Preview: Toyota's new itsy-bitsy electric vehicle debuts at 2009 Detroit Auto Show

January 10, 5:38 PMGreen Car ExaminerEvelyn Kanter

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You just can 't keep a secret.  Toyota's has had its new plug-in electric under serious wraps, not even admitting it officially that it actually has a new plug-in electric to show off at the Detroit Auto Show.  But, here it is.

Okay, almost.  The photo you see here is the Toyota iQ concept car, introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.   Concept cars show the direction a car-maker is going, and  exhibited with much fanfare with the idea of testing the water, to measure reaction from both the public and the automotive press.  If that reaction is good, the concept likely goes into production.  If not, they pull the plug (sorry about that pun), and you'll never hear about or see the dog again. 

The iQ was a hit with the European press, and Toyota expects to have a 'petrol' version with a 1.0-liter engine rolling off the assembly line some time in 2009.  And maybe even a diesel version.  As of this moment, the iQ is for Europe and Asia, not North America.  But that will change. 

The iQ was not shown at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show I attended.  There wasn't a peep about it from any of the Toyota execs roaming the halls of the Staples Convention Center.  Maybe it wasn't there becausebecause Toyota designers and engineers were busy tearing it apart to -- drum roll please -- turn it into the FT-EV. 

FT-EV stands for 'future Toyota electric vehicle', and it is.  Word is that this smart-looking super mini will be ready for production in 2012, with a very long extension cord.  It will have some catching up to do.  Will it catch up with the Smartfortwo, -- shown here, cute little red car -- which the Toyota resembles?  Do you think they are twins, separated at birth?  The Smartfortwo is a four-seater, but the Toyota iQ concept is a three-seater.  Will that matter?

Stay tuned. 

Toyota also is introducing its third-generation Prius in Detroit, and Honda is bringing back the Insight Hybrid, so that devinitely makes this auto show an EV world. 

Photos courtesy Toyota and Smartfortwo USA.