Will Aston fans and owners begin to see the future as Ulrich Bez sees it? With the Aston Martin Cygnet, which recently debuted in Geneva, Bez says the British marque hopes to create "a more sustainable product lineup".
This means lowering Aston's carbon footprint company-wide and fulfilling a niche that supposedly exists. After all, Aston Martin is a business, and businesses are about making money in the long term.
According to Bez, "We have many customers who live in London, Paris, Rome or Milan, and who would like to drive their Aston Martin more often, but with a V12 sports car, it's just not appropriate. They tell me that they want an Aston Martin that fits better into their urban lives. And it is our job to give them what they want."
Fair enough, but allow me to ask: when is driving a V12 sports car not appropriate? Seriously though, if this is what Aston buyers are screaming for, it makes sense to give it to them.
However, at £30-50,000 for a Toyota with a new face (how's that for lipstick on a super-efficient pig?), I would think these loyal, highly-selective Aston buyers would want something a little more...Aston Martin. Too bad Aston doesn't have a Fiat-sized family pool to draw from like Ferrari and Maserati.
It's clear as day that Aston will benefit from a broader, more efficient selection of vehicles, but the fact that a Toyota city car is beneath the Aston-ized skin will probably never cease to irritate.
There is one qualm I have with Aston Martin's defense of the car, however. "[It]'s not pretending to be something it's not." That's EXACTLY what it's doing, Mr. Bez...
- by Phil Alex
Via: Autocar
