Toyota iQ: Six Degrees of Innovation

Innovation No5: the Asymmetrical Dashboard

The fifth cut-paste-and-print guide to the design and engineering innovations in the new Toyota iQ explains how an asymmetrical dashboard design made it possible to maximise interior space.

Thanks to the much smaller air conditioning unit developed for iQ (the subject of the Innovation No4 bulletin), Toyota was able to reshape the dashboard to free up more space ahead of the front seat passenger.

The dashboard has an asymmetrical shape, and is slimmer and positioned further away from the passenger seat, towards the centre of the windscreen. The result is an extra 130mm of legroom in the front compared to the larger Toyota Yaris.

What’s more, this means the passenger seat can be slid 50mm further forward than the driver’s seat, allowing a tall adult to sit comfortably in the seat behind. Even with the front seat in its furthest forward position, the step-like dashboard structure means there is still a comfortable amount of leg and kneeroom.

The generous forward and aft front passenger seat adjustment also makes for easy access to the rear.

The benefits in interior space gained from the asymmetrical dashboard design are supported by a new ultra-slim seat design, the subject of the next – and final – iQ innovations bulletin.

ENDS

Note to editors: The Toyota iQ is available to order now with first customer deliveries in January 2009. On-the-road prices are from £9,495.

You can find out more about iQ, the people and the thinking behind the project, videos, pictures and worldwide news and views in a dedicated blog, available at www.toyota.co.uk/iqblog