Toyota IQ

The Toyota iQ is a microcar introduced at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, with Japanese sales beginning in October 2008 and UK sales in January 2009.

The name iQ, an initialism of the term intelligence quotient, recalls a competitor, the Smart Fortwo. According to Toyota, the i stands for "individuality" "innovation" and "intelligence", while the Q stands for "quality" and points to the iQ's "cubic" shape. It was Japanese Car of the Year for 2008.

The iQ was initially designed at the Toyota European Design and Development (Toyota ED2) studio in Nice, France.

The design emphasizes low fuel consumption, maneuverability, environmental friendliness, and maximized interior space. Six specific design factors contribute to IQ's minimal overhangs, forward windscreen location, maximized cabin space and overall compactness. These include a newly developed differential and a centre take-off steering gear, a flat fuel tank and rear-angled shock absorbers, a smaller heater/air conditioning unit and asymmetric dashboard, and a slimmer seat design.

The iQ achieves 65.69 mpg-imp (4.30 L/100 km; 54.70 mpg-US) by European standards.

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 comes standard.