Aston Martin Cygnet is BACK – and it’s got a 430bhp V8 (video)

The Aston Martin Cygnet – Aston’s take on the Toyota iQ – returns as a one-off special by ‘Q’ with a 4.7 litre, 430bhp V8 powertrain.

The Aston Martin Cygnet was supposed to be a car every Aston owner would buy just for fun around town. But it didn’t quite work out like that.

A Toyota iQ in bespoke clothes, the Cygnet didn’t work either as a way to reduce AML’s average CO2, or as a ‘Tender’ for something with an Aston badge and a V12 under the bonnet (although Sir Stirling Moss did buy one) and was axed in 2013 after fewer than 150 sales.

The Cygnet died officially as Aston Martin came to its senses, but it’s doing a Lazarus with a one-off special, built for an Aston Martin customer by AML’s Q Branch, but this time it’s a lot more interesting.

In a feat worthy of Dr Who’s Tardis, Aston has managed to find much more room under the Cygnet’s body than anyone knew existed to fit a 4.7 litre V8 from the old Vantage S, complete with seven-speed sequential gearbox sending power through a shortened drive to the back wheels. At 4.2 seconds to 62mph, it’s quicker than the Vantage S.

There are other changes too, including a roll cage welded in to become an integral part of the chassis, new bulkhead, wider track with wheelarch extensions to cover the 19″ alloys, bigger brakes and double wishbones all round.

The V8 Aston Martin Cygnet will be at the Goodwood Festival of SPeed from today (12 July).

Aston Martin V8 Cygnet Video