Toyota minicar arriving in 2009

Hoping to share in the success of the European minicar segment, Toyota is planning to release a production version of its iQ concept car as early as 2009. According to the Nikkei business daily, this model would help feed the increasingly growing demand for fuel-efficient small cars in a market facing very tight emission regulations.

Based on the iQ, the new production version will be manufactured in Japan starting with only 100,000 vehicles produced per year. The iQ measures a mere 2,980mm in length, 425mm less than Toyota's current European small car champion, the Agyo. The daily reports that the car could be expected to accommodate four people and will be powered by a 1.0L petrol engine, with a diesel option possibly on the cards.

The iQ concept was created at ED2, Toyota’s European design studio in the South of France. The car features a unique 3+1 seating arrangement, meaning it can hold a maximum of 3 adults and 1 child.