Scion iQ Media Press Week San Francisco, CA
 

Last week I was invited by Scion to attend the Scion iQ Media Press Week in San Francisco. The location of San Francisco was perfect! Lots of traffic, urban environment, and tight areas to test the iQ. I'll get to the goods later, but for now here's the photos:

Representing Scionlife & Alpha SQUAD
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Scion's finest briefing the media prior to the test drive
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Test drive location @ Golden Gate Park (Perfect setting)
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5 Axis demos (All items shown will be available through Scion Optimize)
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Driving scenery was amazing that week! My ride parter for the event was Jeff Maldonado aka Shhhhhtc and we had a blast. Took the iQ all over SF. San Marin, Golden Gate Bridge, Japantown, Wharf, etc...
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Overall, the iQ is amazing. I loved it and spoke w/ other media guests and responses were the same. The iQ brought a smile in my face like the same face I made when I bought my 1st gen Scion xB which was ear to ear. Basics are the car is a 1.3 with under 100 hp that gets you 36 mpg. Its not made for speed. Its for personalization and/or built for the everyday hustle to and from where ever you go. The Scion iQ is uncomparable to the Smart because well you have room for 4 YES 4. You have room and you don't look like a rolling coffin. Added safety features have been added to the iQ as well. The headroom and shoulder to shoulder space is there. For the price starting at under 16k to start, the iQ is really something to think about if you want to stay in the Scion family or add another vehicle in your garage. Look for the iQ to start popping up at your local dealership around October of this year.

Thank you Jack Hollis and the Scion staff for the invitation to this unforgettable event.
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here's some misc messing around shots we were doing around SF.

Challenge was made to Smart, but they didnt want none.
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Here's a prespective point of view of how small the iQ is from the outside, but has a big heart inside and packin heat too!
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Chasing down Charles (import tuner) and Richard (DSport Magazine) through San Marin
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Jeff took amazing pics that day. You need to look into photography man!

Very cool dudes!!

Thanks but can you answer some questions or give your opinions on this -

1. Air conditioner: Does this thing have a good air conditioner. The xB1 always had the weakest AC units. How does it compare?

2. Roominess inside compared to the xB1

3. Comments on the new BT/Pandora radio

4. Did your have cruise control. Was it responsive?

5. Does this little thing have the "umph" to run at freeway speeds? How about getting onto the highway?

6. I know this is meant as a city car, but the USA is not Europe or Japan and we have to drive long distances across cities and states. Could this car handle long trips?

7. What size gas tank?

We actually never got to try the A/C & cruise control. I beleive that the iQ can handle long trips, however I would only suggest a 2 person trip. When the back seats are dropped you have about equal to the size of the trunk space of the current xD w/ the seats up, but the trip would still be comfy w/ 2 people.

Speed is something that everyone is different on. I believe w/ the 1.3, Scion maximized the most to make it efficient too and yes going up hill it will lag on a distance climb. Through the streets of Frisco, we didn't really notice anything struggling.

The cabin space in the iQ is still spaceous. The headroom is massive and the width of the iQ gives you breathing room. The back seats however *can be limited to some, but I fit in there fine. I'm 5'9 and 185. It doesnt seem much, but Jack Hollis the VP of Scion is about 6'2 and sits back there just fine as well. So the iQ is uncompareable to the 1st generation xB because well the xB was taller and longer...not by much but still. hahaha

Sweet!!!

! sooo, are all the colors pictured there going to be available?
because black currant metallic wasn't on that list when the colors were found out, though it is available on the iQ elsewhere, Black currant is a great color, looks good on both my xD and on the iQ you had there, i would hope it stays around.

def fun dude...exited to had been part of yet another media press week and chill with all them dudes.

great write up Kirby, thanks for sharing!

looks really nice.. I was gonna pop at the original price at $16k I am not sold as the market gets very competitive there

Looks like they are updating the Scion.com site. iQ is shown in orange.

pics of interior?

Sorry I would HAVE posted them up, BUUUT I failed on my packing. I left my media card at the hotel when I checked out. The photos from my camera sucks and not very presentable so I deleted them. I hope Jeff Maldonado aka Shhhhtc can provide photos if he took any. We mainly used my camera that day.

The iQ does come in the color of "Hot Lava" like the RS1 xB.

Speaking of colors, the only color that is not available is the 5 Axis iQ below. It would have been a nice color to add in too!
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They are really telling the specs now on scion.com.

I can't believe it weighs only 23XX lbs if i can remember I quickly read it this AM during break.

If you ever wanna see a good YouTube vid with a iQ. Type in "Vicky Butler Henderson drives Toyota iQ" she's British car show host with Rally racing experience. She really beats that iQ up! lol