You can leave me out of that back seat in the event of a crash. I think trunks make good crumple zones.

While I actually kind of like this car, for that many judges to give it a perfect score there must have been some heavy lobbying by Toyota.

Anyone notice this looks like a rip-off of the smart car? But it would be a good car for the show "Little People, Big World".

In a way it reminds me of the CRX (maybe the square wheelbase), just not so damn ugly (or simplistically made, a wedge, like a cube, or rectangle is not an appropriate car shape).

I'd love to see this with some decent power, but being a "city" car that'd never happen...

Much like the Scion Xa with a 2zz-ge, whooo-hooo!

It's only a matter of time before some install a turbocharger, a high quality exhaust and CAI, and an ECU tune.... I'm sure such a tiny engine like this is definitely over-engineered... unless they make it out of tin foil.

It would be embarrassing to be beat by one of these.

Car of the year?

Guess it all depends on the judges...

I am safer on my motorcycle. At least it runs like its burning gas.

what's the mpg?

Oh great! Scion, so Canada is not getting that one as well!?! not that I would buy one anyways, but I still think it would fit in just great in the market and especially with the demands of consumers.

i've read somewhere that is uses a 1.5 liter engine similar to the ones used in Yaris,so this little thing is a lot faster than Yaris.

Well for all of you who have not seen the car in person it is amazing how sure you are that it isn't worthy of this award. I think we would be surprised how small it actually is and how efficiently the interior is designed.

It is past time (20 years) that people started thinking differently about vehicles and personal transportation needs. We can't continue driving Dodge Ram's to the grocery store every day. That fact might cause a revolution with a disappointing conclusion if you don't wake up. You can't win with your current thinking. It just isn't possible.

Realistically, this is a fantastic car. It is a huge step forward and represents the car of the future. It is too bad only one company is thinking this way but I guess that is why they are #1 and their closest competitor is near bankrupt. They didn't wake up until it was too late! Just like you.

Subpra,

As a huge fan of motorsports I have been reluctantly growing to adopt your version of reality. Everyone fears that this is the future, but the truth is that you shouldn't fear things that are certain. And this is certainly the future.

As for crumple zones and safety during an accident, I'm sure this car is safer than most cars of the 80s or early 90s. I would be scared to be in the back if a Dodge Ram was coming at me. I imagine that rear ending an iQ with another iQ would be a whole different scenario.

So while it might not be practical today, it lays the groundwork for what most certainly will be here. Probably sooner than we think.

I can see the Teletubbies driving around in this

Joan:

Toyota themselves beat you to it. Search for the Aygo Crazy concept car (the japanese name of the model). 2zz turbochargerd power, widebody kit, MR2 suspension, rear engine, RWD, 0-60 in 5.27 seconds, and 127 MPH top speed... all for about $200,000.

I'm sure the snap oversteer would be horrible and it would be no fun to drive at all... :)

Asian cars = copy copy copy. And improve.

The GTR represents performance at the expense of efficiency.
The iQ represents efficiency at the expense of performance.

Which one represents our future? Which one should win Japan's engineering awards? Guess they know what is going to be the leader.

Enjoy the GTR while it lasts, get a Vette if you want even more performance.

But to call a GTR a supercar? LMFAO. Nope, a high performance coupe is all it is. Even Japan understands that.

"Enjoy the GTR while it lasts, get a Vette if you want even more performance." -sparky

What? A Zo6 that takes a pro-level racer to extract its potential due to it's crude suspension?

@sparky

I'll pick up a vette for myself when I hit my 60th birthday and no longer know the difference between the words "Quality" and "Junk".

No, Noya. A Z06 takes a pro to get ever inch of performance because the car doesn't drive itself. No AWD to help you if your back end get's loose, no paddles or auto trans, no computer controlled nonsense, etc.

Oh really Avatar, so I suppose an F1 car is also inferior to a Zo6? and a NASCAR is a REAL race car?

LMAO

I guess by your definition an F1 driver isn't a professional then? I would consider an F1 driver as a professional. At the same time, I guess drag racers aren't professionals either? What do I know though, I actually own my cars instead of borrowing them.

PS, I don't follow NASCAR.

And two last comments. First, F1 cars are RWD, not AWD. Maybe you can't tell the difference between an A and an R? Secondly, who exactly compares an F1 car to a street car?

Noya:

Wow, your supercar GTR get's spanked and the best thing you can say is crude suspension? yikes....

OC:

Quality? Since when is a GTR so superior? Oh, maybe a few extra paddle shifter knobs, that is silly. You don't buy these cars for Blue Tooth options or furry carpet.

Sorry to raise your GTR defense system and anti-american car attitudes. This is simply my Opinion. Given the cash to buy either one, I'd rather invest it into the Vet rather than a GTR. Make it a convertable too.

Sparky:

I can agree with your comments to a point. Seeing as I own a GTR (for 2 whole weeks now!!!), and my best friend owns a Z06. I also own a 63 stingray convertible (which is still the best car I've ever owned btw), I've driven these two cars, unlike a lot of the people who post here I’m sure.

Bottom line: the Z06 is a scary car, since it doesn't have all the nannies to save my butt like the GTR does. The Z06 definitely needs more talent to make it fast, and the GTR can make any idiot (including me) look like a hero on the track. I do prefer every day driving the GTR to the Z06. It's much more civil, I won't say it a more refined car however.

At the track I can cut a faster lap in the GTR in direct head to head with my buddy in his Z06. Admittedly, he's a better driver, and in my car, he improved his best lap time by almost 3 full seconds on a 1:58:436 best lap in his vette.

So I guess I'd say that much like every car we lust over it depends on the driver, usage and personal taste. I think the new vettes are amazing machines, but they still don't stir the soul like my ‘63 does. For every day driving on real roads (with the occasional stoplight embarrassment of a Porsche), I prefer the GTR.

Lap times, quarter miles, and skid pads don't tell you how living with a car is. I'd trade the GTR for a second for a 911 turbo but it's almost twice the price, and while I do ok for myself, I'm not going to spend that much on a car.

let the flaming commence.

This article is not about corvettes, F1s, and GTRs and other cars most people can't afford. It's about a cute, little, micro car that only dwarfs and tellytubbies would be caught driving in. Maybe if the big 3 all go bankrupt and the economy goes totally south, maybe this car will all anybody can afford to drive.

So now they copied the MB smart car. It's no little pun that they call it IQ. Smart-IQ get it?

When will the western world start protecting it innovative ability, the very thing that pushed the world forward for a 1000 years?
There is not even an Euro-patent! A small inventor has to pay to each da*n country to get patentprotection..

By the way- Citroen C5 second place in Japan? Unbelivable! How ?

"What do I know though, I actually own my cars instead of borrowing them." - Avatar

That's a low blow. I lease/jump on great deals on my fun cars. I do have friends who outright buy their toys and they're always in the hole money wise.

@ all you rednecks,

I used to worship the Mustang/F-bodies until I turned 16 (in 1999) and test drove some. It was a 1991 GT 5.0 vs a DSM. Luckily, I bought a creampuff of a 1992 Talon TSi AWD and modded it in autoshop class (big 16g turbo, FMIC, 550cc injectors, 255 Walbro, big brakes, KYB/AGX suspension, ACT clutch, etc) and never looked back at American garbage.

Oh, so it is okay for you to low blow domestic automakers and say anyone who owns/wants an F-body, Mustang, or truck is a redneck all day but can't take some heat when it comes your way? Just wanted to clarify.

If your friends buy their toys out right and are always in a hole, maybe they can't afford said toys? Every vehicle I have bought, I have either paid for it out right in cash or pay it off in a year or two.

And you test drove a '91 Mustang GT and based your assumption of American vehicles off that? LMAO

Let me get this straight Noya, you based your decision of American cars from a few minutes behind the wheel of an 8 year old, clapped out Mustang when you were 16 ? <--- THAT'S FUNNY!

We've heard you mention your friends toys that they can't afford. I believe a Miata was mentioned.

I think what we have here is Napoleon syndrome. There were signs in your usual SHORT remarks in other threads, and these last posts are classic. The small cars give it away too.

So, i'm stepping back. I don't want to **** with the Lollipop Clan.

@noya
i understand why your whole lease take over thing is attractive, you get to roll in a different newish high end car every couple of months and you feel bad ass cause youre paying the same note as the guy in the new mazda 6 next to you. but what if you loose your job and cant pay the lease? then you have no car and have to catch the bus untill you settle down once again. lets say over the past 4-5 years you have been paying 350-400 a month in a car lease, you could of been paying that on a car you can actually own and be done. and now you could start leasing high end cars and not have to worry about not having a car.

Paul:

Thanks for an honest comparison by someone experienced driving both cars. The future of handling looks like technology is the way to go, rather than manual control. I wonder if the Vet with simular technology would be as fun a car? But I'm old school here, I like the ability to roast tires on my Mustang GT without the computer stopping me.

I do love the 63 stingray convertible too.

55-59mpg according to Wired Magazine,you can all laugh at me,I'll pay cash for it and save even more gas money than I do in my Civic. We'll see who's laughing at retirement time.