Cygnet - Aston Martin's ugly duckling

It's called the Cygnet Concept and Aston Martin says it's a bold step towards a new form of transportation. Well compared to a DBS or vantage it certainly is.

It's a luxury commuter car, a form of personal transportation that sees the company's core values engage with a new environment. it's a bit like one of those posh custom branded cellphones that cost several thousand dollars but in truth have the innards of an ordinary $200 unit that truth be known you could have for nothing on some plans.

In this case, the Cygnet Concept's innards are straight from Toyota's tiny and very practical iQ hatch. 'Many of our customers have a need for a small car for urban and city use,' says Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, 'The Cygnet Concept brings intelligence, innovation and artistry to the small car market. The Cygnet Concept represents the natural choice for those customers looking for a premium commuter car.

"Our past, our future and our backbone will always remain sports cars, but the Cygnet Concept will support this by offering our customers a greater degree of freedom in the urban context."

The Cygnet Concept is the result of a collaboration between Toyota and Aston Martin and it has to be said that it's quite an inventive solution, to looking a cut above on the daily commute.

Aston Martin has always understood the importance of an emotional engagement with its products, whose emotional design will remain at the heart of its strategy, be it through the exhilarating sound of a V12 engine, the unmistakeable silhouette of an Aston Martin sports car or the quality, craftsmanship and skill that is evident in an Aston Martin interior. The Cygnet Concept says Aston, exemplifies the latter attribute, demonstrating the high levels of detail design and craft that are integral to every Aston, presented within a compact and highly advanced technological package.

The Cygnet's rich blend of hand-stitched leather, Alcantara and aluminium is shared with Aston Martin's sports cars though all the while as a commuter car the iQ-derived concept can slip easily and unobtrusively into the city.

Using Toyota's tried and tested technology, together with Aston Martin's personalisation and customisation skills, material quality, craft skill and tactile delight, the Cygnet Concept is a genuine solution for future mobility and a natural partner for Aston Martin's luxury sports cars.