Aston Martin Cygnet - more detail

New pictures of the Toyota iQ based Aston Martin Cygnet

Aston Martin has released official images of the AM Cygnet, a Toyota iQ based City Car planned to go on sale in 2010.

Back in June we reported that Aston Martin were producing an Eco City Car – the Aston Martin Cygnet – which was a bit of a surprise, to say the least. We know that people are shying away from ultra expensive and powerful cars at the moment, but the idea of an Aston Martin that was cheap to run and very, very small seemed a step to far.

But once we got our heads round it the idea made more sense. The plan isn’t for the Aston Martin Cygnet to be a new direction for Aston Martin, but a way for city-dwelling Aston Martin owners to have a car that suited an urban environment, but still offered the style and luxury that are synonymous with Aston Martin. And of course the Cygnet would make a great courtesy car for AM owners when their DB9 or Rapide was in the workshop.

Since we first saw the Cygnet in June, Fiat has come up with the 695 Tributo Ferrari which, despite being a Fiat, would fulfil exactly the same objectives as the Cygnet. And Aston Martin are serious about putting the Cygnet in to production in 2010 and have just released the first official images of its baby.

Based as it is on the Toyota iQ, the Cygnet offers a compact but very appealing package for a city dweller. Aston Martin have integrated their own styling in to the iQ very well, from the rear lights to the AM grill. The interior is finished using high-quality leather and is a convincing take on a full size AM, even if it still uses the iQ’s dash and architecture.

Aston like to think of the Cygnet as “…akin to an exclusive tender for a luxury yacht”, which is a good analogy. Initially aimed just at existing AM owners in the UK and Europe, Aston hope to sell up to 2000. If it proves a success – and it probably will – the AM Cygnet will be offered to non-AM owners later on.

The Aston Martin Cygnet isn’t going to be cheap (probably twice the price oif the Toyota iQ on which it’s based) but it could prove a good move for Aston Martin. Not only will they come across as environmentally aware but they will manage to lower their average CO2 emissions across the range, which will have an impact on costs.

Aspiring to an Aston Martin just became a lot more affordable.