Toyota’s iQ Ready to Take on Smart on Its Own Turf

Tired of driving your big car and looking for something more efficient, and possibly more fun to boot? Toyota will soon join the smart car ranks, that will also soon include Volkswagen with its up!, and additional micro-cars coming from other brands, with its own offering, although the iQ will be more accommodating than the fortwo.

The “smarter” little Japanese runabout will actually be “for four”, three up front and one every small person in the rear, which will give it a serious advantage over the tiny European despite being almost as small on the outside.

The iQ will be released in Europe early next year, and should be very popular due to its fuel efficiency and stylish duds. Yes, it looks good, wearing Toyota’s “Vibrant Clarity” design language more fittingly than it does with some of the brand’s larger cars.

The iQ will also make all of the latest audio and connectivity technologies available, targeting the young and young at heart who are expected to flock to Toyota showrooms, fall in love and take one home.

But will Toyota bring it to North America? While no announcement has been made, it only makes sense that they will with smart fortwo sales as strong as they are. There’s no reason why the iQ wouldn’t experience as good or even better sales, due to a much stronger dealer network and greater trust in the Toyota brand name than smart.