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Toyota introducing Smart-like car in EU

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by jayman, May 20, 2008.

  1. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Just returned from a business trip. Can't recall if this has been posted before, but Toyota is planning on introducing a Smart-like car in the EU towards the end of this year. It will be called the iQ

    http://www.toyota-europe.com/cars/new_cars/iq/index.aspx

    I'd much sooner trust Toyota mechanicals than Smart mechanicals
     
    #1 jayman, May 20, 2008
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I've read a few articles about it. I think it's a cute little car. And I agree that I would more than likely buy it before I would buy a Smart. Though I have to admit, Smarts have been around for quite a while internationally and have pretty solid crash tests.
     
    #2 TonyPSchaefer, May 20, 2008
  3. bac

    bac Active Member

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    I drove a Smart Car in Italy in 2005. It was the 5-door version which I liked a lot. It handled well, and ran relatively fast down the autostrada! :)

    ... Brad
     
    #3 bac, May 20, 2008
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yep. I'd buy the iQ in a heartbeat if I was looking for a small car. I ended up with the smart cause... well the iQ isn't available.

    Jay, you can keep track of my ownership if you wish. i'll probably post things here in PC if people are interested.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, May 20, 2008
  5. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Oh, I wasn't suggesting the Smart was "bad," but it's nice to see Toyota offereing a similar car

    I would also like to see the Yaris offered here with the 1 litre 3 cylinder and 1.3 litre 4 cylinder. I've driven the 3 cylinder Yaris and for normal city driving, it has plenty of power
     
    #5 jayman, May 20, 2008
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah it is. The smart is a German car made in France with a Japanese engine lol.

    really? I'll stick with the 1.3 litre =P. I'll leave that 1.0 litre for the Aygo. I think the 1.0 does have the CVT though.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, May 20, 2008
  7. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Yep, I thought it was plenty for me. Of course, I'm a big guy with a big ... you know ... and I don't need to "compensate" for the size of my motor.

    Speaking of motors and phallic symbols, I wonder how much better fuel economy the Prius would get with a 1 litre 3 cylinder motor?
     
    #7 jayman, May 20, 2008
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    hahahaha. Yeah one of the managers at work was surprised at the amount of room.

    I wouldn't think it'll get any better (given its current weight of 1,330kg). It might get the same. The Prius is faster than the smart (both top speed and acceleration).
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, May 20, 2008
  9. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    In the EU, the Yaris with the "baby" motor is rated almost 10 mpg average more than the 1.3 litre 4 cylinder. The hybrid drive would make up for any obvious lack of "power"

    Consider for its size, the 1.5 litre Prius is quite fine for power and acceleration. I wonder if they even tried a 3 cylinder motor, like the Insight used to have? I would happily give up a few seconds 0-60 for a potential 10 mpg gain.

    Like I said, I don't have to compensate for the size of my .... "motor"
     
    #9 jayman, May 21, 2008
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    really? 10mpg imperial? not too bad eh? But I'm also guess it's stripped of everything (not that our base model isn't since it doesn't even have a rear wiper or floor mats).


    If the car is light enough, it may not need power steering. The smart has it as an option on the base "Pure" but is standard on the "Passion" (Canada only).
     
    #10 Tideland Prius, May 21, 2008
  11. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Yes, very very plain. But nothing wrong with that. The base model 3door Echo hatchback didn't have power steering either
     
    #11 jayman, May 22, 2008
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    but it had basic ABS (no EBD).
     
    #12 Tideland Prius, May 22, 2008
  13. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    True enough
     
    #13 jayman, May 23, 2008
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