This year, the award-winning car was “Toyota IQ”.The concept of the “IQ” is that, although the total length of the body is less than 3m, 40cm shorter than normal light cars, 3 adults and 1 child can be seated and it was developed as a private vehicle with a smaller CO2 emission (99g/km). It has some new innovative technology such as a specially designed platform, the new layout of the differential gear, asymmetrical position of the driver and passenger seats (the passenger seat is positioned more forward than the driver seat), 9 airbags including the rear window curtain shield airbag and compact air-conditioning unit. It created a new class of premium ultra-compact vehicle.
When asked what the reason for it being less than 3m is, the developers said frankly “there is no meaning in the number like it is going to reduce the tax rate in some countries, it is simply a good number for the design of small cars…” Sometimes if you ask this kind of question, some smart ones might say “when you put the powertrain system and the space for two adults in line 3 is the minimum number…” but from their stance of just putting the impossible number first, then going straight into the development, we feel their passion and responsibility: I liked it.
Also they applied a unique method of “making as many samples as possible” while developing the car. In this modern age, when new cars are developed, they normally use CAD (computer aided-design) to reduce the cost without making samples but Toyota has spent a lot of money and time for the IQ, setting out an innovation of car body structure.
With the slow economy and young people’s reluctance to buy cars, Toyota is suffering a downturn along with other car manufacturers but they cannot find the end of the tunnel just by minimising everything. Toyota has been trying desperately to make a car which can “create a new demand” and one of the answers was the IQ.
Unfortunately I have not yet driven one but according to the commentators who already have, the inside space is well-designed especially in the position of the passenger seat which gives enough leg room even when a 170cm adult sits behind another of the same size in the passenger seat and it is amazing it actually has a capacity big enough to put 3 adults & baggage or 3 adults & 1 child. However, if we pick one fault, it would be that, because this IQ was developed for Europe as the main market, the windows on both sides seem too high for Japanese people. On the other hand, in Europe the feeling of “enclosed” is important so I think they might adjust it depending on where they want to sell the car.
At the selection, 40 out of 60 members of the panel gave maximum points of 10 to the IQ beating the runner up “Citroen C5” 303 points, it was a convincing victory.
After their effort of making a car with high efficiency and environmental performance and their passion toward safety were recognised, it might be a good opportunity for Toyota who has been struggling to produce something different to change their attitude towards car manufacturing as a whole.
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