Frankfurt motor show 2007 - Toyota

Toyota concept

The star of Toyota's stand is the small but perfectly formed iQ concept. It's less than three metres long and the idea is that it should be an environmentally friendly car suitable for driving around town.

Although nobody will confirm it officially, the smart money is on it joining Toyota's range as a sub-Aygo city car, possibly as soon as 2009.

Despite its petite dimensions, the car has enough room for three adults and one child, using a 3+1 seating configuration. The sweeping dashboard design and compact centre console allow the front passenger seat move far forward enough to fit an adult in the rear seat behind.

The iQ is shorter than the Toyota Aygo and the Yaris, but similar in width and height to the Yaris. No engine details were revealed, but Toyota says the aim is to achieve fuel economy of 56.5mpg.

Ten years of hybrids
Toyota is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its petrol/electric hybrid engines. The Prius was the first Toyota hybrid to go on sale and since then the Japanese company has sold 1 million hybrid-engined vehicles worldwide.