Monday 17th January 2011

Gazoo Blows Its Own iQ

Supercharged iQ Racing Concept debuts in Tokyo

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This feisty little Toyota concept comes complete with supercharger, roll-cage and enough attitude to make Aston Martin's Cygnet conversion choke on its latte.

Just unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Japan's annual motor show for performance tuners (google it and you'll get the picture), the iQ GRMN Racing Concept is based on the limited edition iQ GRMN that was sold in Japan last year.

It's built by Gazoo, which is a label Toyota has been using for a while to connect with its domestic 'yoof' market, and which will have an increasingly performance-orientated theme. (The Lexus LF-A Nurburgring 24hrs contender was entered by Gazoo Racing, for example.)

It has been reported that Toyota boss Akio Toyoda wants Gazoo to be 'a type of BMW M badge' in the future. Whether that means over here as well as over there, we're not entirely sure, but we do like the thinking.

We like the look of this Racing Concept too, even though we can't tell you much about it. There's a Toyota Japan hosted video here.

[anonymous-user]

It's quite cute!

[GTRene]

indeed, looks are ok.

[300bhp/ton]

I think it's rather a funky. An ideal B road basher maybe??

[TAHodgson]

Shouldn't this idea of been left to Aston Martin with that ugly-as-sin Cygnet?

[clark223]

If it goes anything like the Supercharged IQ that was at Goodwood last year, then it will be a pretty exciting little car!

[swampy56]

Watch out fiat 500 Abarth I say

[WMP]

Shouldn't this be called the Toyota Ritalin?

[cookie1600]

Apparently Gazoo is also a slang term:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gazoo

[k-ink]

Could be rather good fun! Daft name though

[Escort Si-130]

Stupid slaphead looking car. I just hate the shape of these IQ's they look so stupid. Seeing these on the road does not do them justice, they look better in the pics where you cannot see the stupid hideous shape of it. It looks more wider than the length of it.

[ivantate]

I reckon it will swap ends pretty quickly!

[A Scotsman]

ivantate said:

I reckon it will swap ends pretty quickly!

But its so short would you actually notice

This is actually a very neat design. A road version would probably attract some real support.

[SamGad]

An interesting concept, but bring back TTE and TRD I say, Gazoo indeed...

[MIP1983]

Didn't they do some clever design on this car so the engine and gearbox hung infront of the front wheels to allow for more space in the cabin (and thus a more compact design)? Good for space, I'm not sure what that'd behave like on a track, but I imagine this indesit will want to spin (see what I did there!).

[RedBarron]

I think Optimus Prime will be looking for his head back soon!

[havoc]

Could this be the first car with an oversquare 'footprint'?
(i.e. track greater than wheelbase)

Very silly idea, but simply because of that...

[cookie1600]

I think I prefer this old blast from the past:





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_City_(AA)#City_...

[Smartass]

Looks fun and more credible than an Aston Cygnet, but "Gazoo"?

Does this mean we'll one day see a group test containing;

BMW M3 vs. Mercedes C63AMG vs. Lexus IS-F Gazoo?

[James MK]

cookie1600 said:

Apparently Gazoo is also a slang term:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gazoo

Better change the name for export markets!

[g7jhp]

Passed an IQ on the motorway this morning and thought it would be a good car to add a little extra power to.

Racing buckets, strip it out and supercharge it. Great for nipping around town!