The one-and-only V8 Aston Martin Cygnet in the world is currently for sale
- This is the only V8-powered Aston Martin Cygnet in the world
- The engine comes from an Aston Martin Vantage
- The Cygnet is actually a rebadged and reworked Toyota iQ
Published on Mar 04, 2025 at 8:37 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 04, 2025 at 8:37 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This Aston Martin Cygnet is the only one in the world with a V8 in it.
It’s currently for sale, and it’s not cheap.
Then again, this is still an Aston Martin after all – sort of.
And, speaking of which, we should probably take a minute to remind everyone what this car is, and why it exists.
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The reason why Aston Martin made the Cygnet
Easily the most absurd Aston Martin ever built, the Cygnet was launched in 2011 to comply with EU emissions regulations.
This is proof that bureaucracy can sometimes produce hilarious results.
Jokes aside, the Cygnet was a real Aston Martin product, but it wasn’t a ‘real’ Aston.
Underneath the badge and the slightly reworked interior you’ll find the underpinnings, and engine, of a Toyota iQ.
It was also sold in certain markets under the Scion brand, a division of Toyota that specializes in city cars.
Despite a relatively low price, it cost under $50,000 when new, and the poetic name – a Cygnet is a baby swan – the car was a spectacular commercial flop.
Aston planned to sell 4,000 units a year, but ended up selling around 700 in total.
What makes this Cygnet so special
While the original Aston Martin Cygnet is powered by a 97-horsepower 1.3-liter inline-four engine, this one has a 4.7-liter V8.
Back when it was new, the Cygnet retailed for around $50,000, but this one costs 10 times as much.
These are two the two main differences, but there’s more.
This vehicle was modified at the request of an Astin Martin owner who wanted to use the engine out of a Vantage.
In order to make the 4.7-liter, 430-horsepower V8 fit, they also needed a custom roll cage, transmission tunnel, new mountings, and a new subframe.
This Aston has only done 2,900 miles and, according to the seller, is theoretically capable of reaching 170mph.
Safety is not the first word that springs to mind when looking at this weird little creature, so it’s likely the top speed will remain ‘theoretical’ for the foreseeable future.
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