Toyota Motor Corp. plans to introduce two additional models aimed at reducing the Japanese automaker’s average CO2 emissions in Europe.
The iQ minicar and the Urban Cruiser small SUV will debut at the Geneva auto show on March 4.
The iQ will be Toyota’s smallest model, positioned below the Aygo minicar. The Urban Cruiser is Toyota’s first entry in the small SUV segment in Europe.
Despite its green image due to its gasoline hybrid cars, Toyota still trails much greener automakers, such as PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Fiat.
Small models such as the iQ and the Urban Cruiser will help Toyota lower its average CO2 emissions while increasing its sales.
In 2006, Toyota average CO2 emissions in Europe decreased 5 percent to 153g/km from 161g/km in 2005, according to figures from Brussels-based lobbyist Transport & Environment. PSA’s CO2 emissions were 142g/km and Fiat’s were 144g/km.
Toyota wants to sell more than 1.3 million Toyota-brand cars in Europe, including Russia and Turkey, by 2009, up from 1.18 million last year.
The 3950mm-long, five-door Urban Cruiser is based on the Japan-only Ist and U.S.-only Scion xD. It will go on sale in Europe in the first half of 2009.
The Ist and xD share a platform with the Yaris small car. Toyota previewed the Urban Cruiser with a concept with the same name at the 2006 Geneva auto show.
The Urban Cruiser will be imported from Japan.
A concept for the iQ was shown at Frankfurt’s IAA last September. Like the concept version, the production iQ is less than 3000mm long. It seats three adults and a child behind the driver.
In Europe, the iQ will go on sale at the beginning of next year. It will be priced between the Aygo and the Yaris small car at about 13,000 euros.
Toyota plans to produce 100,000 iQ units a year in Japan, where domestic sales will begin by the end of the year.
Europe is expected to get 80,000 iQs a year.
