wtf this must be a wind up please God nooooo?!

 

Not unless Auto Express are also playing along

 

can Astons brand image survive this? I would have thought that people would think twice about buying a 100+ k car from a company that sells a tarted up bottom of the range toyota aswell. that said i will never have that much money so proberbly dont understand the mind set

 

Or will they think, this is a clever way to show off in congestion charge London?

 

Ha, these will sell in droves, everyone who owns an aston and has kids will be buying one for them.

For me, this is all a bit porsche Cayenne. I hate the prospect of it, but if it gives Aston the funds to keep bringing us new models then so be it.

 

personally i hate the car but i guess you guys are right and as long as it doesn't damage aston then its all well and good.

 

This also helps lower fleet CO2. This is a shrewd move and will help Aston longer term. The supercar makers are only going to survive is they make a gesture towards lowering CO2 across their ranges.

I believe that Lagonda should be positioned in the BMW 3-5 series sized market but with super luxury car styling, bigger engines (diesel/ hybrid) and be much more exclusive. The SUV/ crossover route may work for the Middle East and Asia but not for Europe and the US.

I would also suggest that Aston may be looking for a longer term relationship with Toyota - there's a nice new V10 engine (LF-A) and some class leading V8's. With Aston fettling and Toyota reliability this could be a marriage made in heaven.

The proposed Merc relationship seems to be going nowhere and there is speculation that Merc wants to invest in Porsche (and VW?)

 

This also helps lower fleet CO2. This is a shrewd move and will help Aston longer term. The supercar makers are only going to survive is they make a gesture towards lowering CO2 across their ranges.

I would also suggest that Aston may be looking for a longer term relationship with Toyota - there's a nice new V10 engine (LF-A) and some class leading V8's. With Aston fettling and Toyota reliability this could be a marriage made in heaven.

I thought at first this was a belated April Fool joke, but taking a bit of time to actually think about it, this could well be a masterstroke on the part of Aston Martin's management. What a fantastic way to significantly lower the average CO2 ratings of the range.

Even 12 months ago though, who (apart from those working for Aston Martin and Toyota) would have thought of this???

Quoted for truth.

It'll be interesting to see how many other manufacturers sit up and take note of this. Imagine a dinky little Ferrari screaming round the city centre?? It could happen you know....

 

I thought at first this was a belated April Fool joke, but taking a bit of time to actually think about it, this could well be a masterstroke on the part of Aston Martin's management. What a fantastic way to significantly lower the average CO2 ratings of the range.

Even 12 months ago though, who (apart from those working for Aston Martin and Toyota) would have thought of this???

 

The market for this is Knightsbridge. There are lots of very expensively trimmed MINIs about owned by very wealthy people. A lot would want a very exclusive almost handbuilt car which like certain designer labels screams lookatme, I've got money.

The future is not in V8 Sports cars and AM is basically laying down its escape route.

 

The future is not in V8 Sports cars and AM is basically laying down its escape route.

It is- think how horses are used now compared to 100 years ago! Even when petrol is 25 quid a litre there'll be those rich enough to pour it in.

 

Like it or loathe it, that car will sell like hot cakes.

 

Not necessarily, it will depend on price.

 

Not entirely a new idea. It reminds me of the luxury versions of the Mini that people like the Beatles and Peter Sellers used to drive in the '60s. Okay, they weren't built by a luxury car maker, but that hardly matters.

After the initial shock, I think it's a great idea.

 

It will only be available to owners of other Aston Martins though.

It will depend how they execute it to whether or not it works.

 

It will only be available to owners of other Aston Martins though.

It will depend how they execute it to whether or not it works.

The article goes on to say it will go on general sale eventually

 

Someone commenting on the article on another site made the point, what if they don't sell these, but rather give it away to people who buy a proper Aston, therefore lowering the real world emissions by giving their owners a green runabout to use as a daily driver!

Would that work? Providing a small car as a way to lower their CO2 levels in line with EU regulations?

 

Aston are gonna struggle to survive no matter what they do, they are not big enough to survive unless someone like Toyota buys them out. This could be just a clever attempt to entice a new owner.

 

These are gonna be so sought after in years to come, quite the funky little critter aint it.

And tbh its not like aston havent had some weird creations in the past.

 

I think by restricting ownership to those who already own a proper Aston, they have a sure fire hit on their hands without damaging the brand

After all, what other car says 'I can afford an Aston but care about the environment'?


If however it's released on general sale, they'll trash the brand.

 

If however it's released on general sale, they'll trash the brand.

Either way, they'll end up second hand. Maybe even Aston owners will buy them, then sell them on for some pocket money?

Then they'll be some muppet selling toyota>aston glassfibre bodykits for 200 quid on ebay.

Remember when everyone was saying Mondeo indicator stalks in the DB7 were killing Aston... hahahahaha!

 

Add's more customers, this car will sell. But the big news won't be on this it will be on the expensive one's. I don't understand why they could not get a down to earth convertible and make it look like a aston.

 

What? You mean an Aston Martin MG TF, you mean?

But who would buy one? Not Aston Martin owners, that's for sure. That really would kill the brand.

 

I actually think this could be something of a masterstroke. For so long as supply falls short of demand, then there is little risk to the brand.

Regards

John

 

I actually think this could be something of a masterstroke. For so long as supply falls short of demand, then there is little risk to the brand.

Regards

John

So long as they dont exceed a few thousand it will be all good.

 

Doesn't the average co2 rule thingy apply to the company, as opposed to the brand? They could use a different brand or create a new one but I have no idea what

 

There is no reason this small car cant stay under the aston brand, if they do it right, it will be a superb move. Small cars can have a premium brand, perfect example is the Bini..

 

Is this the 21st Century Allegro VDP?:ts:

 

Tee Hee....... you're so right! oh thats tickled me......

 

i think its a great idea, prem footballers will buy the wife a baby aston for doing the shopping in!

 

I guess pink will be a standard colour then

 

Having had time to think this one through I really have to conclude I hate this idea. At the end of the day all Aston will do is give the Toyota Iq a nose jobs and a Tickfordesque interior. They aren't even planning to replace any of the instrument binacle.

If there is a market for a small Aston then by all means they should make one. But not a British Leyland style rebadge of a volume car makers products. It's hideous.

That said I think there is logic in Aston's thinking and Jaguar Land Rover should look at this and begin considering Jaguar SUV's and Range Rover cars but without resorting to airfixing badges on each others models.

 

If there was a market for a luxury IQ then Toyota would be sticking a Lexus badge on the top-end models, surely...

 

Frankly i was surprised they didnt launch it as a Lexus to begin with. Its supposed to be a premium model after all, smaller than an Aygo yet better equipped, better quality and more expensive and exclusive. It would have made Lexus the first luxury car brand to launch a genuine luxury small car and avoided the overlap with Toyota's other small models

 

My first thought when seeing this was one of absolute horror

However, on reflection, I do agree with a lot of comments in this thread. Thanks to the hateful EU Aston Martin could see themselves being handed huge fans as their average CO2 is far too high, hence the need for a lower CO2 model

It needs more work though. As above, I fear that it will just be a cheap re-badge like the worst of the BL days serving to do nothing apart from damage the brand

Why not use the clever packaging and size of the iQ but with a custom engine, suspension and body?

Stick a turbo on the 1.3 - even a small one should fit. Change the gear ratios too so it has a decent amount of acceleration - currently both the 1.0 and 1.3 iQ are really rather slow considering the size & weight of the car. An Aston should always have lively performance

Add a bespoke Aston interior - perhaps even a two seater to allow for bigger seats - with bespoke suspension so that it feels and handles like an Aston

This could be an acceptable small Aston. I've always dreamed of owning an Aston and I loved the V12 DB9 I drove around a track a few years ago. A re-badged Toyota with no real changes would just spoil it. There is a real occasion with an Aston, from the moment you see it, sit in it and drive it. The interior was rather special - lovely leather, wood and crystal everywhere. Very different to a plastic Toyota!

 

My first thought when seeing this was one of absolute horror

However, on reflection, I do agree with a lot of comments in this thread. Thanks to the hateful EU Aston Martin could see themselves being handed huge fans as their average CO2 is far too high, hence the need for a lower CO2 model!

So the EU is hateful for wanting to reduce pollution...are you serious? What would you propose, any emmissions you want and bugger the consequences.

In fact moves like this prove that car manufacturers can shift position on engine effeciency and product design and I expect in the coming years a lot of high permforming sports cars will be as pollutant as an Aygo.

The world changes and some of it is not in our interests if we do nothing. Hateful? No. Changing perceptions. Yes.

 

The brainwashing continues...

Even the EU leftists aren't stupid enough to think a few supercars will destroy the world- its just hatred of the lavish toys of the wealthy. Same old tripe.

 

lol oops!
_