Aston Martin Cygnet, the 2012 Scion iQ Priced from $15,995 U.S.

After making the motorshow rounds, it’s time for Toyota to start preparations for the U.S. launch of its new Scion iQ mini that will begin arriving at dealerships on the west coast in October, and the rest of the country in early 2012.
The Lilliputian four-seater model that is sold in Europe as a Toyota and let's not forget, as an....Aston Martin as well, will carry a base sticker of $15,265. A $730 delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee brings the total to $15,995.
The iQ’s most closest rival in the States is the Fiat 500 that retails for $15,500 in base trim, not including destination and handling.
Compared to the Italian model, the iQ is almost 20 inches shorter at 120.1-in. but is also 2 inches wider at 66.1-in.
The iQ features a 3+1 seating arrangement that allows one tiny adult to sit behind the front passenger and a child or small package behind the driver.
In the States, the three-door hatchback model is offered exclusively with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 94-horsepower and 89 lb.-ft of peak torque, matched to a continuously variable transmission.
The Japanese company has packed the iQ with 11 standard airbags including the world’s first rear window airbag, as well as driver- and front-passenger airbags; driver- and front-passenger seat mounted side airbags; side curtain airbags; driver- and front-passenger knee airbags; and a Scion-first, driver- and front-passenger seat-cushion airbags.
Other standard features include antilock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TRAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Smart Stop Technology brake-override.

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Ford Mustang Exotica Hides an Aston Martin Under its Hood

We’re pretty sure that, during the time Aston Martin was under the ownership of Ford, the thought of stuffing an exotic V12 powerplant under the bonnet of a Mustang must have crossed the mind of a few company engineers.

And while we never saw something of the sort officially from Ford, an independent custom shop actually realized the idea with the 2005 Ford Mustang 'Vanquishd' show car that was presented at the 2006 SEMA aftermarket gathering.

Built by Western Motorsports, this one-of-a-kind Mustang gets a 6.0-liter V12 engine with 600 ponies from a 2001 Aston Martin Vanquish. Power is sent to the chunky rear wheels through a 6 speed manual Tremec T-56 transmission.

Other modifications include a performance brake system, an upgraded suspension, 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels and more.

The Mustang 'Vanquishd' has since covered a mere 2,000 miles (apparently as a show piece) and is now up for sale in Canada at Kijiji with the asking price set at $79,000.

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Sir Stirling Moss Buys an Aston Martin Cygnet

You would never think that an Aston Martin would need any sort of marketing push from a personality like Sir Stirling Moss, but to play around with our own words, up until recently, you would never think that Aston Martin would actually try to sell a hugely overpriced city carthat’s a rebadged Toyota model…

In any case, the British racing legend is one of the first customers to receive the Aston Martin Cygnet, which he purchased as a birthday gift to his wife, Lady Moss. Appropriately, there was a photographer in hand to capture the gift-wrapped Cygnet.

Sir Stirling Moss specified the car with an Aston Martin Racing Green hue on the outside while for the interior he chose an Obsidian Black leather treatment with a contrasting coarse silver stitch.

During the handover at the Royal Automobile Club last night, Sir Stirling Moss said: “My greatest partner in everything that I do, Susie is an amazing person and frankly the best wife a man could have. Since seeing a pre-production Cygnet in January I knew that it was the perfect car for Susie; a proper little piece of British luxury and perfect for our life in town.”

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