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2009 Detroit Auto Show: Toyota Bringing Electric City Car

By Marty Padgett
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2008 Toyota iQ

2008 Toyota iQ

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In the briefest of releases, Toyota said today that it's braving the Detroit winter to introduce not only its 2010 Prius (which can't do a lot of things, we hear) but also, a city car powered by electricity.

Here's the release in its entirety:

"Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will display a battery electric vehicle concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This display marks the world debut of this concept vehicle."

That's it for now, except for the Wall Street Journal speculation that the new car is a battery-powered version of the iQ city car bandied about at the European auto shows this year. The Smart-sized car probably will run about on nickel-metal hydride batteries, sport a range of about 40 miles per gallon, and likely arrive on the market before competitors like the Nissan EV but well after gas hits $1 a gallon again.

While Toyota gets a taste of financial hardship and plots ahead for its Detroit debuts, you can prepare with our 2009 Detroit auto show preview.

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Make sure you check out our partner sites dedicated to focused news, reviews and more for Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and the Toyota Prius.

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Comments (7)

  1. Allan Ringel Posted: 12/22/2008 7:33pm PST

    Can't wait!
     
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  2. Bernie Posted: 12/23/2008 1:29am PST

    It'd be the oddest thing to see these cars (SMART, Prius, electrics, etc.) in a race. But with exactly the same amount of gas/therms of fuel to see who got to an endpoint.
     
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  3. Bernie Posted: 12/23/2008 1:38am PST

    I feel like the Monkey who's trying to write Shakespeare's sonnets, I keep pinging on my computer and submitting comments, but they don't show up.
    Cool car though, good one for the short runs.
     
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  4. Bernie Posted: 12/23/2008 1:40am PST

    I keep pinging but the comments don't show.
    like the Monkey trying to write Shakespeare's sonnets on the typewriter.
    Cool Car though, for in town quick zip rides.
     
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  5. Aaron Allen Posted: 2/4/2009 8:58pm PST

    "Retired technician"

    The FT-EV, Subaru R1e, and other BEVs shud be sold in a value-leader version [DC batteries, no
    spacey accessories, plain steel wheels and LT-tires. Std size steering wheel [w/airbag], std
    brakes, roll up/dn windows, low-cost HVAC, for
    Seniors, single-Moms/Dads, Students, GIs [near their bases], Short-commuters, 'shared-cars' [card-club, swipe to access, drop in many places]. The exotic-battery, loaded versions can
    come later--get the cheap ones [less than $10K?]
    out NOW!..Aaron..
     
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  6. Cheap Cars Posted: 6/8/2009 1:04am PDT

    Very Interesting,but it is only a concept car.Toyota is an well known automotive industry and it can make it real.
     
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  7. Lifted trucks Posted: 9/1/2009 6:28am PDT

    The Toyota FT-EV concept confirms the automaker will have its own micro EV on sale by 2012. The FT-EV is based on Toyota's hip new iQ, a car not yet available in the U.S., but one we've enjoyed test driving in Europe. The FT-EV is designed for "an urban dweller," and the company claims it can run up to 50 miles on a charge.
     
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