Automotive

Toyota confirms 2012 U.S. launch for all-electric Scion iQ

View 7 Images
Toyota Scion iQ
Toyota Scion iQ
Toyota Scion iQ
Toyota Scion iQ
Toyota Scion iQ
Toyota Scion iQ
Toyota Scion iQ
Toyota Scion iQ
View gallery - 7 images

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.

Toyota Scion iQ

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 (80 km). 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.

View gallery - 7 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
9 comments
Charles Hoss
make it convertible , and I\'ll buy it .
Michael Mantion
Make it gas and I will buy it. Sorry electric cars are toys.
Steven Kennedy
I have a Leaf and it\'s a perfect car for around town driving in a large us city (area wuse) and then some. Not going to the gas station but simply plugging in suprisingly is really liberating and makes life easier. Performance is better than my old gas car. But a 50 mile range is worthless in all but the most compact American cities like SF or Manhattan and that presumes one lives in the city.
Robert Fox
Most all of my driving is local, no more than about 15 miles (and back) so this would be a great car to have, except for the fact that living in a hotel where there are no sockets to plug into.
It looks to me that electric cars should be far less complicated than gas cars, and therefore requiring little maintenance. Gas cars have way too many things to go bad, especially with the advent of pollution devices and state controls of them.
Slowburn
All you need to do is add a trailer with an engine that either drives a generator, or drives the wheels, and you will have a practical car.
BigGoofyGuy
The Tesla Roadster is seen in photos with a trailer that contained a generator.
If one uses a gas engined powering a generator like the Chevy Volt which is a hybrid like the diesel electric trains.
Joe Wesson
i agree, putting a multi-fuel generator in line with the electric drive system to increase the range and a solar panel recharge option would be excellent. i don\'t like the leaf and the volt because of the proprietary battery technology and the high cost of the recharge units. make it use normal batteries with a refrigerator-style connect for fast-charge or be prepared for the epic fail. see http://www.evamerica.com/ for details. (btw - i have no connection with ev-america other than research)
:) .
Jim Stack
the best is ACpropulsion , they have a 300 mile range, a detachable trailer that runs on NG so it cleaner and lower cost. Detach it while in town and your 100% electric at $1 to go 50-60 miles VS 2 galloon of gas at $7-8 bucks and 50% imported .

Michael Axel
At 50 miles, it\'s just taking up space. If it\'s like my other electronics, you\'ll be lucky to get 20 miles out of it in a year or two.