Toyota iQ, the Smallest 4-seat Car in the World

Toyota showed off its super compact, C-segment iQ to the world a few days ago. The car was first shown in concept form at Frankfurt last year, and will be produced in late 2008 at Paris Motor Show.

Toyota is touting the iQ as the ultimate refined mode of transportation and at less than 118 inches (2.895 metres) in length, it’s certainly small enough to be a devoted city runabout.

Here is a video of this wonder of technology during its presentation on the Tokyo Motor Show 2007:

To reduce the size of the vehicle, Toyota has had to meet up with engineering challenges and has managed to get the following innovations:

• A newly developed compact differential, alone said to be responsible for over 100mm of added length in the cabin in comparison to the B-segment Toyota Yaris.
• Rear-angled shocks and a flat fuel tank under the seats
• A smaller heater / air conditioner unit that’s just as efficient
• A center take-off steering column
• An asymmetrical dashboard
• Slimmer seats claimed to contribute about 1.5 inches in length to the interior.

To get more details about how these innovations were made, we will have to be patient, and wait for the Paris Motor Show 2008 where the car will be presented.