Aston Martin have revealed their plans for a city-car, the Cygnet, offering environmentally-conscious motoring and 5-star Euro NCAP safety together with the brand’s premium badge. Based on the Toyota iQ, the Aston Martin Cygnet will apparently be priced at under £20,000 ($33k); it’ll also offer dramatically less performance than the company’s DBS, DB9 and Vantage models.

It may feel like an April Fools joke – albeit one in late July – but there’s actually at least one very good reason for the Cygnet’s existence. Incoming emissions legislation promises to be even more draconian to high-polluting marques, demanding cleaner engines and higher economy. The rules, however, are based on a company’s overall average CO2 and MPG performance, meaning that the frugal Cygnet could help offset Aston Martin’s more profligate cars.
The company intends to sell 4,000-5,000 Cygnets per year, once the production model is finalized, differentiating it from the iQ by virtue of its premium finish. Aston Martin and Toyota apparently began negotiations after sharing garage facilities at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.


Original article: http://www.slashgear.com/aston-marti...ealed-3048282/


So the question is....have they gone mad? Is this apocalypse? Is there any hope for mankind after this?


Think about this: If the Cygnet's purpose is to help overall average CO2 and MPG performance of Astons, why not just build a DB9 with a 1 liter engine!? Call it the DB9-NQ with NQ standing for Not Quite, and have some visual distinctions. Take out all the luxuries I don't mind, because the DB9 looks amazing. They could also make an I4 Vantage, and inline 4 version of the V8 vantage....the same deal. '

So why oh why!? Aston is one of the world's only companies to produce a complete range of sex on wheels.

 

This is what emissions regulations have come down to. You get a specialty manufacturer who can't meet overall fleet requirements so they have to go build something stupid just to fit within the rules so they don't get taxed to death. This car is probably cheaper than some of the additional options available on their cars. I'd market this as the free gift with proof of purchase!

 

why do they keep taxing vehicles when they just play a relative role with pollution?