The attentive reader of TTAC is not surprised by the news provided by Automobilwoche [sub] that Toyota will introduce a plug-in version of its iQ by 2012. It had been on Toyota’s green roadmap for months. The (not really) surprising news is: You won’t be able to buy the EV iQ when it gets launched.
At least not in Europe. A Toyota Europe spokesperson told Automobilwoche that the car will only be available as a lease. Leases appear to be a favorite way of carmakers to enter the plug-in market with caution.
Funny coincidence: The picture of the battery-operated Toyota iQ that accompanies the article in Automobilwoche (above) was taken in the exact same spot (left) where I had a quickie test drive of the conventionally powered iQ last December.
If you want a faux Italian background in Tokyo, cobbled streets and all, there is no better place than Toyota’s Mega Web site.
Jeeze as well as the Smart is doing, Mercedes might as well get Toyota to badge engineer one for them.
the next Smart will be on a shared platform with Renault.
I’m not sure if the iQ is selling well in Europe. This car is a pretty rare sight for me in France; I see far more Fiat 500s and Citroen C1s/Peugeot 107s.
Might have to do something with price levels and versatility. How much Smarts do you see in France compared to the IQ?
One of these would fit nicely in my small driveway, but I fear that my 6’4″ frame would not fit nicely in the iQ…