Aston Martin Launches Cygnet with Two Special Editions, Priced from $49,600 / €36,700

To celebrate the start of production of its new Toyota iQ-based Cygnet city car, Aston Martin has announced two special launch edition models called White and Black.

Set to go on sale in April, both are offered with the iQ's 1.33-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine producing 98HP, matched to either standard 6-speed manual gearbox or optional CVT automated transmission, and each will be produced for a strictly limited run.

The British automaker says the Cygnet with the manual gearbox completes the 0-62mph (100km/h) sprint in 11.6 seconds while returning an estimated combined fuel economy of 56.5 mpg UK, equal to 47 mpg US and 5.0 lt/100km.

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6:27 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Aston Martin's Low-iQ Cygnet Caught on the Streets of Düsseldorf

If we had to give a prize for the most ridiculous new car of 2010, it would go hands down to Aston Martin's Cygnet luxury mini. The British firm's pint-size model is nothing more than a Toyota iQ (Scion iQ in North America) decorated with fancy-pansy wraps - something like those silly replicas we show you from time to time with an even sillier price tag.

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Aston Martin's Low-iQ Cygnet Caught on the Streets of Düsseldorf

If we had to give a prize for the most ridiculous new car of 2010, it would go hands down to Aston Martin's Cygnet luxury mini. The British firm's pint-size model is nothing more than a Toyota iQ (Scion iQ in North America) decorated with fancy-pansy wraps - something like those silly replicas we show you from time to time with an even sillier price tag.

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Aston Martin Cygnet makes its global debut... in Harrods window

Ah, Harrods. Not only is it the swankiest and largest department store in the world, but starting from today and running through December 11, it will also be home to Aston Martin's new luxury city car, the Cygnet. The British firm's polished up Toyota iQ is making its global debut at the renowned shopping center in London occupying a prominent position in the store's Brompton Road window display.

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Aston Martin Cygnet makes its global debut... in Harrods window

Ah, Harrods. Not only is it the swankiest and largest department store in the world, but starting from today and running through December 11, it will also be home to Aston Martin's new luxury city car, the Cygnet. The British firm's polished up Toyota iQ is making its global debut at the renowned shopping center in London occupying a prominent position in the store's Brompton Road window display.

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VIDEO: Aston Martin Execs Try to Convince Everyone the Cygnet is not a Toyota...

Now that the Aston Martin Cygnet has officially received the green light (previous post here), the brand of James Bond has put together again CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez and design director Marek Reichman for the Cygnet PR video below.

The 4-passenger Cygnet, based on Toyota's iQ city car, is meant to provide Aston Martin owners something more practical for daily use within cities and still offer said owners the level of exclusivity they desire. That means it can be ordered with all the same interior and exterior colors, leathers, and materials found on any other Aston.

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VIDEO: Aston Martin Execs Try to Convince Everyone the Cygnet is not a Toyota...

Now that the Aston Martin Cygnet has officially received the green light (previous post here), the brand of James Bond has put together again CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez and design director Marek Reichman for the Cygnet PR video below.

The 4-passenger Cygnet, based on Toyota's iQ city car, is meant to provide Aston Martin owners something more practical for daily use within cities and still offer said owners the level of exclusivity they desire. That means it can be ordered with all the same interior and exterior colors, leathers, and materials found on any other Aston.

Read more »

12:17 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Toyota iQ Disco Concept to Glamour Rock German Showrooms

Say 'hallo' to Toyota's bling-bling shiny iQ Disco, a concept model that was created by the firm's German division purely for demonstration purposes as the oversized Japanese disco ball on wheels will tour dealerships all over the country, starting from showrooms in Cologne.

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9:32 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Toyota iQ Disco Concept to Glamour Rock German Showrooms

Say 'hallo' to Toyota's bling-bling shiny iQ Disco, a concept model that was created by the firm's German division purely for demonstration purposes as the oversized Japanese disco ball on wheels will tour dealerships all over the country, starting from showrooms in Cologne.

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Aston Martin Cygnet Mini Confirmed for Production, Sales Start in 2011

It's officially official; Aston Martin today confirmed that the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet luxury city car is to go into production with sales to start in 2011. The British automaker said details on pricing and specification will be announced by the end of this year. However it is believed the Cygnet will cost between £30,000-50,000 in the UK, or about US$47,500-79,000 / €34,000 -57,000 at the current exchange rates, and will initially be sold only to existing Aston customers.

Originally shown as a pre-production concept car at this year's Geneva Salon in March, the Cygnet is an Aston Martin-flavored version of the Toyota iQ city car with unique styling cues such as the front grille, bumper designs, exterior trim and alloy wheels, plus a high-luxury interior with details inspired by the automaker's supercar range.

"It is time to think differently. Aston Martin is honest and we don't make compromises" says Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

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6:45 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Aston Martin Cygnet Mini Confirmed for Production, Sales Start in 2011

It's officially official; Aston Martin today confirmed that the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet luxury city car is to go into production with sales to start in 2011. The British automaker said details on pricing and specification will be announced by the end of this year. However it is believed the Cygnet will cost between £30,000-50,000 in the UK, or about US$47,500-79,000 / €34,000 -57,000 at the current exchange rates, and will initially be sold only to existing Aston customers.

Originally shown as a pre-production concept car at this year's Geneva Salon in March, the Cygnet is an Aston Martin-flavored version of the Toyota iQ city car with unique styling cues such as the front grille, bumper designs, exterior trim and alloy wheels, plus a high-luxury interior with details inspired by the automaker's supercar range.

"It is time to think differently. Aston Martin is honest and we don't make compromises" says Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

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6:45 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Here's why we Think Aston Martin has Lost it with the Cygnet

In an interview last week with British car magazine Autocar, Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez explained the reasons behind the company's decision to launch the Cygnet city car, which as you know, is a Toyota iQ with a new face and some fancy pansy dressings inside.

The only truly original 'Aston Martin' quality of the car appears to be the price tag which is rumored to range anywhere between £30-50,000, or about US$45-75,000 / €33-55,000.

We can think of a few dozen reasons to as why the British automaker shouldn't build, err we mean caricaturize the iQ into an Aston, but why bother when the company digs itself a grave by launching a childish wallpaper generator on its official site.

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Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez Believes in the Cygnet. Should You?

Will Aston fans and owners begin to see the future as Ulrich Bez sees it? With the Aston Martin Cygnet, which recently debuted in Geneva, Bez says the British marque hopes to create "a more sustainable product lineup".

This means lowering Aston's carbon footprint company-wide and fulfilling a niche that supposedly exists. After all, Aston Martin is a business, and businesses are about making money in the long term.

According to Bez, "We have many customers who live in London, Paris, Rome or Milan, and who would like to drive their Aston Martin more often, but with a V12 sports car, it's just not appropriate. They tell me that they want an Aston Martin that fits better into their urban lives. And it is our job to give them what they want."

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Aston Martin Shows Cygnet in Geneva, Wants Kids to Know it's What's on the Outside that Counts [with Gallery]

Aston Martin is calling its Cygnet a "tailor-made solution" to the city transportation equation, a personal luxury commuter "designed for the heart of the city", the result of a collaboration between "two companies that are leaders in their respective fields".

Really, it's an Aston-skinned Toyota (a name they mention ONCE in the entire 1600+ word press release ... DENIAL AIN'T JUST A RIVER IN AFRICA, PEOPLE!).

That means this AMiQ retains the same basic layout of Toyota's version, allowing for a few different seating arrangements: 2+2, 2+1, or just plain 2. It also has the same 98bhp 4-cylinder engine with either a 6-speed stick or optional CVT.

But enough already. For any major facts such as dimensions, feel free to check out our posts on the Toyota iQ, because we're here to discuss how this Cygnetic parasite differs from its Japanese host.

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7:43 AM | 0 comments | Read More

VIDEO: Aston Martin goes Viral with Cygnet Mini

To begin with, there's no official information about this short film, but unless someone managed to sneak into Aston Martin's headquarters in Gaydon, we have to assume that the British supercar maker and soon-to-become a re-badger of Japanese minis, created the viral video to ignite some online attention on its controversial Cygnet mini.

The Aston Martin-ized Toyota iQ is shown towards the end of the clip and after a minute or so of some guys practicing the French freestyle/urban sport of Parkour that involves negotiating obstacles using just the human body.

To gear heads like ourselves, this film makes as much sense as Aston Martin's decision to go ahead with the Cygnet project... Video after the break.

Via: Autoblog.com

2:27 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Aston Martin Cygnet: First Official Photos of Toyota iQ-Based Mini, Goes on Sale in 2010

As strange as it may sound, this is Aston Martin's new premium mini car, the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet. The British supercar maker had previewed the Cygnet earlier this year with a clay-covered prototype, but these are the first official photos of the production-ready concept model.

The Cygnet looks like the iQ because that's what it is; a retrimmed Toyota. Aston Martin's designers essentially took numerous design cues from their sports cars like the trademark grille and air-vents and applied them on the small Toyota without making any other changes on the car's shape.

Unique styling features on the outside are limited to the pop-up handles, reshaped front and rear bumpers, specific head and tail lamps, and newly designed multispoke alloy wheels.

The same goes for the Cygnet's cabin which has been adorned with premium materials and different trim, but other than that, it retains the iQ's basic architecture and design.

Aston Martin chose not to release any information on the car's hardware, but it is believed that the iQ's 1.33-liter petrol engine will be carried over to the Cygnet.

The firm's plan is to initially sell the Cygnet to current and future Aston Martin owners with a general release to follow at a later date.

Aston Martin said that it will continue to develop the Cygnet, but expects to have the car into production and on sale in the UK and Europe before the end of 2010.

Even though the Cygnet is nothing more than a more premium Toyota with DB9 styling cues, the mini will get an Aston Martin price tag, estimated to be somewhere around £20,000 or about $32,000 - €22,000 at today's exchange rates.

Aston Martin Cygnet

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Toyota iQ

7:24 AM | 0 comments | Read More

Aston Martin Cygnet: First Official Photos of Toyota iQ-Based Mini, Goes on Sale in 2010

As strange as it may sound, this is Aston Martin's new premium mini car, the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet. The British supercar maker had previewed the Cygnet earlier this year with a clay-covered prototype, but these are the first official photos of the production-ready concept model.

The Cygnet looks like the iQ because that's what it is; a retrimmed Toyota. Aston Martin's designers essentially took numerous design cues from their sports cars like the trademark grille and air-vents and applied them on the small Toyota without making any other changes on the car's shape.

Unique styling features on the outside are limited to the pop-up handles, reshaped front and rear bumpers, specific head and tail lamps, and newly designed multispoke alloy wheels.

The same goes for the Cygnet's cabin which has been adorned with premium materials and different trim, but other than that, it retains the iQ's basic architecture and design.

Aston Martin chose not to release any information on the car's hardware, but it is believed that the iQ's 1.33-liter petrol engine will be carried over to the Cygnet.

The firm's plan is to initially sell the Cygnet to current and future Aston Martin owners with a general release to follow at a later date.

Aston Martin said that it will continue to develop the Cygnet, but expects to have the car into production and on sale in the UK and Europe before the end of 2010.

Even though the Cygnet is nothing more than a more premium Toyota with DB9 styling cues, the mini will get an Aston Martin price tag, estimated to be somewhere around £20,000 or about $32,000 - €22,000 at today's exchange rates.

Aston Martin Cygnet

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Toyota iQ

7:24 AM | 0 comments | Read More