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Hotels In West Palm Beach Fl

December 8, 2011 by · Comments Off on Hotels In West Palm Beach Fl 

Hotels In West Palm Beach Fl, The Scion iQ, a micro subcompact, isn’t the type of car that’s prevalent on South Ocean Boulevard, but Wednesday and today, 11 of them are cruising on the scenic drive. Close to 40 “auto journos,” writers who cover the automotive industry, are at the Omphoy Ocean Resort to test drive the 2012 Scion iQ, as Toyota kicks off the car’s introduction to the Southeast.

“It’s a fun-to-drive little car,” said West Palm Beach-based Mark Elias, of LeftLaneNews.com. “It’s a smarter choice than the Smart Car. It’s roomier.”

Tire kicking did not seem to be part of the routine as the journalists took a turn at the wheel of what is billed as “the world’s smallest four-seater.” Actually, its three-plus-one offset seating arrangement allows one adult to sit behind the front passenger and a child or small package behind the driver.

Jim MacPherson, who writes for The Hartford Courant and hosts The Car Doctor radio show, said he drives 100 test cars a year. He found the Scion iQ a smooth ride and said it had good pickup and was reasonably quiet for its size.

At just 10 feet long, the Scion iQ, aimed at young urbanites, has its advantages. It zips into a parking spot on Royal Palm Way. There’s no need for parallel parking, and plenty of room to spare. The glove compartment is under the front seat, but the car boasts 11 air bags, including the world’s first rear window air bag.

“We’ll see who ends up buying it and what the numbers are. Generally speaking, American buyers have not embraced cars this size,” MacPherson said.

The car has been available in Europe and was launched in California this fall, said Dick Kelley of Toyota Motor Sales USA, based in Torrance, Calif. Priced at $15,995, the iQ, the fourth in the Scion line, is expected to be at South Florida dealers by March.

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