Filed under: Economy (http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/), SUVs (http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/), Geneva Motor Show (http://www.autoblog.com/category/geneva-motor-show/), Euro (http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/), Japan (http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/), Crossovers/CUVs (http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/), Hatchbacks (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/), Toyota (http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/)
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Unlike the Dodge Challenger Midwest Regional Auto Show (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/05/autoblog-at-the-2007-chicago-auto-show/), Geneva's shaping up to be bursting with new-car debuts. Toyota will be in the thick of it, showing off the production-spec version of the iQ microcar, which the automaker debuted as a concept (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/11/frankfurt-2007-it-aint-the-endo-its-the-toyota-iq/) last year in Frankfurt and will be heading to the European market. The little runabout measures just under 3 meters in length, and it should be as wide and tall as a Yaris, if the iQ concept (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-iq/392879/) is an indication. As a basis of comparison, the smart fortwo is 2.5 m long. Unlike the smart, the iQ has seating for three adults plus a child or additional cargo. (And hey, depending on your darling little one's mood, he/she might seem more like baggage on some journeys anyway.) Over at AutoblogGreen (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/02/13/geneva-08-preview-toyota-to-show-production-version-of-iq-micr/), Sam suggests that the iQ could get a 1.0L engine with stop/start functionality. Whatever the company sticks underhood, we do know this: the iQ will go into production at the end of this year.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/toy_urbancru_prod_250.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-urban-cruiser/639058/)Joining the iQ will be the Urban Cruiser, which appears to be little more than a jacked-up Toyota ist (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/30/japan-gets-new-xd/) (Scion xD). Earlier reports said that it would borrow styling cues from the 2006 Urban Cruiser concept (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2006-toyota-urban-cruiser-concept/484567/), but clearly the only thing the production ride cribbed is the show car's name. Toyota hasn't released tech specs for either the iQ or Urban Cruiser yet, and we'll bring you all the news from Geneva as it happens early next month. It's worth noting that the JDM ist is available with optional 4WD, which would be in keeping with the Urban Cruiser's SUVish stance.

[Source: Toyota]Continue reading Geneva '08 Preview: Production Toyota iQ, Urban Cruiser revealed (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/13/geneva-08-preview-production-toyota-iq-urban-cruiser-revealed/)

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