This first post has been claimed in the name of Super Mods! (thank you!)

Here's what we got...







FiveAxis Version





Powertrain

• Engine: 1.3-liter, 4-cylinder with Dual VVT-i
• Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
• Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Dimensions (inches)

• verall Length: 120.1
• Overall Width: 66.1
• Overall Height: 59.1
• Wheelbase: 78.7
• Seating Capacity: 4 (3+1)

Features

• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
• AntiLock Brakes (ABS)
• Electronic Brake Force Distribution & Brake Assist (EBD, BA)
• Traction Control (TRAC)
• Fold Flat Rear Seats
• Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle Rating (ULEV-II)
• Six Speaker Audio
• USB / AUX Input

Press Kit Photos

 

Well, now there's a live audio feed from NYC auto show. A suit is talking. No pix or video.

Oops- audio just cut out. Must be tied to the braking system.

Now I have audio and video. Looks like a tape delay now, since it restarted. I like it when the suit says, "We've kept the brand fresh." I think there are a few tC owners who might disagree.

Uh-oh...he says the IQ has a CVT transmission. That sounds like there's no manual option. Fail!!!!!

 

sauce from http://twitter.com/autoguide

 

With a CVT transmission only? I'll need some friends to give me a push.

 

i know... that's suck if there is no manual...

 

The Sciondimension.com site has a little more info on the IQ now. The pix all show the CVT transmission...no stick-shift.

The press kit, which can be downloaded there as well, makes no mention of anything other than the CVT.

Before I start my rant, let me just point out that the version available in the UK has a manual option. And now, onto the rant...

WHAT THE %$& is Toyota/Scion thinking? Do they really think we're going to be okay with a slow, Japanese version of the Smart Car? Try merging onto an expressway in Pennsylvania with one of these. The merge lanes are nearly non-existent. You'll pull into traffic and discover you will need every one of those 10 airbags really quick.

I had high hopes for this car. I've been putting off replacing my 2005 xA just because of the slight possibility that this car would: a) release and, b) be a peppy little escape pod.

Guess there's no point in that anymore. Way to go, Toyota.

 

I like the iQ alloys.

 

No manual may be a deal breaker for me. If I squint hard enough, my '06 xA looks like a stretch iQ anyway. May have to start looking a bit harder at the Nissan Juke now... looks like a Porsche Cayenne on crack, and for some reason I can respect that. The grille is sorta funky though... very Nissan-ish! Sorry Scion, unless that iQ is way less than $12k, I will either mod the hell out of my xA or be Juke-ing this Fall...

 

I'm concerned about the statement MPG in high 30's, I recall doing some calculations and coming up with Great Britain iQ getting 50-55 mpg after conversion for the English gallon and the metric mile. Obviously I was wrong or I'm missing something.

Anyone else tried to estimate MPG based on the Toyota iQ?

 

That was another turn-off. I remember hearing the same calculation on the iQ forum. 60-64 mpg equivalent, or something like that. Too good to be true.

 

Think the only way I could be sold on this now is if the first RS is the five axis bright green looking concept. That kit makes it look so good, I'd be willing to give up the other 20-30 mpg I thought it would get.

 

The seats in that thing don't exactly look like they're...comfortable. It looks like they took a $20 office chair and threw it in the car.

 

10 airbags... I can't imagine being in that tiny thing and having 10 airbags explode at once. Would throw your ___ right out of the car!! (or at least bounce you around in there like a human Plinko chip...)

 

Holy crap, how messy is this?

 

Where's the awesome CVT transmission located? I don't see the wheel for the hamster anywhere.

 

I dunno, I'm still very impressed with the little iQ. A CVT, while not as fun as a manual, will do a much better job of tapping every possible ounce of performance out of the car. I think it'll be reasonable to see highway numbers in the low-mid 40s with this setup.

Sign me up for one, Scion, and make it Super White.

 

At least it's still throttle by cable... at least it looks like it.

 

Yeah, I'm looking at the Honda Fit more seriously. Just can't get excited about it, though.

 

Hard to see how a CVT can out-accelerate a stick. I've never seen or heard of a car that could do that. I somehow doubt Toyota has made some kind of breakthrough here.

 

I don't claim to know a ton about it, but i think that a CVT keeps the engine in the optimal power range of the engine when you really stand on it, and when you aren't flogging it, it works more for economy. I'm sure that a manual will likely out-accelerate this, but if you're buying a 99HP car, are you really all that worried about performance?