The company is to operate the vehicles around the four Scottish city centres from which it operates and is confident that the iQs will be unmissable on the streets, thanks to their distinctive "You seek. We find." logo and website highlighted by a contemporary circle-based design.

'Our consultants will be using the iQs to go and visit various clients in the city and surrounding areas, covering our range of divisions including Accountancy, Commercial, Hospitality, Healthcare, Construction, Industrial and Finance,' said the company's marketing co-ordinator Samantha Duthie.

'We'll also be using the iQs at the events we organise and attend, and as a marketing tool. We decided that this would be a good opportunity to convey our 40th anniversary celebration.'

ASA Recruitment, which forms part of ASA International Ltd, has some 80 staff based at offices in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Kirkcaldy, and had previously used Peugeot pool cars.

'We decided it was time to buy some new city cars, and in the process to make them more eco-friendly, with better fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions, encompassing an eye-catching design,' said Ms Duthie.

The company has opted for the 1.0-litre VVT-i iQ with manual transmission. Using Toyota Optimal Drive engine technology, the model delivers a combined fuel consumption of more than 65mpg and CO2 emissions of 99g/km.

The five Toyota iQs have been supplied by Western Toyota of Edinburgh. The vehicles, which were bought outright, are expected to average 10,000 miles a year, and to be replaced after four years.