For the 2011 iQ, which will be sold in the States under the Scion brand, Toyota is increasing the level of perceived quality with the use of higher-grade, soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and the door panels, the introduction of new color schemes and upgraded trim options.
The car's exterior appearance has been beefed up with an aero kit that includes front and rear aprons, side skirts and fender extensions that allow the use of eye-catching 18-inch alloys wrapped in 215/40R18 Yokohama tires.
With the exception of the darkened headlamps and tail lamps, and the newly designed front bumper with modified upper and lower grilles, Scion's model is identical to the Toyota iQ sold in other regions of the world including Europe.
With an overall length of only 120.1-inches (more than 30-in. shorter than the Toyota Yaris), width of 66.1-inches and a 78.7-inch wheelbase, the iQ is the smallest model in the Toyota Group's North American lineup.
T
he Cygnet looks like the iQ because that's what it is; a retrimmed Toyota. Aston Martin's designers essentially took numerous design cues from their sports cars like the trademark grille and air-vents and applied them on the small Toyota without making any other changes on the car's shape.
Unique styling features on the outside are limited to the pop-up handles, reshaped front and rear bumpers, specific head and tail lamps, and newly designed multispoke alloy wheels.
The same goes for the Cygnet's cabin which has been adorned with premium materials and different trim, but other than that, it retains the iQ's basic architecture and design.
Aston Martin chose not to release any information on the car's hardware, but it is believed that the iQ's 1.33-liter petrol engine will be carried over to the Cygnet.
The firm's plan is to initially sell the Cygnet to current and future Aston Martin owners with a general release to follow at a later date.
Aston Martin said that it will continue to develop the Cygnet, but expects to have the car into production and on sale in the UK and Europe before the end of 2010.
Even though the Cygnet is nothing more than a more premium Toyota with DB9 styling cues, the mini will get an Aston Martin price tag, estimated to be somewhere around £20,000 or about $32,000 - €22,000 at today's exchange rates.
Aston Martin Cygnet
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Toyota iQ
While the FT-86 RWD Coupe will be the superstar at Toyota's Tokyo Motor Show stand, the Japanese firm will also showcase the FT-EV II, a battery-powered micro car that is more radical than the first-version of the concept model that broke cover at this year's Detroit Show in January. The FT-EV II, which stands for "Future Toyota Electric Vehicle II", is powered by an electric motor that draws energy from a lithium-ion battery which provides a driving range in excess of 90km (60 miles).The Japanese automaker claims that the FT-EV II can reach a top speed of a little over 100km/h or 62mph.
Like the FT-EV I, the second generation concept is based on Toyota's iQ mini car. But even though it's shorter measuring only 2,730 mm (107-in.) from nose to tail, the company says that it can seat up to four people - just don't expect any wonders for the rear tunas passengers.
Other highlights of the FT-EV II include the twin sliding doors and the absence of steering wheel or foot pedals as the urban model is controlled by a joystick - welcome to the automotive world of gamers...
Gazoo Racing, which had prepared the two Lexus LF-A race cars for this year's 24 hours of Nurburgring, has joined forces with Toyota to develop a sporty edition of the iQ minicar. Available exclusively in Japan in a limited run of just 100 units, the Toyota iQ Gazoo Racing MN is based on the JDM front-wheel drive iQ 130G.
While the 1.3-liter engine remains stock, Gazoo replaced the JDM model's CVT with a 6-speed manual gearbox and upgraded the brakes and chassis with a stiffer sport suspension that lowers the mini's ride height by 30 mm while the car also gets a sport exhaust system.
The special edition iQ rides on blacked out 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in beefier sport tires while there's also a new bodykit with front and rear aprons as well as side skirts and a roof spoiler plus optional racing decals. Interior mods include newly styled gauges, aluminum pedals and sport seats.
The iQ GR MN is available for order now in Japan with first deliveries expected in November.
While the sporty iQ won't be making it outside Japan, according to recent reports, Toyota's premium city car could go on sale in the States under the Scion brand in the fall 2010.
