Hot new Toyota iQ city car - first pic

View more pictures of the Toyota iQ

This is the first official picture of the new Toyota iQ – the Japanese carmaker’s hot new city car.

The new Toyota iQ measures just under three metres in length and will make its official debut at the upcoming Geneva motor show in March.

The funky city car is the company’s smallest production model yet – the Toyota iQ is 425mm shorter than the Toyota Aygo – with enough space inside for three adults plus extra luggage.

And the designers have stayed true to the stunning concept first premiered at the Frankfurt motor show last September.

Toyota say the new iQ is “rich in Japanese design elements, signalling a radical shift away from the belief that small cars are inherently basic and less safe.”

Toyota has shrunk the cabin to maximise passenger space – the heating unit takes up less room in the centre console, while a single central dial displays the temperature and ventilation controls.

And a ‘three-in-one’ speed, rev counter, and fuel level is mounted above the steering column, with audio and navigation controls projected onto the windscreen via a futuristic head-up-display – as seen in the £60,000 BMW M5.

Engine details have not been released, but we can expect a 1-litre petrol engine to power the baby Toyota iQ when it goes on sale later this year.

Insiders have hinted prices will hover around £8,500 – pitting the funky new Toyota iQ against the Renault Twingo, Smart Fortwo and the new Fiat 500.

View more pictures of the Toyota iQ