moved to the front side of the engine to allow the front wheels to be moved further forward, a new steering rack that is mounted high on the firewall, a new wiper motor and mechanism to allow for the new steering rack, a book-thin flat fuel tank located under the rear passenger’s feet, a compact yet powerful climate control unit, ultrathin seatbacks to create more space, and repositioned engine ancillaries around the suspension for a turning radius of 3.9 meters. Because the rear passenger is so close to the rear of the car, there are even rear windshield airbags.
The iQ will have a production volume of only 100,000 units a year which is not enough to recover the R&D costs, so a few more cars based on the Toyota iQ platform is expected to arrive soon. One is a small SUV - likely to be a Cross-iQ, and others would include a compact 7-seater as well as a car to replace the Toyota Yaris.
It seems that the Toyota iQ is actually a challenge to Toyota’s R&D team to rethink how they usually design a vehicle platform, and then use the space-maximizing innovations and platform to create more normal sized cars that offer class-leading interior space. Imagine, perhaps two generations from now we will get an iQ-based Toyota Vios B-segment sedan that offers C-segment interior space.
And it will all be because of the Toyota iQ.
September 20, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
100k units per year is insufficient to cover the R&D cost???????a Spaceship, or wat?
September 20, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
toyota can, other brand maybe not. look at kijang not only ugly but not economical but still praised.
September 20, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
typical marketing….
September 21, 2008 @ 8:24 am
Kijang as at Toyota Kijang in Indonesia?Unser(Kijang in indo if i were right) were praised for spacious+cheap rite?
September 21, 2008 @ 9:59 am
looks nice, but i rather have a ford ka, fiat 500..this would be a failure like the smart
September 21, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Oh come on! This is like trying to ride on Smart’s eco friendliness. It doesn’t really need a lot to make something that’s nicer than a fortwo. As evidenced by the Myviness of this iQ. It would be even more scary to think that Toyota’s design philosophy would evolve around this model. I know they’ve got some EBIT problems, but this is taking it a bit too far.
September 22, 2008 @ 12:55 am
Arent you think ….look carefully …. this little fellow front look like myvi…
September 23, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Just let them be. I doubt European is going to buy them…