Aston Martin Cygnet attracting Aussie interest

An overwhelming response to the Cygnet city car has got Aston Martin Australia seriously considering adding the model to its local line-up. Based on the Toyota iQ, but with an Aston Martin makeover, the Cygnet is proving a hit despite an expected price tag of over $60,000.

Although Aston Martin's local chief, Marcel Fabris, is quick to stress the Cygnet remains a concept at this stage, he admitted the interest in the car has already exceed expectations.

"It's still a concept and we're now in the process of gauging interest for the vehicle around the world, including Australia," Fabris told the Carsales Network.

And the smallest Aston ever could prove a conquest model for the brand, with plenty of non-Aston Martin owners taking a close interest.

"We have received a surprising amount of interest from both existing Aston Martin customers and those who aren't," Fabris said. "It could be [a conquest model]."

The intense interest comes despite the fact Aston Martin's changes are limited only to the exterior and interior design. That means mechanically the car is unchanged from the regular iQ. Power comes from a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that pumps out only 72kW; some 241kW short of the next most powerful Aston, the 313kW Vantage V8.

But the Cygnet does get the brand's styling cues, including the famous grille as well as unqiue headlights and taillights. Inside, the car is decked out with leather seemingly covering every surface. That should justify the price.

"That's not a cheap car," Fabris admitted.

He is confident, though, that there are people willing to pay that much money for such a small car.

"Currently in the Australian market there is no bespoke, high-quality, mirco commuter car," he said. "Given the environmental concerns these days, there are a lot of people that are environmentally conscious that don't want to drive a $15,000 car. They want a bespoke car that they can choose the colour of and the type of leather."

Fabris confirmed that should production go ahead later this year, Aston Martin is not dependent on Toyota bringing the iQ to Australia.

"We would homologate the car ourselves," he said. "It would be no different to any other Aston Martin."

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