Little Aston Martin courtesy of Toyota (From Community Newsgroup)

Little Aston Martin courtesy of Toyota

10:47am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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ASTON Martin have announced a deal with Toyota that will see the British marque building a tiny city-run-about based on the Japanese firm's iQ model platform.

Aston Martin want to build a luxury city car exclusively for owners of their larger models, to help them do their bit for the environment.

Toyota have agreed in principal to provide the platform, while the finished product will be all but unrecognisable from the iQ after Aston's engineers have worked their magic.

The new “Cygnet” would pair Aston Martin’s trademark design flair with the Toyota iQ’s highly compact and low-CO2 city driving package. The commuter car will be tailored specifically to customer requirements by Aston Martin, but would boast sumptious leather interiors, bespoke styling, and a sporty look.

"It’s a great compliment that the Toyota iQ has been hand-picked by one of the world’s most prestigious sports car brands, a company with whom we also share a strong friendship," Toyota Europe's CEO Tadashi Arashima said.

"This collaboration represents a natural pairing of strategies: a small yet spacious package, perfect for the city driver, finished off with Aston Martin’s iconic design language.

"The Cygnet is a good choice for the Aston Martin owner looking for that second or third car, which is luxurious and eco-conscious,’ he added.

With CO2 emissions starting as low as 99 g/km, the Cygnet's a far cry from the fuel hungry drives offered in Aston Martin's usual line-up.

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