Hey all,
Found this on Bloomberg.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=a65uZTbdvniQ&refer=japanThis can't be too bad for Toyota's marketing.
Nov. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s iQ micro car was named Japan's Car of the Year, giving the country's largest automaker a potential tool to lure buyers from Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's Mini brand.
PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second-biggest carmaker, won the import car of the year with its Citroen C5 sedan, the award's organizer said on its Web site today. A committee of 65 auto-industry writers and consultants decided on the winners.
Toyota may tout the award in advertisements for the 1-liter iQ as it bids to boost sales amid slumping auto demand. Car sales have fallen for three straight months in Japan and for 12 months in the U.S.
The iQ, which carries three adults with space for a child or luggage, is due to go on sale domestically from Nov. 20. It costs between 1.4 million yen ($14,300) and 1.6 million yen. BMW's Mini One is priced from 2.08 million yen. Daimler AG's twin-seat Smart ForTwo is sold from 1.76 million yen.
Measuring just under 3 meters (10 feet), the iQ is slightly longer than the 2.4-meter Smart ForTwo and shorter than Japanese minicars such as Daihatsu Motor Co.'s Move.
