This V8 Toyota City Car is the most outrageous Aston Martin ever created | Carscoops

      A one-of-a-kind V8-powered Aston Martin Cygnet is now available for purchase.

      The factory-built model features a 4.7-liter engine sourced from a Vantage S.

      This Super Cygnet first debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2018.

      In the late 2000s, Uli Betz, then at the helm of Aston Martin, approved a quirky idea to badge-engineer the Toyota IQ city car into an Aston-branded compact vehicle. However, a customer proposed an even more extravagant plan, commissioning the factory to fit a V8 engine into one.

      You might recall the Super Cygnet from the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it made headlines racing up Lord March’s driveway. Now, this unique vehicle is being offered for sale by specialists Nicholas Mee.

      A Complete Overhaul

      Starting with a stock right-hand drive Cygnet, Aston's engineers undertook a comprehensive transformation over a ten-month period, removing the small 1.33-liter, 97 hp (98 PS) Toyota engine and replacing it with a powerful 430 hp (436 PS), 4.7-liter V8 from a Vantage S, which powers the rear wheels through Aston's seven-speed Sport Shift paddle-shift transmission.

      This modification was not a straightforward swap since the Cygnet was originally front-wheel drive. Aston fitted the front and rear subframes and suspension from the Vantage, increasing the track width significantly and creating a large transmission tunnel in the cabin. Inside, the car also boasts a roll cage, Recaro bucket seats, and a carbon fiber dashboard equipped with a complete set of Vantage gauges.

      Performance: A Compact Beast

      Aston Martin estimates that the Super Cygnet can accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.2 seconds and potentially hit a top speed of 170 mph (274 km/h) for those adventurous enough. Video footage from its run at the 2018 festival shows it can indeed move quickly, though it appears somewhat twitchy near the summit of the Goodwood hill, likely due to its short 2,020 mm (79.5 inches) wheelbase.

      The original owner has driven the green creature for only 2,900 miles (4,700 km) but has now opted to sell it. Standard Cygnets are selling for over £28,000 in the UK ($35,000), while a regular IQ goes for about £4,000 ($5,000). However, this is far from an ordinary Cygnet, so its price was always expected to be high.

      The Cost of Uniqueness

      As per Nicholas Mee’s advertisement (which can be viewed here), the price is listed as POA (Price on Application); however, the company indicated they are hoping to secure £450,000 ($566,000). This is indeed a substantial sum. With that amount, you could acquire a traditional Aston Martin—though perhaps not one that garners attention like this wonderfully bizarre creation.