Microcars have been around on the road since the 1940s, and they definitely have changed over the years. When they first started being produced by European countries, they were mostly based on motorcycles and used during war times to transport messages and small packages. However, as the 20th and 21st centuries have come and passed, the Microcar or “SubCompact” vehicle has been on the bleeding edge of innovative design and unparalleled fuel efficiency. They are now designed to fit usually 2 to 4 passengers through crowded city streets and are produced with maneuverability at the top of the priority list. The Smart car, launched in 1988, quickly became the world's most popular SubCompact, but with Toyota’s newly introduced 2012 Scion iQ Premium Micro-Subcompact, there may be a new micro on the block.

The main goal in Toyota’s design labs when creating the 2012 Scion iQ was “Intelligent Design, Not Sacrifice”. From the Front-mounted differential to the A/C unit, everything in the iQ was designed with space in mind. It integrates the “3+1” seating arrangement to allow “one adult to sit behind the front passenger and a child or small package behind the driver.” This allows the iQ to have a very small appearance on the outside, while still having a spacious interior that can house 4 people. This is a new trend we are seeing on the SubCompact models, that will allow smaller families living in the city to take advantage of these fuel-efficient vehicles.

Toyota also wanted to make sure the vehicle would still be able to perform to industry standards while taking up only 120.1 inches. To do this, they included a “1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 94 horsepower and 89 lb.-ft of torque”. It is an efficient choice in energy consumption that will still yield the kind of power Toyota customers have come to expect from the company and its Toyota Parts.

The iQ includes some of the best safety features the industry has to offer. It is “packed with an industry-leading 11 standard airbags, including the world’s first rear-window airbag” and comes standard with the Star Safety System. Antilock Brakes, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Contro, and Smart Stop Technology brake-override will be standard on all the 2012 models.