Euro-Emissions Oddity: Aston Martin Cygnet

The European Commission planned to adopt corporate average emissions standards in 2012 and that scared some small makes.  Aston, sitting all-alone (post-Ford), decided it needed an emissions champ to offset its core product.  Thus was born the ill-advised partnership with Toyota and a Toyota/Scion IQ-based Aston microcar.  Needless to say, we can’t wait until there’s reliable way to legally import one to the US…

The Aston Cygnet has since been cancelled, which begs the question of what happened to the EC’s rules.  These were silly expensive when new (about 30,000 pounds sterling) and we can only hope prices crash as the market forgets about them.

The car was smartly (pun intended?) re-skinned for Aston duty and received major upgrades to soft points in the interior.  The downside was the lack of mechanical upgrades and the obvious remaining hard points on the interior.  At least the Cygnet came with IQ’s top engine, a 1.3-liter four making about 98 horsepower – not bad for a tiny car.  The very good news is these could be had with clutch pedals, unlike the US Smart.  This example does indeed have a manual shifter.

Anyway, if you live in Europe or elsewhere and can get one, we here at Oddimotive will be jealous until about 2035 when we can import one under the 25-year rule.  Surely, however, someone has reskinned a US market Scion version.  Hmm….

Click for AutoScount Ad
Radebeul, Germany (Dresden)
€ 29,900

They did a pretty good job Astonizing the front end, though the stance is obviously different from anything in the Aston stable.

The wheels are nice and the side ‘vent’ pulls in some Aston-ness, but the profile is all IQ.

the rear has unique lamps, but no exposed exhaust, which seems a bit odd.  Maybe they knew any change would make it sound horrible.

The interior isn’t exactly subtle and classy.  Smart owners will justifiably be envious of this car’s manual shifter and clutch pedal!

Here’s another engle on the seats, which at least have Aston emblems.

Nothing says luxury like a tacked-on Garmin.  Presumably, Toyota did not offer a navigation head unit for the IQ.

Ad text:

Body: Compact (4 Seats)
Mileage: 7,520 km
First registration: 05/2011
Power: 72 kW (98 HP)
Fuel type: Gasoline
Consumption: 5.0 l/100 km(Combined)
General inspection: 05/2016
Body colour: Silver Fox metallic

Interior fittings: Part leather Beige

Vehicle description by the seller
Sofort verfügbarer Vorführwagen mit Erstzulassung auf den Händlerbetrieb. 

Sonderausstattung:
ABS
ESP
elektrische Wegfahrsperre
Traktionskontrolle
Nebelscheinwerfer
Bluetooth
Bordcomputer
CD-Spieler
elektrische Fensterheber
elektrische Seitenspiegel
Multifunktionslenkrad
Navigationssystem
Regensensor
Servolenkung
Sitzheizung
Zentralverriegelung
16 Zoll Alufelgen
Einparkhilfe
automatische Fahrlichtschaltung
Rückspiegel automatisch abblendend
Klimaautomatik
Radio mit CD
Dachhimmel Alcantara

Irrtümer und Fehleingaben vorbehalten.

Thomas Exclusive Cars – Wir sind Aston Martin Vertragshändler*

Google translation:

Body: Compact (4 Seats)
Mileage: 7,520 km
First registration: 05/2011
Power: 72 kW (98 HP)
Fuel type: Gasoline
Consumption: 5.0 l/100 km(Combined)
General inspection: 05/2016
Body colour: Silver Fox metallic

Interior fittings: Part leather Beige

Vehicle description by the seller
Immediately available Demonstrator vehicles registered in the dealership .

Special Equipment:
ABS
ESP
electric immobilizer
traction control
Fog Lights
bluetooth
board computer
CD player
electric windows
electric side mirrors
Multifunction steering wheel
navigation system
rain sensor
power steering
Heated seats
Central
16 inch alloy rims
Parking assistance
automatic headlight activation
Rear view mirror automatically dimming
Climate Control
Radio with CD
Alcantara headliner

Errors and incorrect entries reserved.

Thomas Exclusive Cars – We are Aston Martin dealer *


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