RSS
Home
Aston Martin Cygnet concept commuter car takes shape on Toyota iQ micro-mini
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
It might seem at first that it’s a joke—Aston Martin building a car based on the Toyota iQ city car—but it’s not April first, and with a concept car called the Cygnet, indeed they’re serious.
Aston Martin describes the Cygnet concept as a luxury commuter, “a distinctive, intelligent and exclusive solution for urban travel in style and luxury.” Why should only the hoi polloi be fuel efficient? Or put the other way, why should the fuel efficient not be able to arrive in Aston Martin style?
Accordingly, the Aston Martin Cygnet is “a creative, environmentally conscious solution, being small, yet with presence – and highly fuel efficient, now combined with the prestige of Aston Martin’s luxury brand ownership.”
Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez said: “Now is the right time for Aston Martin to take this first bold step to embark on this special project – made possible with the support of an organisation of Toyota’s stature and capability and the intelligent design and perfect city car package of the iQ.”
Dr. Bez conceded that much remained to be done, but by working with Toyota and utilizing the respective strengths of each organization, “this project could become reality in the not too distant future.”
Aston Martin provided no technical information, including what suspension or engine differences there might be, though we would be surprised to see a production Aston Martin Cygnet as merely a Toyota iQ with a different body and inside, luxury trim.
Even so, one shouldn’t expect a production Aston Martin Cygnet to be a luxury tourer. Bez called it “akin to an exclusive tender to a luxury yacht.”
“The offering of a ‘Cygnet’ with a DBS, DB9 or Vantage is a unique combination of opposites,” said Bez, “and a novel transport solution allowing intelligent and sensitive mobility on an exclusive and innovative level.”
In short, the question is not whether a production version of the Cygnet will arrive, but when. And a cygnet, as you know, is a baby swan.
Then too, a baby swan was, in the children’s story. an ugly duckling.
Illustration: Aston Martin Cygnet concept clay model takes shape in Aston Martin styling studio. Photo Courtesy Aston Martin.
Subscribe to email alerts for this examiner's articles, or follow John on twitter @autoreview.
Related Articles:
Comments
You know what "furious" means and you know what a Dodge Challenger is. And if you've looked at the picture accompanying this story--how …
Porsche announced today that it will introduced the first new Porsche 911 Turbo S in five years at the Geneva Auto Show in March. The new 2011 Porsche …
- 2011 Kia Sorento EX V6
- 2010 Reviews
- 2010 Acura MDX
- 2010 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI
- 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
- 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet
- 2010 Cadillac SRX
- 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS
- 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
- 2010 Chevrolet Equinox AWD 2LT
- 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
- 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
- 2010 Ford Taurus Limited AWD
- 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
- 2010 GMC Terrain SLT1 FWD
- 2010 Hyundai Elantra SE
- 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track
- 2010 Kia Forte
- 2010 Kia Soul
- 2010 Kia Soul Sport
- 2010 Lexus HS 250h
- 2010 Lexus IS 350 C
- 2010 Lexus RX350
- 2010 Lexus RX 450h
- 2010 Lincoln MKZ
- 2010 Mazda CX-7 i Sport
- 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed3
- 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart
- 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic
- 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
- 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid
- 2010 Nissan Cube 1.8 Krom
- 2010 Nissan Murano SL AWD
- 2010 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL Hatchback
- 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S
- 2010 Toyota Prius
- 2010 Toyota Prius II
- 2010 Volkswagen GTI
- 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI
- 2010 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI
- 2009 Reviews
- 2009 Acura TSX
- 2009 Audi A4 Avant 2.0T quattro
- 2009 Audi A6 3.0 TSFI
- 2009 BMW 135i Coupe
- 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive 3.5i
- 2009 Cadillac CTS 3.6 DI
- 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 4WD
- 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 1LT
- 2009 Chevrolet Kodiak pickup truck
- 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
- 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
- 2009 Chevrolet Traverse FWD LTZ
- 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic
- 2009 Dodge Journey SXT AWD
- 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Quad 4x4
- 2009 Ford Fiesta
- 2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD
- 2009 Ford Fusion SEL I-4
- 2009 GMC Acadia SLT-2
- 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
- 2009 Honda Fit Sport w/Nav
- 2009 Honda Ridgeline RTL
- 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8
- 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible
- 2009 Infiniti M45x
- 2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury
- 2009 Jaguar XKR Porfolio Coupe
- 2009 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x4
- 2009 Kia Borrego
- 2009 Kia Borrego EX 4x4
- 2009 Land Rover LR3
- 2009 Lincoln MKZ
- 2009 Lotus Exige S 260 Sport
- 2009 Lotus Exige S
- 2009 Maserati Quattroporte S
- 2009 Mazda Mazda6 s Grand Touring
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4Matic
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK300
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
- 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4WD
- 2009 Nissan 350Z Roadster Touring
- 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport
- 2009 Nissan Murano SL AWD
- 2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z
- 2009 Pontiac G6 4-cyl
- 2009 Pontiac G8
- 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
- 2009 Pontiac Vibe AWD
- 2009 Porsche Boxster RS60
- 2009 Saturn Aura XR 4-cyl
- 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid
- 2009 Scion xB
- 2009 Subaru Legacy 3.0R Limited
- 2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover AWD Technology
- 2009 Toyota 4Runner Sport Urban Runner
- 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
- 2009 Toyota Highlander/Hybrid
- 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS
- 2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4-cyl. 4WD
- 2009 Toyota Sequoia Platinum
- 2009 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD
- 2009 Toyota Venza 4-cyl. AWD
- 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
- 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Matic
- 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI
- 2008 Reviews
- 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell
- 2008 Bentley Continental GT
- 2008 BMW X6 xDrive 5.0i
- 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
- 2008 Kia Amanti
- 2008 Lexus IS-F
- 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT
- 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR
- 2008 Nissan Cube JDM
- 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line
- 2008 Scion xD
- 2008 Volkswagen Passat Turbo
- 2008 Volkswagen Toureg V8
- 2008 Volvo XC70 3.2
- 2008 Volvo XC70 D5
- Classic, collector and special interest
- 1992-94 Acura Vigor
- 1991-92 Dodge Spirit R/T
- 1975 Toyota Corolla
- 1971-1973 Plymouth Cricket
- 1971 Honda N600
