The Toyota iQ is a city car manufactured by Toyota and marketed in a single generation for Japan (2008–2016); Europe (2008–2015); and North America (2012–2015), where it was marketed as the Scion iQ. A rebadged variant was marketed in Europe as the Aston Martin Cygnet (2011–2013).
Designed at the Toyota European Design and Development studio in Nice, France, the iQ is noted for its specialized engineering to maximize passenger space and minimize length. The design accommodates four occupants.
Following a concept presented at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, the production iQ debuted at the March 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Japanese sales began in November 2008 and European sales in January 2009. In 2008, the iQ was named the Japanese Car of the Year.
The name iQ is an initialism of the term intelligence quotient. The letters "iQ" also stand for "individuality", "innovation", "quality", a hint at its "cubic form" and also a "cue" for owners to embrace new types of vehicles and lifestyles.
The iQ reached the end of production in December 2015, and it was discontinued in Japan in April 2016.
Overview
The IQ design emphasizes fuel efficiency, maneuverability, low environmental impact, and interior space. Six design factors enable the minimal overhangs, forward windscreen location, maximized cabin space and overall compactness: A newly developed differential mounted further forward than usual A centre take-off steering gear A flat fuel tank positioned underneath the cabin floor Rear-angled shock absorbers to encroach less on rear passenger space A smaller heater/air conditioning unit mounted centrally behind the asymmetric dashboard A slimmer seat design.
The iQ features a transmissions differential housing located ahead of, rather than behind, the engine; a starter motor incorporated in the engine's flywheel, a high-mounted steering rack and a compact, high-located air conditioning unit behind the dashboard central area. The arrangement allows the front passenger to sit forward of the driver, giving increased rear passenger legroom. A shallow under-floor fuel tank reduces rear overhang.
Because of its overall width and engine displacement, the iQ is classified in its home market as a supermini, though its length complies with kei car dimensional regulations.
European sales of the iQ peaked at 44,282 in 2009, and then gradually decreased to less than a thousand in 2015. In Europe, the iQ was priced at approximately , more than the larger Toyota Aygo.
Production of the Scion iQ EV (Toyota eQ in Japan) was to be limited to 100 units for special fleet use in Japan and carsharing demonstration projects in the U.S. Deliveries of the all-electric version with a range of began in the U.S. in March 2013.
Details Model codes Toyota internally designated the iQ as the AJ10, with further sub-model chassis codes:
Chassis codeKGJ10-BGXRGKGJ10-BGXNGNGJ10-BGXNGNUJ10-BGFNWBody style2-seat4-seat4-seat4-seatEngine1KR-FE1KR-FE1NR-FE1ND-TVYears2009–20152008–20152008–20152008–2015
The two seat variant was marketed solely in Japan.
Engines Model Type Power at rpm Torque at rpm CO2 emission (g/km)Petrol engines 1.0 I3 (1KR-FE) at 6,000 at 4,80099 manual, 110 CVT 1.0 (Japan) I3 (1KR-FE) at 6,000 at 4,800CVT: 101 in 10・15 mode, 112 in JC08 mode 1.33 I4 (1NR-FE) at 6,000 at 4,400113 manual, 120 CVT 1.3 (Japan) I4 (1NR-FE) at 6,000 at 4,400CVT: 101 in 10・15 mode, 112 in JC08 modeDiesel engines 1.4D I4 (1ND-FTV) at 3,400 at 1,800–3,200104 manual
The 1.0L engine is similar to the engine in Toyota Aygo. The iQ achieves by European standards. UK models include only petrol engines.
Early Japanese models include only 1.0L three-cylinder engine. 1.33L engine option was added beginning in 2009. Models with the 1.33L engine include start and stop system, however, only with the manual transmission.
The car is capable of fitting 1.6L four-cylinder engine.
Transmissions Model Type 1.05-speed manual, CVT (CVT‐i) 1.336-speed manual, CVT (Super CVT‐i) 1.4D6-speed manual
Japanese models include only CVT transmission.
Specifications 1.0 VVT-i 1.33 Dual-VVT-i 1.4 D-4DProduction Nov 2008 – Dec 2015 May 2009 – Dec 2015 Nov 2008 – Apr 2012Standard trim level iQ iQ3 iQEngine Petrol DieselEngine Type1KR-FE1NR-FE1ND-TVDisplacementMax. power at 6,000 rpm at 6,000 rpm at 3,400 rpmMax. torque at 4,800 rpm at 4,400 rpm at 1,800–3,200 rpmTransmission5-speed manual or CVT6-speed manual or CVT6-speed manual Wheels / tires175 / 65 / R15 J5175 / 60 / R16 J5175 / 65 / R15 J5 0–100 km/h (62 mph) (in sec.)14.711.810.7Maximum speedFuel consumption, cityFuel consumption, highwayFuel consumption, combinedCO2 emissionCurb weightGross weightNoise, in db(A)67.369.568.7
Safety
The iQ includes nine airbags, dual frontal airbags, front seat-mounted side torso airbags, side curtain airbags, front passenger seat cushion airbag, a driver's knee airbag and a newly developed rear curtain airbag to protect backseat passengers' heads from rear-end collisions. Vehicle Stability Control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, brake assist, and electronic brakeforce distribution come standard.
In 2013, the UK's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency voted the Toyota iQ as top three-year-old car most likely to pass its first Ministry of Transport road worthiness test.
In 2023, Toyota and their subsidiary Daihatsu posted a notice that iQ models made for Japan and Europe had "irregularities" during safety tests (such as data falsifications and use of unauthorized testing procedures. Daihatsu noted that for most vehicles including the iQ, "performance standards stipulated by laws and regulations are [still] satisfied".
Scion iQ
In the United States and Canada, the iQ was marketed under Toyota's Scion brand, then Toyota's North American small car brand. The car was introduced in 2012 and discontinued with its Toyota counterpart in 2015. The production Scion iQ debuted at the 2010 New York Auto Show and was marketed for model years 2012 to 2015. In North America, the iQ was only available with the 1.3 L 1NR-FE engine paired to a CVT automatic.
Toyota eQ/Scion iQ EV
A prototype of the Toyota eQ (Scion iQ EV in the US) was exhibited at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The Scion iQ EV is the successor to the FT-EV II as an electric vehicle based on the Toyota iQ chassis. Toyota produced three generations of FT-EV concept cars, and the iQ EV is a production version of those concepts, incorporating the technological and design strengths of all three models. The exterior of the production version is based on the FT-EV III concept shown at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.
The U.S. launch of the limited-production Scion iQ EV was announced for 2012, and according to Toyota, for the initial roll-out the iQ EV would not be available to individual consumers, instead the carmaker decided to focus on fleet customers and car sharing programs. The iQ EV was scheduled to be produced at Toyota's Takaoka Plant in Toyota City beginning in August 2012 and the initial production was planned to be limited to 600 units, with 400 staying in Japan, 100 units destined to the U.S. and the other 100 for Europe. In September 2012 Toyota announced that due to customers' concerns about range and charging time, the production of the Scion iQ (Toyota eQ in Japan) will be limited to 100 units for special fleet use in Japan and the U.S. only, of which, 90 will be placed in American carsharing demonstration projects. The iQ EV will be priced in the Japanese market at (~). The iQ EV/eQ was scheduled to be released in both countries in December 2012.
The first 30 units were delivered in the U.S. to the University of California, Irvine in March 2013 for use in its Zero Emission Vehicle-Network Enabled Transport (ZEV-NET) carsharing fleet. Since 2002 the ZEV-NET program has been serving the transport needs of the Irvine community with all-electric vehicles for the critical last mile of commutes from the Irvine train station to the UC campus and local business offices. In September 2013, another 30 units were allocated to City Carshare to operate Dash, a three-year pilot carsharing program in Hacienda Business Park, in Pleasanton, California.
Specifications
Designed as a city commuting vehicle, the iQ EV has a lower battery capacity that also translates into a shorter charging time, allowing the car to be fully recharged in approximately three hours, and using fast charging, the battery can be recharged up to 80% capacity in only 15 minutes. The iQ EV has a 150 cell 12 kWh 277.5 V lithium-ion battery pack that delivers a NEDC-certified range of , and rated in the U.S. Based on further development of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, the iQ EV's fully electric powertrain comprises an air-cooled, 47 kW electric motor/generator, the 12 kWh battery pack, a 3 kW water-cooled battery charger, an inverter, a DC/DC converter and a motor speed reduction mechanism. Maximum torque of is delivered to the front wheels, giving the iQ EV 0–100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration of 14.0 seconds and a maximum speed of . Like other Toyota full hybrid vehicles, the iQ EV is equipped with a regenerative braking system.
The iQ EV has a minimum turning radius of just and with a length of , making the iQ EV longer than a standard iQ. The electric car shares the iQ overall width of , height of and wheelbase of . High tensile sheet steel has been extensively used in the body shell construction to minimize the additional weight caused by the lithium-ion battery pack, and as a result, the iQ EV weighs just more than a standard 1.3L CVT iQ.
Fuel economy The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency rated the 2013 iQ EV with a combined fuel economy of 121 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPG-e) () with an energy consumption of 28 kW-hrs/100 miles. The city rating is 138 MPG-e () with an energy consumption of 24 kW-hrs/100 miles and 105 MPG-e () with an energy consumption of 32 kW-hrs/100 miles for highway driving. , these ratings allow the 2013 iQ EV to be the second most fuel efficient EPA-certified vehicle of all fuel types considered in all years behind the BMW i3. The iQ EV was ranked first in DOE-EPA's 2013 Annual Fuel Economy Guide.
Badge engineered cars The iQ was badge engineered and sold by some other OEM manufacturers.
Aston Martin Cygnet
The Aston Martin Cygnet is a rebadged variant of the Toyota/Scion iQ marketed by Aston Martin beginning with the 2011 model year, allowing Aston Martin to comply with the 2012 European Union-imposed fleet average emissions regulations. It was developed under the codename P298.
The Cygnet was initially only marketed in the UK. Sales commenced in January 2011 and the market coverage was expanded to cover other European countries the following year. Sales were not restricted, but demand from existing Aston Martin owners for Cygnet was expected to take priority initially. Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez announced shipping expectations of about 4000 per year at a price of about £30,000 – about three times as much as the iQ. Bez stated that the Cygnet demonstrated the company's "commitment to innovation and integrity", whilst respecting the need to "satisfy demands of emissions and space".
The Cygnet featured revisions to the exterior and interior but shared other specifications with the iQ, having a 1.3L inline-four engine, it produced 110 g of /km and fuel consumption of .
In September 2013, after just over two years of production, Aston Martin announced that it would stop production of the Cygnet. The Cygnet has been the second shortest running production car in the history of Aston Martin after the 2012 Aston Martin Virage, which was only produced for a year. The Cygnet was cancelled due to disastrously low sales, with the car reaching only 150 units in the UK and fewer than 600 across Europe rather than its annual target of 4000.