Aston UGLY ducking? The Aston Martin Cygnet Story

Aston Martin is known for its loud, brash sports cars. It’s what James Bond jumps into to get out of trouble, so it’s understandable that there was quite a bit of head scratching in the Aston community when the company announced they were going to release the Cygnet – a small city car that wasn’t even tuned for performance. Why did Aston release this car that was so clearly not an Aston? How could they justify selling it for three times the price of the car it was based on, and can you get one today for a bargain price?

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#bigcar

[Mnkskanal]

I think Aston not only looked for a small car but a small high-quality car and so Toyota was the natural choice.

[nadeemchaudhry]

Toyota IQ = Hotpoint washing machine on wheels. AS Cygnet = Miele Washer Dryer on wheels 😂😂😂
Thanks for another great video!

[gilesa.]

I saw one of these in Portugal last year, my brother was adamant it was an Ayego, couldn't believe it when he saw the badge. Some pay anything just for a badge ..

[SmallBlogV]

I'm staggered that they haven't depreciated _at all_ in a decade! Surely the market only exists in Monaco and upper-class bits of London. But then, there are so few of them around in the first place, so I guess collectors see an opportunity...

[michaelblack]

That Cygnet has got to be the ultimate clutch-bag accessory. 😆

[pdsnpsnldlqnop]

The Cygnet is arguably the best Aston ever for city driving and the comedy value of 'hop in the Aston' is gold. For practical city living this car is awesome. I want one!
From what I remember the car it is based on - the Toyota - has many, many airbags and is properly engineered for safety. Toyota price parts too. What is not to like?

[NorseNerdleMeister]

I’m not saying I need an Aston Martin Cygnet but I’d feel a lot better if I had one😂

[DJAYPAZ]

I have often thought of driverless trains as horizontal elevators. Elevators used to have an operator on board controlling its functions.

[danielleavitt]

I remember seeing one of these in Kensington and my wife thought I lost my mind over how excited I was over this city car.

[mr.sr]

Here in California, the owner of a dealership called gallpen has the Cygnet, which was at the Frankford motor show.

[paulelverstone]

Now imagine if Lexus did an upmarket version of the IQ...

[paulgaida]

I saw one in central Paris in 2015, don’t remember seeing one here in the UK. The paint looked great…

[andyroid]

Thanks for this video - you rounded of my Friday YT viewing wonderfully! 😀

[MicrobyteAlan]

If they were around, back in the day, when I was a field service engineer in Boston, I’d have gotten one.

[PuncakeLena]

They should've built mor Cygnet V8's. I'd love to have one

[TortillasAllTheWayDown]

It wasn't cost effective to add more isable features, but it was to spend 50 hours on the paint job?! No wonder they got sold to Tata...

[joshuadoesstuffandsuch]

Great video sir! I must say that a polished turd is still, well, you know. But I still want one. 😂🤦‍♂️

[felixcat]

When I first saw this quirky little hatchling my admiration and respect for the Aston Martin marketing guys hugely increased!

Admittedly, I had no idea that AM had invested 175 hours of highly skilled, well paid labour into each one, which does go some way to explain the utterly hilarious price tag!

It didn't surprise me that they found buyers (albeit not that many!) because people loved the AM badge!

Ironically, this was just as well because with this car, about the only thing truly 'Aston Martin' about it is that badge!

Yes, I know, the 175 hours, nice paint, luxury leather, nicer front panel, etc, but these are mere trinkets added to the bog standard Toyota!

They hardly maketh the car, but paradoxically, they're all that makes it an Aston Martin...

[isla.W.S]

Wow what a coincidence - have just been watching a video on here called Metro Madness about rare versions of the Austin Metro...an Aston Martin related one being the Fraser Tickford Metro!

[JTA]

When I first saw one, I thought it was a Cygnet of my imagination