IQ ‘is not a letdown’
September 17th, 2009 by Richard Aucock
TOYOTA bosses say their premium-priced IQ city car may not have reached volume goals, but it’s still a hit.
That’s because cars sold are going for a higher than expected transaction price.
Senior sales and marketing vice president Andrea Formica admitted the recent environment is ‘harder for the IQ.
‘We’re selling fewer than we thought, but the higher prices they’re selling for means I’d love to offer even more.’
Formica says the models here on the Frankfurt stand point to some of the customisation options we’ll see on the IQ in the next few years. ‘This is the best way to approach this model,’ he said.
Show cars include an extreme sporty model, with bodykit and vivid paint job, plus a more upmarket variant. This has a panoramic glass roof and posh interior trim.
Formica also said the innovative marketing methods being used for the Smart-rivalling city car will also remain.
‘Certainly, we shall continue to market it in a very different way – both in communications and the product itself.’
By Richard Aucock