Aston to build a city car!

Aston's mini
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Shahzad Sheikh
29 June 2009

I know what you are thinking. Don’t bother, we’ve just checked the calendar and it’s not even April, never mind April the 1st. So Aston Martin must be serious then.

Serious about what?

Producing an Aston Martin city car called the Cygnet priced at around $30,000 and only available to current and future Aston owners from the end of 2010.

Is this the only picture?

Yep, so far. It’s certainly got the Aston ‘face’ on it, including outrageous air-intakes on the bonnet, the traditional Aston grille-shape and there’s even air-intakes around the lights – as if it really needs them to keep cool whatever tiddly-Toyota derived power unit will exist in the front – probably the 1.0-litre.

There are also new door skins and Aston’s famous pop-out door handles, plus revisions to the rear. Aston won’t be drawn into revealing details of the Cygnet’s interior, but promises the changes inside will be even more extreme that the tweaks outside – wonder if it gets an ‘Emotion Control Unit’?

When can I buy one – if I was so inclined?

You can’t. Actually the project won’t be ready until the back end of 2010, in the meantime, Aston has to figure out how exactly it will make the car – probably farm it out to Toyota we assume. Wonder if the Japanese robot will sign the engine block?

Initially iQs will be bought from Toyota and ‘refitted’ to be reborn as tiny toddler baby Astons. But all that’s by-the-by as you can’t buy one unless you are already an Aston owner.

Say what?

We’re not sure if the Cygnet will come with a bumper sticker that says ‘My other car is a proper Aston’ but that’s the deal – unless you already own an Aston Martin or are buying one, you cannot have the mini edition.

Aston reckons around 50% of its customers also own a city car like a Smart for their day-to-day transportation needs, and wants to capitalise on that market.

Rather than have its customers pootle around other manufacturers’ runabouts, Aston is designing a unique and exclusive city car, so the Cygnet will be offered to all existing Aston owners, and anyone in the future who orders a DB9, DBS, Vantage, Rapide, or even the One-77.

Toyota and Aston huh? Didn’t see that tie-up coming.

Neither did we. The tie-up with Toyota apparently came after a chance meeting at a Nurburgring 24hr race. Akio Toyoda, recently announced as Toyota’s new boss, was racing at the ‘Ring and his team was sharing a garage with the Aston works team. Bez and Toyoda became friends, and the pair have helped form the project.

What does the good Doctor say?

‘Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this first bold step to embark on this special project. This concept - akin to an exclusive tender to a luxury yacht - will allow us to apply Aston Martin design language, craftsmanship and brand values to a completely new segment of the market.

‘Much work is still required, but I am confident that this project could become reality in the not too distant future. The offering of a Cygnet with a DBS, DB9 or Vantage is a unique combination of opposites and a novel transport solution allowing intelligent and sensitive mobility on an exclusive and innovative level.’

What do you say?

Just can’t believe this is for real. It’s certainly innovative that’s for sure. Though why don’t they just open it up for sale to everyone, would be our question.

On the other hand it could be a very clever ploy to get their efficiency averages up to meet the tough new emissions laws for car manufacturers – one tree-hugging Cygnet for each fire-breathing fuel-guzzling speed merchant, that should prove Aston’s commitment to the environment!

How will Toyota benefit from this?

Other than the cachet of being associated to the premium sportscar maker and preferred choice of James Bond? No idea.

We are hopeful of course that the much-missed Supra will finally return as a rebadged DBS, and the Celica as a V12 Vantage. Phwaooor!

Let us know what you think below. Absurd Aston, or sheer genius?

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