I've never driven an IQ, as I don't think they're here quite yet, but once they are I'd like to try one just for fun.
I'm not really equating a Toyota with a MINI per se, just saying that it didn't seem to be a big or expensive deal for Toyota to get their mini car approved for sale here. IOW, I don't think the size has anything to do with it, more just a corporate (read: beancounter's) decision, and they decided to spend the money elsewhere.
Yeah, I don't see why it would be SO HARD to make an even smaller car handle like a MINI. I really liked the Rocketman (in theory more than in execution, however), so I'm disappointed to see them not go in that direction. They're talking about a lot more vehicles that DON'T drive like a MINI, IMO, so I think it would have been nice to balance that with another classic-eque MINI.
Um.... was the Rocketman ever ALIVE for it to be killed? Isn't a definition of a concept car one that is interesting and lets the designers/engineers try out some cool thoughts but that is never intended for production?
Just for fun I went to the Scion scite and specc'd and priced up a new IQ - first disappointment? CVT only....
2nd? No choice of interior color, or seats, or doorpanels, or style or anything! You can have it anyway you want as long as it's grey and exactly the same as all the others!
3rd? you had to buy 18" wheels in order to get anything other than steel wheels and hubcaps, although you did get 2 (two! Count 'em) hubcap choices. The 18" alloy wheels were only $800 tho....and they looked OK.
4th? Price - it came to just shy of $19K, and I didn't option it up much at all. I really thought these were going to be $12K cars.....
No wonder they sell so many FIAT 500's in Europe (especially England)
I think that may be the issue for the Rocketman, as well. MINI may not be able to undercut the price of the "regular" MINI by enough for people to buy the notably smaller Rocketman. I mean, look at how well all the cars smaller than MINI are selling... and by selling, I mean not selling.
That is kinda cool. Maybe some of the concepts will move over to the F series? I hate the idea of throwing my skis on a roof rack. I don't want a rack because it throws the look off. I just want a drawer to pull out when I need it!:fingerscrossed:
