Scion iQ hybrid to be for sale in 2011

[Daox]

Looks like Scion has an xA replacement. I'm liking it! I do wonder what the sedan will look like.

BTW, anyone have a Cd for the iQ? Edit: Found it, old article but it says .30 (.299 technically).

Edit again: The iQ is currently a 3 door. They're going to have a 5 door and sedan. This thing HAS to get bigger for that to happen, don't you think?

The iQ Hybrid will be offered as both a five-door hatchback and as a sedan, with the hatch going on sale in 2011. Impressively, it will get over 60 mpg thanks to a 1.5-liter engine used as a part of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy drive.

Breaking: Scion iQ Hybrid Coming in 2011 : Auto News

[RobertSmalls]

Cool. This could turn out to be more exciting than the CR-Z.

I added the current UK model Toyota iQ to the drag coefficient wiki. With a drag area of 6.89ft^2, it's not great. Don't expect amazing highway fuel economy. But with a curb weight of 1859lb for the 3-door with the 1.0L, it weighs almost as little as a first-gen Honda Insight. I figure the 1.5L hybrid should weigh 2000lb, and get amazing city MPG. It would be a great candidate for a PHEV conversion.

Hopefully the 5-door version is longer, lower, and has the same Cd as the Prius: 0.25. Yeah, I know, keep dreaming.

[Daox]

I completely agree Robert, the iQ could definitely be more exciting than the CRZ. I also agree that highway mileage will likely be a good deal lower than 60 mpg considering that high CdA! Its worse than the Corolla's.

Here is another article. They claim the price will start around $15,000. Not too shabby.

And another from ABG. This one states it may come with a 1.3l non-hybrid engine option (current Euro/Japan engine). Kind of odd, I'd rather have the 1.3 with hybrid than 1.3 or 1.5 with hybrid...

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi Tim,

The actual concept vehicle has not been posted yet? You had me going for a second... The most credible rumor is that it is a 5-door version of the iQ that we will see first; and there will be a hybrid option. The rumor is that it will get ~60mpg, and seat four.

We'll know more very soon...

[Rokeby]

Originally Posted by Daox

...Here is another article.

Doax,

I know you know this, it's for non-Prius folks.

In the article Left Lane paraphrases Edmonds saying:

"The iQ’s hybrid drive system will feature a 1.5L gas engine an electric
motor, both working to drive the front wheels. Combined output for the
system is said to total between 100 and 120 horsepower."

FWIW, the Prius' proven Hybrid Synergy Drive has two "electric motors." Its
high FE/MPG is in part due the interplay of the two motor/generators putting
and taking energy into/out of the HV battery at appropriate times to provide
exactly the power output requested by the driver, to keep the ICE operating
at its max efficiency... or not operating at all in the case of all electric
propulsion in low power demand situations.

I suspect that both Edmonds and Left Lane are mistaken as to
there being a single motor -- that would be Honda's IMA system. Those not
familiar with the Prius might think there was only one motor as that is all
that is pictured on the Energy display for simplicity's sake.

[NeilBlanchard]

The other conflict in this rumormill stuff is that the new concept car is supposed to be a dedicated hybrid model -- i.e. a hybrid only model. The iQ info talks about the hybrid being an option -- so maybe we will be seeing TWO new hybrids from Toyota?

The other possibility is that the dedicated model is a serial hybrid; which would be only one electric motor? That would square up with it being similar to the 1/X concept we saw a few years ago?

[alohaspirit]

what im really curious about is the resale value of all these new EVs

because i dont/cant buy new

and chances are that there are kinks to be worked out and trying
to fix an EV with a ton of computer components will be challenging


the iQ looks interesting with its xD front and SMART-esque back

hopefully it'll be affordable





at a glance, it reminded me of a bodykitted smart
or the short version of the 2003 aveo xtreme

[RobertSmalls]

Features that thankfully won't make it to the production version:

drilled and slotted 12" rotors
silly wheels
no clearance between tires and fenders
headlamps that extend to the A-pillar
turn signals in the wing mirrors
a hood through which you couldn't pass an alternator even if the car had one
demonic Pokemon appearance?

Actually, I hope for the sake of your repair bills and aerodynamics, that the hood is moved forward to be level with the front bumper.

The rear "widebody" style fenders are interesting. This is a neat alternative to having the rear track narrower than the front, while allowing the canopy to taper toward the rear.

[NeilBlanchard]

That is a silly "concept" car they showed last year -- actually they just added gigundo wheels and tires and wheel flares to the stock iQ:

This car actually has a decent Cd -- 0.299 if I am not mistaken.

Any news yet on the 5-door version and/or the hybrid version of the iQ? They may also be selling an EV that is based on the same platform.

[endurance]

According to this link the EPA MPG is going to be 65mpg. Not likely, but heck, at the price point (sub-$15k) they're likely to sell all they can produce if it's even close to 50mpg.

Interesting... Between this, the new Festiva, the 2011 Focus, and the CR-Z, the next few years promise to be exciting times to be in the market for a new high MPG car. Lots of options that weren't even on the radar just three years ago.