ASTON MARTIN Cygnet
ASTON MARTIN Cygnet
From the Esteemed British Marque
First Drive: The World's First "Cool and Luxurious City Car" (1)
Aston Martin bills the Cygnet as a "luxurious, tailor-made city car." Its launch in Japan coincided with a press event and test drive held in Hong Kong. What is the true value of this, the company's first micro-compact car, born from a collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation?
Text by OPENERSPhoto by ASTON MARTIN
Adapting to the Cities and Lifestyles of a New Era
"For us, the Cygnet is an extremely important model. This car is not simply an inexpensive compact because of its small body. It is, we believe, the world's first cool and luxurious city car."
The Aston Martin micro-compact car, the Cygnet, has been the subject of much anticipation and began sales in Europe in January of this year. At the Asian launch event held recently in Hong Kong, Marek Reichman, Aston Martin's Design Director and the man behind the Cygnet's design, shared these thoughts.
As you may know, the Cygnet is based on the Toyota iQ. Its genesis lies in a chance encounter between Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez and Toyota President Akio Toyoda during the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, which sparked a collaborative venture. However, for Aston Martin, the Cygnet is not merely a model introduced for the sake of generating buzz. Reichman's passionate tone conveyed the company's strong commitment to this car.
"The world is changing. Cities and lifestyles evolve with the times. Automotive manufacturers must also change to keep pace. Cars, too, must adapt to new values and lifestyles."
The Challenge: Expressing Beauty Within a Three-Meter Body
It seems that the company, which since its founding in 1914 has left a brilliant mark on motorsport history and consistently produced limited numbers of sports cars with breathtakingly sleek bodies and exceptional performance, has turned its attention to a compact car that departs from its traditional model range, considering the urban transportation environment, ecological regulations, and changing user awareness.
However, to suggest that this car is merely a hastily re-skinned Toyota iQ, driven by marketing or political necessity, would be inaccurate.
"Aston Martin has always strived to create beautiful products. With the Cygnet, the theme was how to express beauty within a short, three-meter body."
As Reichman explains, the only exterior elements shared with the iQ are the roof and the rear fenders. The front and rear bumpers feature a more pronounced, wider design, while Aston Martin's signature design language—such as the aluminum grille, side slits, and enamel badges—asserts its noble lineage. The design, compact and charming yet instantly recognizable as an Aston Martin, is a testament to the skill of Reichman's design team.
Aston Martin's Luxury Compact "Cygnet" Goes on Sale! (1)
ASTON MARTIN Cygnet
From the Esteemed British Marque
First Drive: The World's First Luxury Micro-Compact Car (2)
Interior Trimmed with the Same Amount of Leather as the DB9
The impression remains unchanged upon settling into the driver's seat. This is because, as Aston Martin proclaims, "meticulous craftsmanship is evident in every detail," creating a luxurious space unimaginable from its compact body. Leather, identical to that used in the DB9, adorns the seats, door panels, and instrument panel, with all stitching hand-finished like that of a high-end Italian suit. Incidentally, the amount of leather used is also the same as in the DB9. This level of refinement should satisfy existing Aston owners looking for a second or third car.
On the other hand, the driving mechanics remain largely unchanged from the iQ, with only added sound insulation.
"Aston Martin's philosophy is Power, Beauty & Soul. As the Cygnet is a city car, we determined that there was no need to modify the power aspect," Reichman explained the reasoning behind not altering the engine or suspension.
The Darling of the Era
Consequently, the Cygnet does not possess the exhilarating engine sound or acceleration, nor the sharp handling, that one might expect from its larger siblings in the lineup. Driving through the streets of Hong Kong at city speeds, it becomes clear that, much like the Toyota iQ, it is an exceptionally well-executed city commuter. It navigates the undulating streets and intricate narrow alleys with effortless ease. Its small turning radius and excellent visibility make U-turns and parallel parking a breeze. Indeed, there are few tools as adept for urban mobility.
It is now widely understood that body size and engine power are no longer the sole determinants of a car's hierarchy. Furthermore, as symbolized by the trend of Hollywood celebrities opting for the Prius, environmental consciousness has become a significant value for Aston Martin's target demographic of affluent individuals and influencers. Through this brief test drive in Hong Kong, it was confirmed that the Cygnet is precisely this: a completely new type of micro-compact luxury car, a true darling of the era.
One might wish, perhaps a touch greedily, that it possessed a driving 'flavor' that made gripping the steering wheel a special experience, akin to its larger siblings. However, perhaps a sportier model with Aston Martin's unique tuning for the engine and chassis, similar to Brabus specifications for Smart cars, could easily resolve such minor quibbles.
ASTON MARTIN Cygnet
Body Dimensions | Length 3,078 x Width 1,680 x Height 1,500mm
Wheelbase | 2,000mm
Vehicle Weight | 988kg
Engine | 1.33-liter inline 4-cylinder 16-valve
Maximum Output | 72kW (98ps) / 6,000rpm
Maximum Torque | 125Nm / 4,400rpm
Transmission | 6-speed MT, CVT
Fuel Economy (European Combined Cycle) | 56.5mpg (6-speed MT), 54.3mpg (CVT)
CO2 Emissions | 116g/km (6-speed MT), 120g/km (CVT)
Price | From ¥4,750,000
Aston Martin's Luxury Compact "Cygnet" Goes on Sale! (1)