Toyota iQ to follow Fiat and Mini?

* Just three colours at launch * Customisation programme being considered * Plan follows success of Fiat 500 and Minis...

Toyota iQ to follow Fiat and Mini?

Toyota is considering offering customers the option of personalising the interior and exterior of its new city car, the iQ.

Although the car will go on sale in January with a choice of only three exterior colours, the range is scheduled to widen to nine by the end of the year.

However, a company insider has hinted that Toyota will introduce a range of interior and exterior options to allow owners to customise their cars, if there is sufficient demand.

Fiat has enjoyed massive sales success by selling the 500 with more than 500,000 customisation options, while Mini also offers buyers numerous styling choices.

The iQ will be the smallest four-seater on sale when it hits the market, with prices starting from 9495.

It is initially being sold with a 67bhp 1.0-litre engine that produces 99g/km of carbon dioxide, making it VED road tax free.

However, a 1.3-litre engine with fuel-saving stop-start technology will be added to the range next year. Prices and emissions figures have yet to be released.