According to a recent report, Toyota will bring their tiny iQ mini-car to the United States by 2011. Destined to be badged as a Scion, the car was already previewed by the wild Five Axis Scion iQ Concept that debuted at the New York Auto Show earlier this year.
Although little is known about what will change during the car's Americanization, Motor Trend is reporting it will be lengthened 1.5-inches (in order to meet US crash safety standards) and the interior will probably be redesigned.
Power will likely be provided by Toyota's 67 bhp 1.0-liter petrol engine as well as the recently introduced 1.33-liter dual VVT-i with 98 bhp and 125 Nm of torque. In the future, the car could be equipped with a battery-electric powertrain like the one featured on the iQ-based Toyota FT-EV Concept.
The Five Axis bodykit and jumbo wheels seen on the iQ concept will undoubtedly be left off the options chart.
Look for the Scion iQ to arrive in late 2010 as a 2011 model or in early 2011 as a 2012 model.
