PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Toyota confirms 2012 U.S. launch for all-electric Scion iQ
By Darren Quick
Gizmag Article



At its annual U.S. national dealer meeting held in Las Vegas at the end of June, Toyota confirmed the launch dates for its Prius family are still on track despite complications arising following the disasters that hit Japan on March 11, saying production is expected to return to normal levels in Japan after July. The company also raised a few eyebrows with the announcement that the all-electric Scion iQ EV microcar that was on show in Geneva earlier this year is set to arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2012.

Toyota confirmed the extended hatchback wagon Prius v is still on track to launch this fall in the U.S., while the Prius c compact is due to arrive in the spring of 2012. Meanwhile, 2012 will also see the launch of the Prius plug-in electric hybrid, the RAV4 EV and the Scion iQ EV.

The Scion iQ will be Toyota's first all-electric vehicle to hit the U.S. market, placing it in direct competition with Nissan's LEAF, which is already on sale, the Think City, which has been on sale since late 2010 - although Think Global recently filed bankruptcy for the fourth time in 20 years so the City's future is unclear - , and Mitsubishi's i-MIEV, which is set for a U.S. launch at the start of 2012.

With the LEAF claiming a range of 73 miles (117 km) using the U.S. test cycle, the Think City claiming 99 miles (159 km), and the i-MIEV claiming a range of 85 miles (137 km), the Scion iQ is bringing up the rear with an estimated range of 50 miles. While this is probably enough for a city runabout, which is the market the iQ is aimed at, the deciding factor for potential buyers will probably be the price tag, which is yet to be announced.

Toyota also announced it is researching bio-fuels and next-generation materials to make lighter, safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles, and that it is aiming to have a fuel cell vehicle on the road by 2015. It also said its new Entune multimedia system that is compatible with "virtually every smart phone" will debut this fall in the new Prius v and Camry.

mmarshall

No. I don't agree. Judging from its size, I see the electric Scion iQ will be more direct competition for the all-electric Smart-for-Two than for the much larger, four-door Nissan Leaf.



And......never mind the electric model. The conventional gas version hasn't even been released yet.....we're stilll waiting for it. I plan to look at and test-drive both gas and electric versions, if possible. The iQ was supposed to be released in April of this year, but Toyota has delayed it for additional testing.

RXSF

I heard the smart electric is a bigger joke than the regular smart.

Motor

Any word if Aston is also getting an electric version?

spwolf

cant wait for you to try to figure out radio controls (solely through single joystick on steering wheel)... maybe you should try version with installed nav :-)

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

Odd thing is that the iQ has been out in Japan and other markets for near two years now.

Yes, it's disappointing for the U.S. market to wait so long (I'm not sure of the earthquake affected iQ production). However, it's good to hype the iQ with both conventional fuel and electric options available.

JessePS

How can they be even talking about an EV version when the gas version isn't even sold yet in N.A. Christ this thing has been on the European market for 4 years now?!

Come on Toyota, put the iQs in showrooms already! By the time the iQ goes on sale here, it be time for a refresh. Are we going to be stuck waiting another 4 years for the refresh also?!

LexusMan77

Wasn't the RAV4 EV the first all electric vehicle to be sold in the U.S. by Toyota?

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

I think it is only leased at this time as an experiment.

I've seen one in L.A. driving around and about...

spwolf

2.5 years really... it already got minor refresh which is what you will be getting :-)

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

unless it's dirt cheap, with a range that lame it will be DOA.

spwolf

it is 2nd vehicle in the house, same as regular iQ... why would you need more than 50 miles for it?

spwolf

(ie you are paying for that capacity in vehicle price, so if you are not going to use it, it is better to have it smaller).

LexFather

I was really interested in the IQ but with it being a Scion and the price being high and my re-evaluating driving habits makes it a no go for me. I hope it finds a market though.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

because 50mi. is VERY LITTLE. maybe it works in a dense city, but in that environment, public transport also usually works pretty well.