Toyota iQ to be exempt from congestion charge

Toyota’s revolutionary city car, the iQ, will be exempt from the central London congestion charge from 4 January 2011, presenting a potential saving total of more than £2,500 per annum.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced that a new Greener Vehicle Discount will be created as part of the revised scheme, providing a 100 per cent discount to cars that emit 100g/km of CO2 or less and meet the Euro 5 standard for air quality.  With its Toyota Optimal Drive Euro 5 engine emitting just 99g/km of CO2, the 1.0-litre manual 2011 iQ will qualify for the new discount.

iQ represents the successful outcome of Toyota’s well-established drive to reduce the environmental impact of its vehicles without compromising performance and driving dynamics. Now exempt from London’s congestioncCharge, it is clearly a city car that’s in the right place at the right time.

Its innovative, aerodynamic packaging has been achieved through a low overall height, low centre of gravity and wheels pushed out to the four corners of the car. This gives agility at low speed and unprecedented stability for a small car on motorways and winding roads. A minimum turning radius of 3.9 metres further enhances its nimble handling, even in tight city streets.

The 2011 iQ is on sale now, priced from £10,158 on the road.

The Toyota Prius and new Auris hybird, both with tax-efficient CO2 emissions of 89g/km, will continue to be exempt from the congestion charge under the revised scheme.