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Toyota's US youth brand Scion has unveiled a special concept version of the iQ supermini at the New York motor show.

Although the bright yellow concept car features some design flourishes, it is essentially a rebadged version of the iQ currently on sale in Europe and Japan. It has been rebranded in the US as Toyota believes Scion's younger image is more likely to resonate with potential buyers .

"Traditionally small vehicles have been thought of as being basic," said Jack Hollis, S...Read the full article

Will new bumpers and a bodykit sell the iQ to the US? 

Can the average Amercan fit in one?

Autocar:

Although the bright yellow concept car features some design flourishes

And surely that's Green?

This looks great - far better than the bland black or white ones that Toyota GB thinks are good enough for UK customers. Toyota GB could help solve their reputation for being boring at a stroke by just brigtening their cars up a bit with these sorts of colours. By the way it looks green to me as well.

Audi Tastic:

Autocar:

Although the bright yellow concept car features some design flourishes

And surely that's Green?

 

Autocar:

Toyota's US youth brand tests the market for its three-seat supermini

Is it not a 4 seater, too? The new ad shows 4 peeps getting in one.

 

Interesting. When I was doing the reporting for Autocar's initial design story on the iQ, the chief engineer told me that he'd like to do a Scion version of the car; we suggested as much in the story we published last summer. But he wasn't sure they would be able to make enough. Toyota's current iQ line is only good for 100,000 cars a year, he said, and the product planners reckoned everything would be snapped up by Europe and Japan. So either they're upping the line capacity, or they're not selling as many iQs in the existing markets as they thought they would.

 

ordinary bloke:

Toyota GB could help solve their reputation for being boring at a stroke by just brigtening their cars up a bit with these sorts of colours.

 Ha...you really think Toyota GB have much choice?  Having worked on iQ for Toyota GB in the product department, we worked so hard to make this exciting, with every proposal being knocked back by Toyota Motor Europe...we had fantastic ideas for customisation, colours, grade names...each one was rejected by TME because it was too "out-there".

Matt Saunders:

So either they're upping the line capacity, or they're not selling as many iQs in the existing markets as they thought they would

Or he wasn't telling you the whole story... 

If you look at how Prius production has increased over a few years you can see how the famed Toyota Production System can handle volume increases. 

I just want a set of those Scion wheels and arches for my iQ

 

 

Isn't "funky" the current in-word at Autocar Towers - that's how the Urban Cruiser's bland box shape was described.

Scott B:

I just want a set of those Scion wheels and arches for my iQ

In your position Scott, I'm sure that shouldn't be too tricky...