jlstrange

I don't have a better explanation than you've given but I'm puzzled by the indicated letters (P R N D B & S) when compared with the notches. If B is the bottom of the last notch then S would be to the left of it but you could also get to it from D. Also there's no + / - above and below the S that you'd see in a gear shifting transmission. I assume it's just overriding the engine management to take the engine to the higher rpm and closer to the maximum torque so there's less engine/CVT lag when you want additional acceleration.

I look forward to actually driving it but 9-10 months away is way too long.

jpauletteUSAF

Eh, nine months isn't too long. It'll give me more time to pay down my xB and hopefully make some money on it. Hopefully they're still offering the $1000 college grad rebate if and when I decide to purchase one.

saddlesore

Like the Smart... the IQ still reminds me of a horses "road apple" with wheels under it.

ChelsDS

Don't know if someone mentioned this already, but on both the new tC and the iQ it looks like there is no longer a direct cable for iPods as there is an AUX jack being shown in the pictures. Anyone know more about this?

Also, I hate the idea that the iQ is going to be getting projectors (not sure on this, going off of pictures) while the xD doesn't seem to be getting them. LAME!

sa_yon

is cvt tranny gets better mpg compare to manual,, not sure..

CarbonXe

iTrader: (1)

They have a USB input now.

JDMJim

one connector offers more options for more people at a cheaper price. Not everyone uses an I-pod. no projectors in the JDM version of the Ist means no projectors for the xD.

woof

I have re-read some UK tests and the 55-60 mpg seems to be the real world numbers for the 1.0L engine. Ours will have the 1.3L.

There is something else at play....that is upstaging the Prius gas mileage without the iQ being a hybrid. I doubt many Prius buyers would gravitate to the iQ for better mileage and a lower price.

Price? I saw one American source say that the iQ may cost close to $20K! That is ridiculous....I would imagine it may cost the same as the xD.

I have had some defect problems with my Yaris drivetrain and the Regional rep said Toyota is trying to make it harder for us to get manuals. Are we bad clutchers?

DriverXa

The guy at the Autoshow said it won't be more than $16k. If that's true that's still way to much for this car.

jpauletteUSAF

Agreed. An MSRP of $16K would be a bit too high for this kind of car. Price it between the Smart Fortwo and xD, that seems pretty fair.

Pauly-FL

great big city car. Hope the 16k price is the fully loaded model!

Maybe the B on the tranny stands for Boo Yaaah!

Pauly-FL

Anyone else thinking about dremeling out the SCION letters in the door panels and sticking lights behind them?

cobb

Keep in mind the smart takes preminum fuel and is rwd. It has a cvt with paddle shifters and is a 2 seater. The passenger and driver sit slightly off from each other so you do not bump elbows. What I liked was that they offered a convertible.

I went to the checkered flag dealer in VA Beach a year ago. They do not take trades, just purchases. They say on the easter shore people get between 40-50 mpg. Much like other hybrid nad prius owners, I have been passed by a many smarts. Drive an economy or hybrid car correctly and you can almost double your epa est.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5MKJit5I8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5P3RSXnUz8

Yeah, 16 grand is a bit much, but I am sure they will take trades. I drive 500 miles a week mostly interstates 95, 64, 295 and hwy 460. Sure I wished I had a blown tc, my 09 xb or super charged tacoma, but I like buying 9 gallons of regular gas after going over 500 miles. I like to know I can go another 80 miles once the low gas light comes on.

Basically you out brake the other guy to merge and look way down the road to look for trouble so you can merge before all the cars bunch up and you end up stuck in a lane as your traffic is going 15mph the lanes around you 70+.

Yeah, I like my geo metro and its 5 speed, but the cvt is awesome. I am never in a situation where one gear is too high, another too low and end up going some strange speed holding up traffic and worrying I am either lugging the engine or about to throw a rod.

The cvt finds the sweet spot and I can keep if not exceed traffic. I drove from Waverly, VA to Dumfries, Va to ptuning and back going 70 the whole way once on the interstates and got 54 mpg and kept with traffic with my insight. Sure I got paddle shifters, but I only use the - one for engine braking. I use sport mode for stop n go traffic in the early mornings below 45mph and turn offf econ mode for traffic above 45mph where I need mroe throttle response.

http://autos.aol.com/gallery/2011-scion-iq/

Anyway, I am sure with more horses than the Fit or Insight and a lighter curb weight, this car is going to rock. I am sure with the E-brake you can easily do donuts around a hybusa equipped smart.

Keep in mind in addition to the better fuel economy its also lower emissions, ULEV-II.

Pauly-FL

Drive an economy or hybrid car correctly and you can almost double your epa est.



No one can double EPA estimates by driving correctly. If you drive your car gingerly - you may approach them.

Nice marketing ploy of Smart - "we don't take trades"

JDMJim

there was a vert iQ concept in Japan last year. looked cool

cobb

My epa is 40/43. The prius its easy to get over 100 on the original setup with careful driving.

CarbonXe

iTrader: (1)

That's over a whopping 10 miles, FAR from being credible.

cobb

10 miles is good enough for the epa.

Yeah you are right, on average I can get 67mpg time and time again at 55mph. 79.5mpg is hard to do and you need to be on your toes. You just cant set the cruse and listen to phil hendrie repeats, black sabbath or acdc in the right lane with your mirrors turned away.

Sciond

I drive my Jetta hard and get about 48mpg on the highway effortlessly

jpauletteUSAF

Must be nice. I'm assuming you have a diesel?

If the iQ is going to get roughly 38MPG combined city and highway, I will be saving roughly $800 in fuel per year by selling my xB (combined 26MPG) and buying one of these. That, and my payment will drop significantly.

On paper, it is starting to make more and more sense to pick an iQ up. Hopefully the test drive is good!