iQ - Engineered to Reach 5-star Euro NCAP

Advanced safety, featuring the world's first rear window curtain shield airbag

• Anti-lock braking system (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• Brake Assist (BA) and Traction Control (TRC)
• Multi-load path body structure
• Steering Assist Vehicle Stability Control VSC+
• Engineered to reach 5-star Euro NCAP
• 9 airbags including world's first rear window curtain shield airbag
• Toyota's aim is to work towards a society that is free from traffic accidents and injuries in the future. Since safety is one of the most important features of the iQ, Toyota has integrated many new technologies.

The new iQ is equipped with a wide range of advanced braking systems that make this a very safe car to drive. The idea behind the technology is to keep the iQ out of an accident in the first place.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is standard, of course, and provides the foundation for a number of other more advanced braking and traction control systems.

Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)

EBD is a standard feature on the iQ. Depending on the driving conditions, EBD works with ABS to ensure that the most effective brake force is applied to each wheel, according to road conditions. By preventing the wheels from locking, EBD helps to maintain sure-footed stability during cornering and braking.

Brake Assist (BA)

Research shows that in some emergency braking situations many drivers fail to apply sufficient force to the brake pedal, or release brake pressure too soon. If either of these situations occurs, the BA fitted to the iQ anticipates the need for extra braking force and applies it automatically.

Traction Control (TRC)

Standard Traction control heightens the iQ's ability to grip the road. It's an important safety aid in many situations, particularly when you are travelling over slippery or uneven road surfaces.

The system monitors and controls the amount of power that is applied to the road through the iQ's wheels. If it detects that one or more wheels are starting to spin and lose traction – on a wet or muddy surface, for instance – the system’s skid control computer instantly determines the best way to restore traction to that wheel. Typically, this might be by automatically decreasing the power being sent to the wheel that’s about to spin. In more extreme cases, the system might momentarily apply the brake to the wheel until it regains traction.

Steering Assist Vehicle Stability Control VSC+

VSC+ is standard on iQ and will prevent loss of control of the car in certain situations - for example, if you enter a corner too fast or encounter slippery conditions which might lead to a skid.

The system acquires data from a host of sensors placed strategically throughout the iQ. These include: wheel rotation speed, brake pressure and car body movement. If the system calculates that the driver is about to lose control of the car, it will apply various stability and safety systems to varying degrees. In a skid, for example, the system will judiciously apply the brakes and even adjust steering torque to enable the driver to regain control of the car.

Multi-load path body structure

One of the most critical engineering features on any small car is the passenger protection cell. For the new iQ, engineers developed a new occupant protection system based on Toyota's innovative Multi-load path body system. In the event of a collision, iQ uses a system of six countermeasures to overcome any impact:

• The iQ engine was placed towards the rear of the engine bay, giving more room for an energy absorbing structure at the front of the front side members. In a serious collision the engine would also function as a barrier, reducing the impact to the passenger cell.
• The location of the front tyres right at the front of iQ gives valuable initial protection in the event of a frontal collision.
• By using the suspension member side rail in addition to the standard collision area formed by the front side member, the total energy absorption capacity has been increased.
• By attaching the rear part of the front suspension member to the body in four places, the load from the front side members can be transmitted to the cross member.
• Body strength was increased even more by connecting front side members and rocker together directly.
• Strengthening across the dashboard area means impact forces toward the cabin are distributed more evenly and effectively.

5-Star Euro NCAP target

The iQ features a totally new, high-rigidity platform with a robust safety structure capable of absorbing a high degree of impact energy. iQ has been created with the express aim of achieving class-leading safety in terms of full-frontal, offset, side and rear collisions. In addition the iQ is intended to achieve a maximum 5-star rating for adult passenger and 3-star pedestrian protection in the Euro NCAP crash test programme.

The front bonnet shape and height, and the collapsible cowl construction are designed to deform in the case of an impact to help mitigate potential pedestrian injury.

9 airbags

For world-class safety performance a total of nine airbags are provided as standard equipment. These consist of seven different types: a newly developed rear window curtain shield airbag (world first), two side airbags, one front passenger seat cushion airbag, one driver knee airbag and two curtain shield airbags, in addition to driver and front passenger airbags. With this, the iQ is positioned to offer a world-class level of safety performance for a compact car.

All nine airbags on the iQ were specially developed for the car, using the idea of miniaturisation to adapt them to the smaller cabin so as not to compromise on safety. The side airbags are bigger while the others are smaller.

SRS Driver front airbag and knee airbag

The driver's front airbag and knee airbag were specially tailored to match iQ's compact form. As the knee airbag is closer to the driver's knee, the airbag volume can be reduced as well as the deployment time - this reduces knee slide.

SRS Twin chamber passenger airbag

For the iQ passenger airbag Toyota developed a new kind of 'twin chamber bag'. A world first for this class of car. First seen on Lexus sedans, this technology acts like a baseball glove to actually "catch" the passenger who usually travels further in a collision than the driver.

SRS Seat cushion airbag (Toyota first)

Another Toyota first, the front seat cushion airbag inflates under the passenger's thigh to spread and reduce the impact to head and chest by reducing the movement of the hip with the seatbelt during a possible collision. Because of the large space between the instrument panel and the passenger's knees, Toyota could not use a conventional knee airbag to restrain the front seat passenger. A switch is available to turn it off for use with a child seat.

SRS Front and Rear side airbags

Side airbags are in place to protect from side impact as the front passengers are closer to the door and therefore more at risk from a possible side collision. These airbags are divided through differently coated silicon bags into pelvis and chest area, as both parts of the body need different kinds of pressure for protection (pelvis high pressure, chest lower pressure).

SRS Curtain shield airbags

Large curtain shield airbags are installed above the front and rear windows on each side of the car to protect front and rear iQ passengers and driver in the event of a side-on collision.

SRS Rear window curtain shield airbag (world first)

The iQ is the first model in the market to feature a rear window curtain shield airbag along the rear window - as there is only a small space between the rear window and the occupants their heads need to be protected. If a rear impact occurs, first the airbag deploys between the roof panel and roof headlining, then it deploys further from the rear edge of the roof headlining along the rear window to protect the passenger's head. As you would expect on a car designed to carry children, the rear seats are also fitted with Isofix connection points.

Read more about Toyota's safety technology

---