Toyota iQ Rewards Bridgestone Top Performers

SURREY, UNITED KINGDOM – April 16, 2009: The benefits of the diminutive Toyota iQ are showing business appeal as Bridgestone Tyres UK are supplying Toyota iQs as a free courtesy car to reward excellent performance among their First Stop Dealers.

The scheme was launched by Bridgestone in late 2007 to incentivise tyre dealers. No stranger to the Toyota brand, it has previously supplied its dealers with Aygo models. The iQs, supplied on a two-year lease, can be used by employees to travel to and from work, as a courtesy car or as a general runabout depending on their needs.

Commenting on the scheme, Mark Fereday, Bridgestone UK Retail Development Manager said, “Bridgestone rewards outstanding performance and, after the success of Aygo last year, the new iQ scheme is the latest development in our support of the First Stop network. We have enjoyed working with Toyota on the scheme for a number of years and value the partnership we have developed and the support it offers our business.”

Mike Furner, partner of TW Tyres based in Rugby, Warwickshire was one of the first to receive an iQ and said, “Having driven 1,000 miles already I am delighted with how quiet the car is and with the superb sound system. Because iQ looks unique it has been attracting a lot of attention from other people, which is a definite plus where advertising is concerned.”

Ideal as a courtesy car, the Toyota iQ emits just 99g/km of CO2 in manual form with the 1.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine. It is exempt from road tax and can achieve 65.7mpg on the combined cycle. Although less than three metres long iQ is not short on safety features, having achieved the top five rating in the new, tougher Euro NCAP crash testing, and being equipped as standard with a host of electronic safety features.