Aston Martin Cygnet (Toyota iQ) heads for production!

[Kal-El]

I thought this was just an in house exercise using the iQ. It almost seems like a joke. Aston Martin econobox? What the hell is going on here?

Aston Martin is profitable and new Cygnet will be a cult icon, CEO Bez says

Automotive News -- November 3, 2010 - 5:53 am ET

BERLIN -- Aston Martin was profitable through the economic crisis and its new Cygnet minicar will be a cult hit like the brand's models made famous by James Bond movies, CEO Ulrich Bez said.

After two decades of ownership, Ford Motor Co. sold the British luxury sports car brand for $674 million in 2007 to a group of investors led by Kuwait's Investment Dar.

Bez said not many people thought Aston Martin would survive alone but the company was profitable through the crisis and will be profitable in 2010 and the coming years.

"My investors are happy," Bez said at the Automobilwoche industry conference here. Automobilwoche is an sister publication to Automotive News Europe.

The CEO, who has led Aston since 2000, said the company will not look for an industrial partner, despite the industry trend for automakers to seek alliances to cut costs.

Since Ford cut the brand loose, Aston has been successful as an independent company, funding its products alone, and will remain so, Bez said.

Aston Martin's forthcoming Cygnet has surprised brand purists because the tiny 2+1 minicar -- just a little larger than a Smart ForTwo -- is a major departure from the company's usual big high-performance sports cars.

Bez said he believes the Cygnet has the appeal to make it a cult icon, just like the DB5 that James Bond drove in hit movies.

"The Cygnet is exclusive and bears an exclusive brand name," he said, adding that the car's stylish design and innovative features make it "advanced, iconic and iconoclastic."

Aston Martin will sell about 3,000 Cygnets a year, priced from 30,000 euros, Bez said.

The car is a reworked, upscale version of the Toyota iQ and will be assembled at Aston Martin"s Gaydon factory in England starting in early 2011.

Bez said the Cygnet will help Aston Martin reduce its fleet CO2 emissions in line with demands from legislators in Europe and the United States.

[JumpmanYaris]

[BluYrs]

Repost! http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19583

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by BluYrs

Repost! http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19583

Yeah, we all heard this last year. But it has now been made official.

This is today's news.

[Astroman]

I don't see it as a joke. Right now consumers treat small cars as stripped down death boxes. If they can see more offering of "luxury" small cars it might help turn the tide a bit. The new mini cooper helped, this might help also.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by Astroman

I don't see it as a joke. Right now consumers treat small cars as stripped down death boxes. If they can see more offering of "luxury" small cars it might help turn the tide a bit. The new mini cooper helped, this might help also.

It's just particularly odd that an exotic brand do this. I can see BMW, Mercedes, ect... doing it, but Aston Martin's current lineup ranges from $118,000 - $266,000. So to suddenly offer a micro-car less useful than a Yaris is just way out of whack.

[Astroman]

True, lol. It would be like Mercedes pimping out a Aveo or something I guess. But still I'm excited even though I probably won't be able to afford one. I had to get a 72month loan just to get mine.

[WeeYari]

If successful, good for Aston Martin. This is all about brand penetration. I looked at Porsche entering the SUV market with the Cayenne much the same way. However, it was a hot segment, and consumers horny for the brand chose it over what I would consider much more viable and practical alternatives from other manufacturers.

The Cygnet is a hot looking little machine. Very Fiat 500 like, and much easier on the eyes than a stock iQ.

[Kal-El]

Just read something interesting.

Cygnet will only be available to Aston Martin owners. In this case, price doesn't matter. And exclusivity is huge. When you see someone driving a Cygnet, you know they have a real Aston Martin ($116-$266K).

That changes this whole debate.

[Kal-El]

I don't remember the back being posted yet. Here it is. I like what they did with the tail lights.

[wooverstone8]

From what I understand the purpose of the Cygnet is to allow Aston Martin fleet to comply with strict emissions rules that the European Union is putting into place for 2012?

[Astroman]

Can't wait to see it on top gear

[why?]

Originally Posted by wooverstone8

From what I understand the purpose of the Cygnet is to allow Aston Martin fleet to comply with strict emissions rules that the European Union is putting into place for 2012?

that is probable.

But it is an ideal city car for Aston owners who don't want to risk their real ride when they must go into a city. I assume the interior will be super lux, and 30 mpg will be plenty for that crowd.

[advocate]

Originally Posted by wooverstone8

From what I understand the purpose of the Cygnet is to allow Aston Martin fleet to comply with strict emissions rules that the European Union is putting into place for 2012?

This is correct. Aston Martin's average MPG across its fleet is not high enough.

Which is why they've bought the one of the cheapest cars Toyota makes with one of the highest MPGs.

Smart on their part.

And yes, people will buy it for the AM badge. And yes, they will be snobs. But rich people buy dumb stuff all the time. Nothing new here.

[firemachine69]

Bez said the Cygnet will help Aston Martin reduce its fleet CO2 emissions in line with demands from legislators in Europe and the United States.

Funny how that last comment was like an afterthought. Too bad it's the PRIMARY thought at Aston, as they would otherwise be so heavily fined, they'd cease to exist.

Originally Posted by why?

that is probable.

But it is an ideal city car for Aston owners who don't want to risk their real ride when they must go into a city. I assume the interior will be super lux, and 30 mpg will be plenty for that crowd.

When they've already dumped six-figures for luxury leather, and $400 basic maintenance service (IIRC, the DB5 uses 12 quarts of synthetic oil), quarterly, I can assure you they don't give a shit about gas mileage.

[Kal-El]

That interior alone doubles the value of the car. Wow.

[why?]

Originally Posted by firemachine69

Funny how that last comment was like an afterthought. Too bad it's the PRIMARY thought at Aston, as they would otherwise be so heavily fined, they'd cease to exist.
When they've already dumped six-figures for luxury leather, and $400 basic maintenance service (IIRC, the DB5 uses 12 quarts of synthetic oil), quarterly, I can assure you they don't give a shit about gas mileage.

Don't be so sure. But anyways, it isn't about gas mileage, it is about not driving a 250,000 car into a city. They get to show they are Aston owners without risking some reject hitting their car with a honda civic, or some other piece of junk.

[jpmck03]

Originally Posted by why?

Don't be so sure. But anyways, it isn't about gas mileage, it is about not driving a 250,000 car into a city. They get to show they are Aston owners without risking some reject hitting their car with a honda civic, or some other piece of junk.

I'm not sure that that logic works.. as they still risk some "reject" hitting their over-the-top-expensive Aston Martin/iQ, right?

It's still their fancy smug-mobile getting dinged by some common man's econobox...