Toyota “Smart” at Frankfurt Motor Show

Toyota will launch a new competitor on the microcar market next September. The new model, which is set to compete with the popular Smart car, will be available from 2008.

This announcement comes as no surprise. Two years ago at the same Motor Show, the Japanese carmaker revealed the concept car Endo and its production was oft-talked about in the press.  Though Smart chose to design a very small car for only two people, Toyota decided to be less radical. The Endo was 3m long and provided enough room for 4 people. Insiders revealed that the production model would offer 3+1 seats like the Fiat concept car of Geneva 2004, the Trepiùno.

In order to reduce the production costs, Smart was obliged to share the engine with Mitsubishi. Toyota could go it alone and reuse the 1 litre with an output of 68 bhp already used in the Aygo and Yaris. No diesel engine appears to be planned even though the Aygo is sold with a 1.4 litre engine.