Aston Martin has given its new Cygnet luxury car its global debut at Harrods.
The model on display in the department store’s Brompton Road window in Knightsbridge is the first time a final production version of the Cygnet has been put on show in public.
See official pics of the Aston Cygnet at Harrods
The smallest Aston ever is based on Toyota iQs built in Japan, which are then specially imported to the UK for Aston. It will be put into full-scale production at Aston’s Gaydon headquarters in 2011.
The design and build work of the Cygnet is carried out at Gaydon; Aston has incorporated much of its design language into the iQ, including its signature front grille.
Steve Cropley blog: Who's to say the Cygnet won't be a success?
Aston CEO Ulrich Bez defended the Cygnet’s creation in a promotional video last month, saying it’s been primarily designed to help Aston lower its fleet-average CO2 emissions in the face of strict upcoming EU legislation.
“Aston Martin is honest and we don’t make compromises,” he said. “Whatever we do, we do it right. If we do performance, we do performance; we won’t downsize our sports cars.
“The Cygnet needs to satisfy the demands of emissions and space. It is a car without compromise, just like every other Aston Martin."
