The Cygnet, if it makes production will use the Dual VVT-i 1.3 engine already fitted to the iQ, the cars themselves would be built in Japan and converted in the UK. the addition of the Aston bits (grille, bumpers, upgraded interior) will double the price (current Irish price is €15-20k)
the cars are expected to initially only be sold to existing customers, but will be offered to the rest of the world at a later date.
I suspect the reason this car is being introduced isn't because Aston need the money, they don't want to appeal to the average punter, they don't see a huge gap in the market for a premium microcar for €30k.
the reason they're doing this is the reason that Toyota don't sell the Celica, Corolla T Sport or the MR2 anymore, it's all down to "collective emissions" or the average emissions figure across a model range. Everyone's trying to get theirs down, and if Aston sell one low emissions (Toyota iQ = 99g/km Band A) car for every high emissions (Aston DBS = 388g/km Band G) car, they've reduced their collective emissions by around 35%....
Will anyone buy one? who knows!
This isn't a hoax by the way.
