The Aston Martin Cygnet - production to start in 2011
Aston Martin has confirmed that the Toyota iQ based Aston Martin Cygnet will enter production in 2011. Expect prices in excess of £30k
So, Aston Martin has confirmed this morning that the Aston Martin Cygnet will go in to production in 2011. Which doesn’t exactly come as news. There have been plenty of clues that the Cygnet was more than just someone at Aston having a senior moment and sharing it with the world.
Perhaps the biggest clue that Aston were serious about making the Cygnet a production rality came in March when a configurator for the Cygnet went live on Aston’s website. The idea they’d bother to do that if they had no intention of producing the Cygnet was daft. We also heard that there’d be an Electric Aston Martin Cygnet. But now Cygnet production is official.
Production – if you can call badge-engineering a Toyota iQ to be production – begins in 2011. To be absolutely fair, this is a bit more than badge-engineering as you will be able to spec your Cygnet up with just about anything – cosmetically – the rest of the Aston Martin Range enjoys.
Which could make for some interesting prices if Aston use their current options range and prices for the Cygnet. We’re already expecting the Cygnet to start at over £30k – despite the donor Toyota iQ starting at just £10k – and with the Aston Martin options list coming in to play you could very easily see the birth of the £50k Cygnet.
We completely understand the impetus to reduce the average CO2 levels across the Aston range. It’s barking mad that this should have to happen – it’s all down to climate change gobbledygook – but something has to be done.
We could almost accept it when the Cygnet was being punted as the ‘tender’ to the DB9, DBS or Rapide; the City Aston Martin. But we’re a lot less happy that the Cygnet will simply be sold to anyone who wants one. Or maybe that’s the stroke of genius?
Maybe Aston don’t expect any of their real customers to buy the Aston martin Cygnet. Maybe they expect that all Cygnets will be bought by wannabes who can’t afford a real Aston Martin, but can just about run to a £40k Toyota with some Aston bits.
So then we’ll know the Cygnet is just a necessary evil, bought only by wannabes so the marque isn’t denuded with down-market connotations, which enables Aston to carry on making its beautiful 12-cylinder works of art.
Perhaps.
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