Could the Toyota Minicar Make it in the United States?

The Toyota Minicar has landed in Japan, and despite its size, people all around the world are noticing. What was once the undisputed territory of obscure vehicle makers (not including French automakers, mind you,) is now making a splash in Japan, where small cars are the rule, rather than the exception. The new Toyota Minicar is called the Pixis Space, and it looks to be loosely based on the Scion xB here in the United States. Except that it is just a bit smaller.

According to Japanese law, a "minicar" has to fit within certain parameters. It must be no longer than 11.15 feet, no taller than 6.56 feet, and no wider than 4.86 feet. While this is practically gargantuan when compared with Europe's Reliant Robin, the Pixis Space should also be able to negotiate moderate curves without tipping over.

Built in cooperation with Daihatsu Motor Company, the Toyota Minicar has a price tag of 1.12 million Yen, or just about $14,700. The Pixis Space is based on the Daihatsu Move Conte, a car that has been around for a few years, but has been growing stale. Perhaps Toyota can give the little Move some get up and go.

This is Toyota's first entry into the minicar market in Japan, until now dominated by Nissan in partnership with Mitsubishi and Honda. As opposed to full-sized cars, cars in Japan that fit the parameters of a minicar qualify for reduced taxes, a major benefit to the automaker most well known for its larger American-market vehicles.

Because the Toyota Pixis Space is slightly larger than a Reliant Robin, however, one wonders if it could be just a step toward bringing the Toyota Minicar to the United States. We've certainly begun to have our fill of land yachts, it seems, as sales of large trucks and SUVs has been steadily falling since the first round of fuel price hikes a few years ago. It has the boxy, funky proportions of the kinds of vehicles that young drivers seem to be drawn to, like the xB, and the Nissan Cube. The only difference is that it's a bit smaller, slightly more spartan. Kind of cute, to be honest. It almost makes you believe that you could give it a treat and rub its belly. Of course it doesn't hurt that the 660-cubic inch engine and continuously variable transmission make the Pixis Space good for as high as 60 miles per gallon fuel economy. Plus, you can choose from a range of trim levels to deck out your Pixis space if you wish. You can even opt for a turbocharger. Granted, that won't likely help much if you're prone to taking your Toyota Minicar to the dragstrip on weekends, but it does promise at least some pep in what looks to be a car specifically intended to take you to work and stop at the grocery store on the way home.

Edmunds Inside Line: Toyota Unveils Pixis Space Minicar; Paul Lienert; 2011