Recently, I wrote about how I think the Aston Martin Cygnet is a joke.  To me, it seems absurd that a manufacturer so repsected for their sinuous and sonorous vehicular delicassies would resort to re-skinning a Toyota for sale as their own.  Pending emissions and mileage restrictions or not, Aston Martin is known for deliciously high class driving machines and here they are putting their name on a mass produced Japanese econobox (albeit a sharp one) for which performance and handling are unimportant.

In my previous post, I offered commentary on why I think this concept is rubbish, despite the final result likely being a great little car.  Far too often these days, we tend to focus more on how others are doing things wrong than offering suggestions on how they might do things better. The vehicles I cobbled together hastily in Photoshop were intended to be sarcastic and demeaning of the Cygnet idea, but aside from being moderatly amusing, how does that help?

Since that last post mocking the Cygnet, I have been kicking myself for not taking the time to photoshop an idea I think would have merit for Aston Martin.  I have the utmost respect for the marque and it is my dream to one day own a DBS, so I figure I owe them at least that much.  Given the history with Ford, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Mazda, I would like to think there are still connections in place for the discussion of a Miata-based Aston Martin vehicle.

Why the Miata?  Despite it being overwhelmingly called a girl’s car, every red-blooded male who knows anything about driving knows the Miata is among the pantheon of great handling cars and often a tremendous value.  With it’s diminutive size and four cylinder engine, it’s capable of excellent gas mileage without sacrificing any of the things wheelmen expect in a sports car.  Given Aston Martin’s reputation for delivering fabulous grand touring machines, it only seems right that any small car they might design would be a performer as well.

All that said, I finally managed to Photoshop my initial vision of what I think would make a far superior alternative to the Cygnet for Aston Martin.  Perhaps they might even consider such a thing some day…

In the glovebox:

• Lithe, Elegant, Swift – The 2010 Jaguar XJ
• 3 Projects Tops – Oops
• High Performance Skills