Aston Martin Cygnet (nee Toyota iQ) to hit European city streets next year?
Aston Martin Cygnet Concept – Click above to enlarge
News of the car's development broke a few months ago, but the latest reports now indicate that the Aston-badged city car could begin shipping as early as next year. Although no mechanical changes are expected to take place, the pre-assembled units are expected to be shopped to AM's plant in Gaydon, England, where the company will give the citycar its own unique interior, slap on an Aston grille and the requisite badging and raise the price up to $32,000 – about twice the price Toyota fetches for a stock iQ.
Whether Aston's customers bite remains to be seen, but for our part, we still want to see one of these face off against the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari for the exotic supermini crown.
[Source: Automotive News – subs req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ack154 4:34PM (10/07/2009)
Is it just me or is this another solution to a problem no one has?
A $32k iQ with a fancy interior and different grille? GTFO.
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zamafir 5:07PM (10/07/2009)
no, it's not just you, worst. idea. ever. Fiat/Alfa? Sure, both drive great look good. BMW/Mini? Sure, both drive great look good. VW/Audi/Lambo/Bentley/Bugatti? alright sure. Toyota crappy little car that's crap to drive / aston? No. no no no. no no no no no. no.
words do not convey how utterly FAIL this idea is. Aston buyers may spend 200,000+ for cars with ford switchgear, but that's it. They're not buying a rebadged ford. no one's going to be fooled by this.
gerrrg 5:25PM (10/07/2009)
Think about it, though...it's supposed to be the next Scion model, so modders will gain inspiration and come out with snap on body styles and performance mods to match...
A win for all of us.
Bloke 6:49PM (10/07/2009)
"Toyota crappy little car that's crap to drive"
The iQ isn't crap, nor is it (having driven one myself) crap to drive.
This isn't the first time Aston have dabbled with luxurious, specialist variations of small cars. Almost thirty years ago their Tickford engineering division produced very limited numbers of the MG Metro with modified engine and interior in conjunction with Frazer coachbuilders.
http://www.aronline.co.uk/images/frazermetro_02.jpg
AMcA 8:49PM (10/07/2009)
Clearly it's still April 1 at Autoblog.
Mr.TiredOfEconomicDownturn 8:19AM (10/08/2009)
>A $32k iQ with a fancy interior and different grille? GTFO.
You'd have to own an Aston before you can buy this one. Yeah, an AM-exclusive.
Chazz 12:05PM (10/08/2009)
If I were the owner an Aston Martin, I'd be like WTF??? Sell it and them buy something that doesn't have an "el-cheapo" line.
mk15 4:41PM (10/07/2009)
At least it'll be more practical than the Smart For Two.
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JLevy 6:15PM (10/07/2009)
how so?
zamafir 6:41PM (10/07/2009)
I'm with JLevy, most european reviews i've read say a smart or anything else is a better bet.
Feketelaszlo 4:43PM (10/07/2009)
Don't worry, they will be selling good, like the Smart Brabus. Most people buy theese cars because of the name, and they use it as a main car, while they have a DBS in the garage. Who wants a DBS for an everyday use? They can go in the city with this car, go shopping and probably a very good car for up to 2 person, and who cares if something goes wrong in this car?
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Venom 4:44PM (10/07/2009)
Is this a joke?
What an insult to real Aston Martin owners.
When you are asking people to spend $150,000 to infinity for your cars you should not insult them by producing crap like this.
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meatbag 4:55PM (10/07/2009)
wow... and i was concerned that Porsche would be diluting their brand with another 'base model' car. thats pretty sad. what next? a $30k Bugatti?
Mike P. 4:58PM (10/07/2009)
IIRC, Aston is only selling these to people who have bought "full-sized" Astons--the idea being that this is a "tender" to their customer's high-end vehicles. As long as it stays this way I don't see the brand being diluted significantly.
Now, if they opened sales of them so that college kids and their grandmothers could get a Cygnet instead of a Fit, THAT would be brand dilution.
RWD 6:49PM (10/07/2009)
They only are selling it to people who already have Astons? Genius! Think about it, now people will see you and think "Oh wow, that guy has an Aston Martin." and yet you can drive around getting 35 mpg in a car you aren't terrified to park anywhere!
A RWD V-12 Cygnet? Best hatch ever.
Bloke 6:53PM (10/07/2009)
"What an insult to real Aston Martin owners.
When you are asking people to spend $150,000 to infinity for your cars you should not insult them by producing crap like this." - Venom
Aston badges have appeared on their Tickford models before, which adored specialist variants of cars ranging from Ford's Capri to the Austin Metro. They were interesting builds. But Aston owners didn't gte out of their trees over it.
Venom 6:53PM (10/07/2009)
RWD,
Genius that you are.
So are you telling me that the owners of these vehicles will not be able to sell them and if they can, only to other Aston Martin owners?
I think not.
You should be careful when you try to sound like a sarcastic smart ass lest someone come back and make you look stupid.
Al 4:47PM (10/07/2009)
If they are going to call it an Aston Martin they could have at least given the motor a bit of a tweak to be a bit more sporty/fun, and the suspension a bit more of sporty ride.
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John H. 4:48PM (10/07/2009)
Woo-hoo!
Aston Martin makes the Cimmaron look like a masterstroke of genius!
Still, I can't wait to see James Bond putt-putting about in a Cygnet in the next movie.
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FThorn 4:49PM (10/07/2009)
Bravo.
Hope it sells like hotcakes.
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