ASTON MARTIN BUILDS A POCKET ROCKET
Cygnet city car gets V8 power from previous-generation Vantage for supercar-like performance
Can those front wheels really handle that kind of power?
Although the Aston Martin Cygnet is essentially a reskinned Toyota IQ with 98hp 1.3litre engine driving just the front wheels, the one you see here in official pictures is a totally different thing.
The underpinnings of the so-called V8 Cygnet have been re-engineered to accommodate a longitudinally laid-out engine driving the rear wheels. This has been made possible via new front bulkhead and transmission tunnel.
The 4.7-litre V8 has been taken from the previous-generation V8 Vantage S producing 430hp and 490Nm. Other carried-over bits include seven-speed automated manual gearbox, four- and six-piston brakes, limited-slip differential, double-wishbone suspension and electrical architecture.
Due to these extensive modifications, the V8 Cygnet is considerably longer and wider than the donor vehicle. The width, for one, has grown to 1,920mm compared to 1,680mm of the original Cygnet.
How fast is it?
Aston Martin says the V8 Cygnet requires less than 4.5sec to reach 100kph from standstill before calling it the day at 274kph. Mind, that top speed is around 100kph more than the regular Cygnet.
Apart from the beefed-up brakes and suspension, there are super-big 19-inch wheels (up from 16 inches) rimmed with 235/40 tyres up front and 275/35 rubbers at the rear. Housing them are flared wheel arches made from carbon composite material.
Thanks to the eight-pot motor being positioned behind the front axle, the V8 Cygnet is claimed to have a 50:50 front-rear weight distribution. The dry weight of the car is rated at 1,375kg, around 500kg more than in the regular Cygnet.
Due to its racy attitude, the V8 Cygnet is equipped with two Recaro seats with fourpoint seat belts, a roll cage and some other FIA-approved safety gear.
When will it go on sale?
Sorry, this is just a one-off car made by Aston Martin’s Q division for a customer at an undisclosed price. The right-hand-drive layout of the V8 Cygnet highly means that the buyer resides in the UK.
The suits at Gaydon say the V8 Cygnet was built to show the fun side of Aston Martin.
The original Cygnet was made in 2011 to help balance the company’s fleet average emissions. It was a sales flop rather than a success story in the showroom.