Aston Martin Cygnet
Dubbed the 'new luxury commuter concept car', and based on the Toyota iQ, the newcomer will lack the performance that Aston Martin customers have come to expect over the firm's 94-year history.
But what it lacks in bare-chested machismo it will make up for with low emissions from its one-litre engine and with its high degree of suitability for urban motoring.
The new car will boast a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating and it is thought it will share the current iQ three-cylinder petrol engine.
As the pictures reveal, the Cygnet will be embellished with a sporty grille, bespoke alloy wheels and a luxury interior as well, of course, as the elegant Aston Martin badge.
The firm has said that it will be sold only to existing Aston Martin customers, who, it is envisaged, will use it as a 'green' run-around while reserving their supercars, such as the DB9 or Vantage, for longer journeys. The firm aims to sell around 4,000 a year.
An insider said: "We are relatively confident the concept will go into production". If it does, it will go on sale towards the end of 2010.
Aston tweaks the 2010 V8 Vantage
Topping the list of new features is a new set of lightweight sport seats made from a combination of Kevlar and carbon fibre, which together weigh 17kg less than the prior model's seats. Rounding out the changes inside is a new 1000-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system with some slick new silver speaker grilles.
There are no significant changes to the powertrain other than a slight revamp to reduce CO2 emissions. Aston has pulled off a 4% decrease in CO2 for the V8 Vantage over last years model, as well as an almost 8% decrease for the Sportshift version. These gains come courtesy of a remapped ECU and revised gear ratios, but not to worry – it hasn't affected performance.
On the outside you'll find some optional 10-spoke, 19-inch diamond-finish alloy wheels, clear taillights (like those found on the V12 Vantage), some side sills borrowed from Aston Martin's N400 Roadster, and finally, a "magnum silver" mesh for the hood and side vents.
Aston special editions for GCC
Aston Martin will be launching seven special edition V8 Vantage models created specifically for the Middle East region, to commemorate racing success.
The collection includes the Elwood Blue edition based on the V12 Vantage race car which won its class at the 2009 Nϋrburgring 24-hour race in Germany earlier this year on its global debut (and which will be on display on Aston’s stand at the Dubai International Motor Show), as well as the Rose Yellow edition which celebrates the GT4 Nϋrburgring 24-hour successes.
The cars are based on the standard V8 Vantage and in addition to the race livery, various new styling options are included such as clear rear tail lamps and wider sills.
No more than seven of each edition will be produced, giving a total production of forty-nine cars. This limited production run is available to order now through the Aston Martin dealership network, priced from $157,880.
Priced: 2010 Aston Martin Rapide
The pricing strategy for the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide became clearer on Friday with word that the four-door sedan will start at the U.S. equivalent of $232,137.
Aston Martin also said in a statement that it expects to build roughly 2,000 Rapides in the first year of production. Production kicks off early next year, with customer deliveries slated to begin in the second quarter. The automaker said it will take approximately 220 hours to build each car.
The U.K. pricing on the Rapide includes these standard features: a Bang & Olufsen Beosound audio system specifically tailored for the Rapide, heated memory seats, dual cast brakes and an adaptive damping system.
2010 Aston Martin Rapide Picture
The 2010 Aston Martin Rapide will cost more than $232,000. On the other hand, workers will spend some 220 hours building each car.
