|
The Toyota iQ
concept, unveiled today at the Frankfurt Motor Show, marks a
step change in small car design, challenging conventional
thinking by being small, yet spacious and high in premium
quality features. It’s an ultra-compact vehicle that achieves
exceptional space efficiency and is perfectly tailored to the
lifestyle needs and environmental concerns of Europe’s modern
metropolitans.
The iQ
concept was created at ED2, Toyota’s European design
studio in the South of France, following the principles of
Toyota’s ‘vibrant clarity’ design philosophy – forward-looking,
intelligent and energetic, with clarity of purpose and function.
Wahei Hirai,
Manager of Toyota Motor Corporation’s design activities,
explained: “The iQ concept is designed to reflect and enhance
the lifestyle of its owners. In an urban environment, people
want to express themselves through dynamic and on-the-edge
design, but at the same time rational factors such as size,
functionality and CO2 emissions cannot be ignored.
“Bringing
these contradictory aims together in synergy was critical to the
iQ concept, it’s a way of thinking we call the ‘J-factor’, a
philosophy at the heart of all our activities.”
Being two
centimetres shy of three metres in length, the iQ concept takes
a radical approach to vehicle packaging and design. It
challenges the current limitations of ultra-compact urban
transport by having a versatile interior that can accommodate
three adults, plus luggage space or seating for a fourth, child
passenger.
It reinforces
Toyota’s commitment to reducing vehicle emissions through
innovative design, its small size helping address the problems
caused by increased urban congestion.
Design
The iQ
concept is designed to convey confidence and vibrancy in every
aspect, giving it urban high fashion status. The exterior is
simple, but the generous width of the vehicle gives a stable,
robust stance. Viewed in profile, the ultra-short overhangs and
cab-forward silhouette create a dynamic look, while ensuring
maximum usable space is gained in the cabin.
The
structures around the 17-inch tyres form part of the minimal
overhangs, adding to the sense of strength and agility. Inside,
the instrument panel has a simple geometric form that
contributes to the overall open feel of the interior, while the
centre console flows in a manta ray-shape – complete with chrome
finished ‘tail’ – around the instruments to create a vivid
central feature, a freeform shape that is echoed in the
soft-touch door trims.
Overall, the
iQ concept has an ‘on-the-edge’ style, expressed in elements
such as the purple shimmer in its pearlescent white paint
finish, mock snakeskin steering wheel trim and purple accents in
the seats, door trims and dashboard.
Compact,
not compromised
The iQ is the
world’s smallest four-seat passenger concept car. At 2,980mm
long, it is 425mm shorter than Aygo, but comparable to Yaris in
width and height (1,680 x 1,480mm).
It has
seating for three adults plus a child, with the option of using
the fourth seat for luggage space. In regular use, driver and
passenger sit side by side, but by sliding the passenger seat
further forwards makes room for an extra adult and child in the
rear.
Intelligent
space-saving design and miniaturised technology help free up
interior space, for example the ultra-compact heating unit that
takes up less room in the centre console. A single central dial
displays the interior temperature and ventilation controls,
directly in the driver’s eyeline, with a three-dimensional
three-in-one speed, rpm and fuel level read-out mounted above
the steering column. Audio and navigation controls are
integrated into the steering wheel, with the route-finding
information projected in a head-up display.
The panoramic
glass sunroof adds to the light and open feel of the cabin,
while at night the interior has a darker, more mysterious
ambience, adding to the iQ concept’s high fashion quality.
The small
size has required no compromise in safety standards, with a
strong passenger compartment safety cell that ensures optimum
impact energy absorption.
In presenting
the iQ concept, Toyota reveals an intelligent new design and
technology package, a radical solution to the challenge of
personal urban transport. |
