Aston Martin 'Cygnet', based on the Toyota iQ

Aston Martin 'Cygnet', based on the Toyota iQ

When you think Aston Martin, you think luxury, power, quality and exclusivity. Well, move over MINI, Aston Martin is about to crowd your market by offering a new “luxury commuter car concept”. The strangest and probably most unbelievable part of this is that the concept will be based on Toyota’s economy car, the iQ.

The Toyota iQ is also scheduled to be used under Scion brand in America and as an all-electric vehicle. The Aston Martin version will be call the Cygnet (baby swan) and is supposed to be offered to current Aston Martin owners first. You might look at this a couple of ways. First, you could look at this as a sign of the economic times with this being Aston Martin’s way of surviving in the future. Second, the position could be taken that Aston Martin is trying to offer their clientele an environmentally friendly option that is more luxurious than a Prius. Finally, and the most likely in my book, they are trying to reduce the carbon impact of each of their cars, which the 40 mpg iQ would successfully do. This would, in the grand scheme of things, make them a more social and environmentally responsible company…at least on paper.

2009 Scion iQ Concept

2009 Scion iQ Concept

The real question is whether Aston Martin owners would really buy into this or be insulted by it. Exclusivity and economy aren’t really on the same playing field; if they were then Cadillac, Hummer, Ferrari and Lamborghini would have all come out with a gas sipping car ages ago. I give them an A+ for creativity, but honestly think this is a little on the ridiculous side. However, at an estimated 2000 units a year, the likelihood that this will make a huge impact to the average consumer is pretty unlikely.

 

Be sure to check out GreenCarReports.com’s take on the baby Aston Martin. Then, come on back to AllSmallCars.com for more blogs, reviews and more. You can even find local parts, dealers and services.

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