Remember the Toyota FT-EV Concept (based on the Toyota iQ) that made its debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show? Well, it is now time for Part 2. At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will show the FT-EV II Concept, ” a compact electric vehicle designed for short distance travel.”

Based on the Toyota iQ, the FT-EV II Concept is designed primarily for urban driving with room for four passengers.

It features drive-by-wire technology that allows the vehicle functions to be controlled using a joystick, including the accelerator, brakes and steering. That means there is no gas or break pedal, which Toyota says frees up legroom for the four-seat design. Another innovative feature included in the FT-EV II Concept are the sliding doors, which Toyota says gives the concept easy access to tight spots.

On a full-charge the Toyota FT-EV II Concept will provide a range of more than 50 miles with a top speed of 60 mph.

Toyota FT-EV II Concept Dimensions:

- Length: 2,730 mm
- Width: 1,680 mm
- Height: 1,490 mm
- Wheelbase: 1,900 mm

Toyota FT-EV II Concept:

- By: Kap Shah

Designers are always looking for new fonts to create a work of art or just another print ad. However, a lot goes into making a font that many of us are unaware of. One such example is this new font created based on the new Toyota iQ.

Commissioned by Toyota, Letmedesign typographers Pierre & Damien collaborated with Stef Vancampenhoudt to create a new font using the new Toyota iQ minicar.

Check out the whole process in the video posted after the jump and download the font here (you may have to specify your region and then be redirected to the iQ font site).

Click through for the video.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

It’s smaller than the Ford Fiesta and it’s based on the Toyota iQ – sounds something like Aston Martin would never build right? Nonetheless, it is a reality and Aston Martin says that it won’t be making any mechanical changes to the base iQ model, which Toyota will provide the supercar automaker’s Gaydon facility.

The only changes Aston will add are cosmetic changes to the exterior and an upgraded interior with new technology and leather trim.

While Aston Martin only released a clay model photo of its Cygent, the folks at AutoExpress have put together a rendering of what the production version may look like.

Check out more over at AutoExpress.

Aston Martin Cygnet:

- By: Omar Rana

Yesterday was a pretty surprising day in the automotive industry with Aston Martin announcing an innovative alliance with Toyota to develop the Gaydon automaker’s first luxury compact, fuel-efficient vehicle. We’ve now dug up some more information on the new Toyota iQ based Aston Martin Cygnet, which may surprisingly enter production as early as next year.

‘It’s a great compliment that the Toyota iQ has been hand-picked by one of the world’s most prestigious sports car brands, a company with whom we also share a strong friendship. This collaboration represents a natural pairing of strategies: a small yet spacious package, perfect for the city driver, finished off with Aston Martin’s iconic design language,’ said Tadashi Arashima, CEO and President of TME.

Reports say that Aston Martin will build up to 2,000 units of the Cygnet annually. The luxury supercar automaker won’t be making any mechanical changes to the iQ, which will be built and shipped directly to Aston’s assembly plant by Toyota. The only changes Aston will add is a new grille, minimal changes to the headlamps and Aston’s signature vents on the hood and front quarter panels. It will also trim out the interior with upgraded technology and leather.

Aston says it will first offer the Cygnet to current Aston Martin owners and will later off it to others interested in the car, reports Automotive News.

Pricing is expected to come in at 23,000 euros ($32,285 USD), up from Toyota iQ’s base price of 12,700 euros ($17,827 USD).

Aston Martin Cygnet:

- By: Omar Rana

Chief engineer Hiroki Nakajima says the Toyota iQ is central to Toyota’s global carbon dioxide reduction strategy. Toyota first gave us a hint for a U.S. based iQ with the Scion iQ concept that made its debut at the 2009 New York Auto Show in April. According to Motor Trend, you can expect to see the Scion iQ on the roads by early 2011.

Based on the Toyota iQ 3+1 city car, the North American version will be lengthened by an inch and a half and will receive other minimal changes to meet U.S. standards.

The Scion iQ concept is powered by a 1.3L 4-cylinder VVT-i making 93-hp with a peak torque of 89 lb-ft.

For those of you hoping for a hybrid model – don’t get ahead of yourself. Nakajima says that fitting a hybrid system into a car as small as the iQ would prove to be significantly difficult and costly. Nonetheless, Toyota has confirmed that its iQ based FT-EV concept will make it into production by 2012. No word on whether the battery-electric-vehicle (BEV) version of the iQ will come to the United States.

Scion iQ Concept:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Motor Trend

Go ahead – check your calendars and make sure it isn’t April 1st – and no we’re not playing a practical joke on you. What you’re looking at is a new “luxury commuter concept” called the Cygnet developed by Aston Martin that looks like a beefed up Toyota iQ with a DBS grille and hood nostrils.

Aston Martin released one photograph of the clay model currently in production and is not even hiding the fact that the Cygnet has iQ based design and qualities. The Gaydon automakers says that the “Cygnet will offer customers a distinctive, intelligent and exclusive solution for urban travel in style and luxury” and is “based on the critically acclaimed Toyota iQ with a Euro NCAP 5-star safety package.”

“Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this first bold step to embark on this special project – made possible with the support of an organisation of Toyota’s stature and capability and the intelligent design and perfect city car package of the iQ,” said CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

Yes – it’s not a secret that an automaker that produces some of the world’s most gorgeous supercars is teaming up with an automaker that produces some of the world’s most fuel-efficient cars.

So will it ever become a reality? “Much work is still required, but I am confident that this project could become reality in the not too distant future,” said Bez. “This concept – akin to an exclusive tender to a luxury yacht – will allow us to apply Aston Martin design language, craftsmanship and brand values to a completely new segment of the market.”

Aston Martin Cygnet:

- By: Kap Shah

We don’t know what to believe anymore since it’s April 1st, but the folks over at AutoWeek have just posted a spy shot of what they say is a Scion based Toyota iQ set to debut at the 2009 New York Auto Show next week.

AutoWeek says that the Scion iQ is identical to the Toyota version in every way.

The Scion iQ will make its debut in concept form next week with a production model headed to U.S. dealerships in the near future.

Head over to AutoWeek to see the full picture.

- By: Kap Shah

Scion announced today that it will unveil a micro-subcompact concept car at the 2009 New York Auto Show next week that will reflect a “youthful image and represents a new segment for the brand aimed toward the growing urbanization trend.”

The car is expected to be badged as the tD and may be a Scion version of the Toyota iQ minicar.

We’ll bring you more details from the 2009 New York Auto Show next month. Stay tuned.

- By: Omar Rana

The 2009 New York Auto Show is just around the corner and the 2009 World Car of the Year finalists have been announced. Picked from an initial list of 51 new vehicles from all over the world, the top three contenders for the 2009 World Car title include the Ford Fiesta, Toyota iQ and the new Volkswagen Golf VI.

Finalists for the 2009 World Performance Car include the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Nissan GT-R and the new Porsche 911 Carrera. The 2009 World Green Car finalists include the Honda FCX Clarity, Mitsubishi i MiEV and the Toyota iQ. Contenders for the 2009 World Car Design of the Year include the Citroen C5, Fiat 500 and the Jaguar XF.

To be eligible for the overall World Car award, a vehicle must be in production and sold in at least two continents during 2008.

Winners will be announced at the 2009 New York International Auto Show on April 9, 2009.

At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show today, Toyota announced that it is offering a new engine option for its four-seat minicar. Alongside the 1.0L VVT-i, Toyota will offer a 1.33L Dual VVT-i with Toyota Optimal Drive Technology.

The new engines gives the Toyota iQ 98-hp with a peak torque of 92 lb-ft. It is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and features Toyota’s Stop & Start system. The new Stop & Start system reduces fuel-consumption of the iQ by three percent helping it return 58.9 mpg (49 mpg U.S.). If you opt for the new Multidrive automatic, fuel-economy falls to 55.4 mpg (46 mpg on the stateside).

The new Toyota iQ3 features a new color – Astral Black – and comes with 16-inch alloy wheels. Pricing details will be announced closer to its launch date in July.

Toyota iQ3 1.33L:

So Toyota realized that while a fuel-economy of 65.7 mpg (55 mpg on the state side) for the iQ sounds good – 67-hp sounds pretty boring. At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show next week, Toyota will bring a 99-hp 1.33L Dual VVT-i engine iQ minicar for those looking for that extra punch.

With the help of Toyota’s Optimal Drive technology and a fuel-saving stop & start system, the new 99-hp engine returns a fuel economy of 58.9mpg (49 mpg in U.S. terms) when mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. If you go for the Multidrive automatic transmission fuel-economy will drop to 55.4 mpg (46 mpg on the stateside).

European sales of the 99-hp Toyota iQ will begin in July.

Toyota iQ 99-hp 1.33:

Toyota agents in Malta are handing out a free Blackberry smartphone with every Toyota iQ they sell. Where is this Malta place we speak of? Malta is a small chain of seven islands situated in Southern Europe about 58 miles off the cost of Sicily, Italy. Yeah, we had no idea they existed and had no idea that the Toyota iQ would be selling there (and to think the U.S. won’t get the iQ for at least another 2 years).

Anyway, agents at Michael Debono Ltd are giving new Toyota iQ buyers a Blackberry with their purchase of the tiny new mini-car. Which Blackberry will Toyota iQ buyers be given was not disclosed.

Guess Apple doesn’t sell iPhones in Malta.

Refresher: Power comes from a 1.0L VVT-i 3-cylinder engine making 67-hp and a peak torque of 67 lb-ft. Combined with a 5-speed manual transmission, the iQ returns an impressive 65.7 mpg (55 mpg in U.S. terms).

Source: PocketBerry

Toyota says that the packaging of the Toyota iQ can fit twice as many people than the Smart ForTwo while being just 29 centimeters longer and and 12 centimeters wider. How does Toyota do it? Find out as Tom Ford explains the 6 steps Toyota took to offer all that space in its tiny little city car.

Refresher: Power comes from a 1.0L VVT-i 3-cylinder engine making 67-hp and a peak torque of 67 lb-ft. Combined with a 5-speed manual transmission, the iQ returns an impressive 65.7 mpg (55 mpg in U.S. terms).

Follow the jump for the video (try to watch it before YouTube and Fifth Gear have a little talk).

Toyota iQ:

Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress today, Toyota announced that it is seriously considering bringing the iQ minicar to the United States. The Toyota iQ made it debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show last year and recently went on sale in Japan.

“We think there is an urban market,” Toyota executive Esmond said. “We are looking real hard at how it would fit in….because if you look at urban markets, they are growing.”

Esmond said that Toyota has been studying the sales of the Smart ForTwo very closely and said that Toyota would likely import the car to the United States in the near future. He declined to give a firm schedule or whether the car will be sold under the Toyota or Scion badge.

Click through for the high-res image gallery.

2009 Toyota iQ:

Source: Detroit Free Press

We really can’t emphasize the consumer shift towards more compact vehicles and it seems like automakers are catering to that shift even when it comes to minivans. According to AutoExpress Toyota’s next MPV will be based on the Estima concept and surprisingly – the iQ and the Prius.

A source told the publication that Toyota is “looking at a seven-seater based on the Prius. It would use a lithium-ion battery, and could be here by 2012.”

Technicians behind the iQ say that the new MPV will also use the compact car’s technology to squeeze in seven-seats into a Yaris. Chief engineer Hiroki Nakajima said that Toyota is always looking for clever engineering and packaging solutions.

“For example, we’re working on a seven-seater that’s the size of the Yaris. We can do it, and give limo-like legroom in the back,” said Nakajima.

Source: AutoExpress

Coming in with a total of 526 votes from a panel of 65 jurors, the mini Toyota iQ claimed the title of Japan Car of the Year for 2008. 39 of the 65 jurors gave the iQ a perfect score of 10.

Second place went to the iQ’s closest rival, the Citroen C5 which came in with 223 vote. Surprisingly, the third-place title went to the Nissan GT-R which received a total of 201 votes. With that said, this is a pretty astonishing victory for the Toyota iQ.

iQ’s Chief Engineer Hiro Nakamura Hiroki Nakajima said: “I wish to thank my Toyota colleagues for giving me some slack and putting up with my one-track, head-strong mission to build a car like no other, the world’s smallest four-seater, and that some self-indulgence on my part was necessary to achieve such an epoch-making vehicle.”

The Toyota iQ will go on sale in Europe next year with a 6-speed manual gearbox and a choice of gasoline and diesel engines. The iQ is rumored to make its stateside debut at the 2008 LA Auto Show next week as a Scion.

2009 Toyota iQ:

Source: InsideLine

The 55 mpg Toyota iQ isn’t necessarily a car that you’d want to throw on an extra body kit or 20-inch wheels on. With a 67-hp engine the iQ was made for those that care about only one thing – fuel-efficiency.

However, that didn’t stop tuner Modelista to add a couple of things of their own things to the Smart ForTwo rival from Japan. It certainly isn’t something Brabus would do the Smart ForTwo but it gives your iQ a little more sex appeal.

Modelista has added yellow accents around the side-view mirror, bottom of the two doors, front-lower grille and something to the back of the trunk that totally seems like it was forced on.

Click through for more photos.

Modelista Toyota iQ:

Source: NihonCar (via Jalopnik)

Call it a spider, cabriolet or convertible, they all mean the same thing – there is no roof. According to the folks at Auto Motor und Sport, Toyota is working on a two-seater convertible iQ concept for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.

Whether or not Toyota will actually produce the convertible iQ is still unclear. We’re guessing they’re going to gauge the reaction in Tokyo and go from there. Power is still expected to come from the 1.0L VVT-i 3-cylinder gasoline engine capable of 67-hp.

We’re not sure if it’ll make its way over to the U.S. but if it does it may be badged as a Scion just like the current iQ. Not to mention, Scion could probably use a convertible in its lineup.

Click through for more high-res photos.

2009 Toyota iQ:

Edited by: Kap Shah

Source: Auto Motor und Sport