REPORT: Aston Martin Cygnet adds a smart set of clothes to the Toyota iQ
by Frank Filipponio on Jun 29th 2009 at 10:26AM 
Toyota iQ-based Aston Martin Cygnet Concept – Click above to enlarge
With a nod to our current global economic and environmental issues, super GT maker Aston Martin has reportedly announced the world's first super luxury supermini. Having blown their development budget on the V12 Vantage RS, Rapide and One-77 hypercar, they turned to an unlikely partner for some help: Toyota. Aston Martin has taken the Toyota iQ 3+1 commuter and given it a tailored suit from Savile Row. The result is the new Aston Martin Cygnet you see above. In case you're wondering, a "cygnet" is a baby swan, not to be confused with an ugly duckling.
Although technically just a concept, word has it that the vehicle will be put into limited production and sold exclusively to existing Aston Martin owners, at least initially. There's a full press release after the jump, but the Cygnet should sell for around £20,000 (around $33k USD) when it goes on sale late next year. The car will retain the iQ's unique 3+1 seating but will be tailored to the individual customer's needs when it is assembled in Gaydon. Think of it as a move to "1-down" BMW's MINI brand. We only have the one photo for now, but from what we can see it doesn't look as unfortunate as we might have expected with Aston's distinctive grille, hood cutouts, side vents, and of course, the winged badge. Still, you have to wonder what this sort of thing might do to the Engish company's brand equity, no? Follow the jump for the presser. Thanks to everyone for the tips!
[Source: Toyota via Autocar]
Press Release:
New Aston Martin "Cygnet" inspired by Toyota's iQ
Collaboration marks critical step in plans to expand 'iQ world'
Toyota's revolutionary iQ platform is about to reset traditional thinking, with plans that the world's
smallest four-seater will serve as the basis for a new luxury commuter car to be exclusively built for and
sold to Aston Martin owners. Toyota Motor Europe (TME) today announced that the new "Cygnet" would
pair Aston Martin's trademark design flair with the Toyota iQ's highly compact and low-CO2 city driving
package. The commuter car will be tailored specifically to customer requirements at Aston Martin's
global headquarters in Gaydon, the United Kingdom.
'It's a great compliment that the Toyota iQ has been hand-picked by one of the world's most prestigious sports
car brands, a company with whom we also share a strong friendship. This collaboration represents a natural
pairing of strategies: a small yet spacious package, perfect for the city driver, finished off with Aston Martin's
iconic design language,' said Tadashi Arashima, CEO and President of TME. 'The Cygnet is a good choice for
the Aston Martin owner looking for that second or third car, which is luxurious and eco-conscious,' he added.
Although radically different in size and customer base, Aston Martin and Toyota are united in their corporate
philosophies of delivering superior quality, engineering excellence and innovative technology. The collaboration
is also fortunate to benefit from a strong relationship underlined by a passion for cars.
The Toyota iQ is considered a breakthrough in intelligent design. Less than three metres in length, its flexible
package can accommodate up to four people, providing owners with a new dimension of versatility. Featuring a
range of design innovations – such as its flat under-floor fuel tank and asymmetric dashboard – the iQ is
positioned as the "no compromise choice" with CO2 emissions starting as low as 99 g/km. It also offers
outstanding levels of passive and active safety equipment resulting in a Euro NCAP 5-star rating.
Despite tough market conditions for the automotive industry, the Toyota iQ has proved appealing to a wide
variety of city drivers with a taste for style, driving performance and low CO2. The Toyota iQ made its European
sales debut in January 2009. It continues to perform in line with expectation, with over 25,000 units sold to-date.
The planned collaboration with Aston Martin is a timely endorsement of the iQ's superior packaging. The
announcement marks a critical step in Toyota's longer-term planning to expand the 'iQ world' – that is, to bring
new versions of the Toyota iQ to market globally and expand the company's eco-friendly line-up.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Alex Nunez 9:48AM (6/29/2009)
This is what the End of Days looks like,
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Zamafir 10:47AM (6/29/2009)
Yup that's one surefire way to erase credibility the One77 brought the brand.
Noidor 1:50PM (6/29/2009)
It's an equivalent of an Aston Martin luggage or watch, it's a lifestyle add-on. I don't think it's a poor idea; Rolls-Royce and Aston are onto something with super luxury line of small cars.
It's as if some asked the same question which I have been wondering for years, why does luxury have to be wrapped in big packaging? Why not try it as a pilot-program in a Mini or super-mini like the IQ?
hat's all there is to it, they're just playing around, seeing if they can find a niche somewhere. Nothing wrong with creativity and curiosity taking place.
Furthermore, I think that rich are moving into cars like Fiat 500, Mini and the IQ because they are trying to appeal to the pressure that socialism is putting onto rich these days - meaning ZERO showing off. They want what looks like a politically correct car on outside and super luxurious on inside.
Taglane 11:36AM (6/29/2009)
Is this like.... Really real?
zamafir 11:41AM (6/29/2009)
"Furthermore, I think that rich are moving into cars like Fiat 500, Mini and the IQ because they are trying to appeal to the pressure that socialism is putting onto rich these day"
You might want to be careful NOT to cite cars which are fun to drive. Go drive the iQ, it's rubbish, and that's the exact reason I made my comments. No one here is ignorant to the movement towards premium small cars, especially at the expense of reliability. Trouble is, the Fiat 500 and Mini are fun to drive and both imbue diminutive characteristics of their parent brand. The iQ is not.
That people would be offended Porsche might develop a variant of the blusport but defend a simple nose and interior trim change on one of Toyota's lowest econo models to be branded an Aston is beyond me.
I've got to get me some of that koolaid.
tuxchown 1:25PM (6/29/2009)
Lipstick on a (guinea) pig.
Noidor 1:50PM (6/29/2009)
Whenever someone makes a reference to "drinking kool-aid" right away their intelligence in my eyes diminishes to zero.
zamafir 2:19PM (6/29/2009)
Whenever someone skirts the issues and moves on to personal diatribes without rebuking reasonable rebuttals, they're relevance in my eyes diminishes to zero.
Pretty cool huh, no reason to engage in a pedantic character judgment regarding your 'intelligence' or engage in a personal assault, you've just mooted yourself.
adrian 2:28PM (6/29/2009)
This iconcept will work if Aston sticks to selling the Cygnet to current Aston Martin owners, Because you won't see that many around.
I hope they only use the 4 cylinder engine if it goes into production for real.
Jay Tee 10:35AM (6/29/2009)
This has to be a practical joke right? Was this supposed to come out on April 1st and was just delayed for 3 months?
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Judy Zik 12:03PM (6/29/2009)
This post had me double checking the calender on my laptop and thinking I must really need more coffee.
The absolute worst kind of brand dillution. It does not dillute a luxury car brand when it appears on a really high end set of luggage or a really nice watch. It does dillute it when you put it on a econobox you didn't even build. This is just so wrong.
Rich 7:35PM (9/09/2009)
Judy: It's only an "econobox" if if it's built to a cost.
The only news really is that it's an Aston on an existing platform. It'll be seen as kitsch by some, perfect by others. Overpriced by people who just want the regular iQ. Nothing new here.
It's like the reverse of the Prizm/Corolla.
Lucas 10:35AM (6/29/2009)
I'm not proud to say it, but I'd rock that.
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TBlueMax 11:24AM (6/29/2009)
I'm actually a little shocked at how well the grille integrates with the headlight design on the front. The hood and fender vents certainly seem out of place given the drivetrain but it does add some familiar cues to a shape that was originally penned by Toyota designers.
Will Aston Martin actually see this through to production? How will the profile, rear, and interior look if it does make it to production? What markets would this mini-AM be sold in? Will it do more harm than good to the company's reputation? Ah, so many questions but an interesting morsel for a Monday morning.
Zillon 10:36AM (6/29/2009)
Well, it definitely looks a lot better than Toyota's rendition.
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KC 10:36AM (6/29/2009)
Sell a Aston Martin gets you about 15 MPG in combined cycle. Give away an iQ with each sale, the fleet average MPG will become 35+ MPG. Nice way to go around the environmental laws.
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Ben 11:08AM (6/29/2009)
I'd prefer if Aston Martin sold bicycles.
justmilknosugar 6:42AM (6/30/2009)
KC - you've hit the nail on the head. AM have crzy CO2 and fuel economy so selling and AM iQ with a proper AM will cut he companies overall impact.
Whose to say that AM wont just put up the price of their DB9's et al and then give away the AM iQ.
What a marketing strategy.
Mel. R 10:43AM (6/29/2009)
What's that old saying? Oh yes:
"You can't polish a turd"
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dukeisduke 11:08AM (6/29/2009)
Au contraire! Mythbusters proved that you could.