Toyota unveils models for Geneva

Toyota has released details of its vision for the future of small cars, which it will present at the Geneva Auto Show in March.

The company claims to be thinking big by creating a new generation of small cars designed to address the demands of modern motoring and the preferences of today's drivers.

Two cars, the Toyota iQ and Urban Cruiser will both be presented on March 4th to the press, and available for the general public's appraisal on March 6th.

The first, the iQ is appearing for the first time as a market-ready design, ahead of production starting towards the end of this year.

Although measuring less than three metres long, this compact urban vehicle can carry three people in comfort, with room to spare to accommodate a child or carry luggage.

The ingenious design was created by bringing together six linked, space-saving engineering innovations that mark a revolution in Toyota's vehicle development.

iQ is rich in Japanese design elements and signals a radical shift away from the belief that small cars, although kinder to the environment, are inherently basic and less safe.

Secondly, Toyota is extending its sports utility vehicle range into the small car segment with its new Urban Cruiser.

Presented for the first time in Europe, it is an environmentally responsible SUV aimed at the market for urban all-road vehicles and meeting motorists' priorities for low fuel consumption and emissions.