- Aston Martin's Cygnet minicar gets the green light for production in 2011.
- The Cygnet is based on the Toyota iQ.
- Press reports in Europe say the Cygnet will be priced from $45,000-$75,000.
GAYDON, England — As expected, the Aston Martin Cygnet has been approved for production in 2011 and will be assembled at the company's manufacturing facility here.
The Cygnet, which is based on the Toyota iQ minicar, was officially unveiled earlier this year at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, but Aston Martin has been actively promoting the car for 16 months.
The company said it would release details on pricing and specifications later this year. Press reports in Europe have speculated the Cygnet will be priced from $45,000-$75,000.
It is expected that the car will retain the Toyota 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine from the iQ, perhaps with some Aston Martin modifications.
Inside Line says: Stricter emissions standards in Europe have driven the need to add an ultra-small car to Aston Martin's portfolio. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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maximillion545 says:
06:45 AM, 12/04/2010
I guess Ferrari is sorted, being owned by Tata and all....
torque63 says:
03:10 PM, 10/12/2010
OK, so here is my question....If Aston has to do this silly small car thing to meet the new emissions and mileage rules, what are Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, Bentley, Pagani, and all the other gas-guzzler manufacturers going to do to survive the future laws? Are they all gonna build a mini car with a fancy leather interior? Or are some companies (Bugatti, Lambo, Bentley) exempt because they are part of larger parent companies like VW Group that also makes small cars? It sounds like you can pretty much kiss the specialist high performace exotic car business good bye unless you are owned by a large parent company that also make glorified golf carts with airbags (yep Smart car, I'm thinking of you).
b_boy_007 says:
02:16 PM, 10/12/2010
How on Earth can you charge $45-75k for a Toyota Smart car?? It's even keeping the same engine! It better have direct injection, twin-turbos, a supercharger, and every other engine technology known to man and get 200 mpg!
jm1212 says:
01:40 PM, 10/12/2010
how are they going to get a V12 in there?!
but really, there better be some type of mod from Aston...whether it be a turbo or supercharger, or both, or new tuning to give it more HP. otherwise, this is the biggest joke since the Lambo LM002
happy2rev says:
01:23 PM, 10/12/2010
aston martin, you just stepped out of the room where lambo ferrari mclaren porsche bentley sit
the room u are now in is full of benz
lzks says:
01:14 PM, 10/12/2010
Come now. Aston isn't really planning to sell these. They just didn't want to get into the whole lame hybrid hype, but they still had to meet the average mpg requirements. That's all.
toddintampa10 says:
01:10 PM, 10/12/2010
witnessx is correct, it is all about corporate average fuel economy. Any other reason given is garbage. When you can by a polo blue oil burner from VW and get 75 mpg for a quarter of the price, only the 'I have to be seen in that' people will by them. Besides in the UK, far to many people behave like its a social crime to have wealth and then actually enjoy it. Try driving an expensive car over there an see how you are treated by other motorists and pedestrians. I agree with the intent, but also agree with the other poster's, 'it a toyota'?! Maybe Porsche will take a new beetle tdi and 'Porsche' it up for 65k next. :(
cardesigner82 says:
12:07 PM, 10/12/2010
YIKES!!! Why didn't they just develop a hybrid like most of the other luxo-sport manufacturers? $45k is too much, but what else is equipped to make it go up to $75K?
This should definitely be a buy a $100k+ Aston Martin get a Cygnet free type of deal.
I can see it now, the next Bond movie will have Bond drive this to push sells, LMAO!
isend2c says:
11:17 AM, 10/12/2010
I want to see somebody buy this over a Jaguar XF, used Aston Martin or a iQ or Smart ForTwo
witnessx says:
10:11 AM, 10/12/2010
This is Astons way of getting around stricter fuel economy requirements.