Saturday 23rd September 2017

Prior Convictions: Sensible supercars

Should the supercar makers embrace downsizing, or do we face another Aston Cygnet as a result?

---

Met a bloke the other day who owns an Aston Martin DB9, among some other cars. Very nice too, as you'll know. "Do you use it much?" I asked.

"Yeah, fair bit," he said, "unless my daughters aren't using their Minis, then I'll usually drive one of those instead."

Not a PH story without mentioning this, is it?

Which sounded like a familiar story, and one which I could understand entirely. The appeal of a luxury grand tourer or a supercar, or even a big luxury car, is obvious.

But so too is the appeal of something small, nimble; in which you'll get let out of junctions, you can fit in parking spaces, pop over speed bumps without cracking £1,700 of carbon fibre, and make discreet brisk progress without being called a **** every 12 minutes.

Given unlimited resource I'd love to think that I'd commute every day in a McLaren F1, but the truth of it is that after about a week I suspect I'd slide into a Volkswagen Golf R instead, because it would make parking outside the Co-Op easier.

And I don't think I'm alone. The Volkswagen Golf R is probably today's commonest third/fourth/eighth car. I know of a surprising number of people who'll walk past their own £300,000 cars to get into a £30,000 Volkswagen. But I understand why entirely.

If even Lamborghini are at SUVs then where next?

What if, though, the motor industry woke up to it too, and offered something as practical, with the finish and price that they demand for their most expensive models?

It could be that they just haven't thought about this yet. They're only now waking up to the fact that extremely wealthy people would rather be seen - or, rather, not be seen - in an SUV that costs a six-figure sum than they would a conspicuous sports car, after all. How far down the automotive food chain could a similar theory hold?

People will pay £100,000 for a modified Land Rover Defender. David Brown asks around the same for a 'remastered' Mini, and because you and I can see the effort, craftsmanship and detail that has gone into it, some of us will pay it.

But these are, ultimately, playthings. Is there room, then, for a more bespoke, tailored, quite quick but still ultimately incredibly usable and reliable modern small car? One which, yes, demands quite a lot of money, I wonder?

And then I remember the Aston Martin Cygnet and think, nah, probably not.

 

[Onehp]

Cars are like shoes. For guys. (and girls if you also like cars like that)

Some have one set that does most of the duties.

Some have many, and just choose whatever suits them. Be it cheap, casual, luxurious, sporty etc.

Some always want to look their best, and only buy the nice ones.

We are talking about the last category then? I know plenty of rich people that are all too happy to escape attention and just wear a pair of normal shoes, and that drive a Golf or a basic Merc, whatever, most of the time...

[Vee12V]

The problem of the Cygnet wasn't the idea, it was the execution. The fact it was slower than the original, as it was heavier with identical oily bits, says enough.

[jhonn]

Good article! Yes, absolutely - I would be interested in a luxurious small car that had similar NVH and ride quality as a larger premium motor - I don't find the Aston Cygnet offensive at all and would consider one if they were more affordable.

It's a difficult target for a manufacturer to achieve though - short wheelbase doesn't make for a good ride and it's difficult to decrease NVH without adding lots more mass.

Not sure how many would sell though - people still equate luxury with size.

[Jack_and_MLE]

With unlimited funds, what I would like is an old Citroen DS (1950) and have it modernised.
New engine, etc and use it as an everyday car.

Or do the same with an old jag V12, it would be a perfect sleeper

Jack

[aaron_2000]

Closest you'll get to that for a while will be a Fiesta Vignale if they make one

[tom scott]

I think you are forgeting one thing.....
Just how good modern cars are.
How much more over and above what we have to day do we need?

[unsprung]

Onehp said:

Cars are like shoes. For guys. (and girls if you also like cars like that)

Spot on. One of the most dramatic expressions of this can be found in motor-mad Los Angeles where your 30-something bachelor may live in a somewhat tatty apartment, yet have three cars.

He leases a posh German for his workaday world, owns a Wrangler for weekend adventures, and has something old-ish or very sporty on the side. A handful of these guys will also have a lost love in need of rebuild, tucked away in a monthly rental garage across town.

[Swampy1982]

Article reminds me of Flemke's Audi A2

[E65Ross]

But by making the insides luxurious, then it rises the cost....negating the point of using the cheaper car, no?

[RenesisEvo]

aaron_2000 said:

Closest you'll get to that for a while will be a Fiesta Vignale if they make one

They do indeed, with the recently launched Mk7/8 (depends how you count the models).

Vee12V said:

The problem of the Cygnet wasn't the idea, it was the execution. The fact it was slower than the original, as it was heavier with identical oily bits, says enough.

+1 I think the concept was a good idea. The failure for me was more around it being a re-badged Toyota. Just imagine the conversation:

"What did you drive here in today?"
"An Aston Martin. Well, actually, it's not, it's a Toyota with a small engine."

As soon as you have to explain it, there's a problem. The image of the AM brand is completely in conflict with a small city car. The MINI by Goodwood was a better approach IMO - getting Rolls to trim a MINI to be super luxurious, and avoiding messing up either brand. I think the issue of space is another that someone mentioned - perhaps these cars might actually be too small; a Focus/Golf sized maybe a better segment for balancing practicality and the sense of luxury delivered by space. It will be interesting to see if the aforementioned Vignale brand works (but I think it doesn't go far enough in terms of the interior differentiation).

[Toltec]

Vee12V said:

The problem of the Cygnet wasn't the idea, it was the execution. The fact it was slower than the original, as it was heavier with identical oily bits, says enough.

If they increase the power that negates the low CO2, which is why they are added to the model range anyway.

[MustardCutter]

How long before we see a MQB based lambo/porka hatchback? The 718 turbo 4 pots whilst lacking the emotion connection required for the cayman/boxster would suit a hatchback well.

Edited by MustardCutter on Friday 22 September 13:46

[Vee12V]

Toltec said:

Vee12V said:

The problem of the Cygnet wasn't the idea, it was the execution. The fact it was slower than the original, as it was heavier with identical oily bits, says enough.

If they increase the power that negates the low CO2, which is why they are added to the model range anyway.

That's not the point here, now is it - Nor was it true for Aston back in the period.

[Neil1300r]

Toltec said:

Vee12V said:

The problem of the Cygnet wasn't the idea, it was the execution. The fact it was slower than the original, as it was heavier with identical oily bits, says enough.

If they increase the power that negates the low CO2, which is why they are added to the model range anyway.

No it wasn't, that is just an internet fallacy

Which highlights another issue with the Cygnet. It's marketing was awful. But not as awful as the execution and the cost to AM. They had to buy in the Toyota complete, strip the interior out and most of the bodywork. Chuck it all in the bin and then start again.
Dr Bez needed shooting for such a piss poor strategy, marketing and execution of the project.

[DJT14]

Good article, but is this not what Fiat had in mind with the 500 695?

[cookie1600]

I still think a Wood and Picket Mini covers all eventualities, when the Aston is in for a service or you need to go down to Tesco's for more Grey Poupon :

[aaron_2000]

DJT14 said:

Good article, but is this not what Fiat had in mind with the 500 695?

Nothing high end/luxury about a 500/695 as nice as they are.

[suffolk009]

RenesisEvo said:

+1 I think the concept was a good idea. The failure for me was more around it being a re-badged Toyota. Just imagine the conversation:

"What did you drive here in today?"
"An Aston Martin. Well, actually, it's not, it's a Toyota with a small engine."

As soon as you have to explain it, there's a problem. The image of the AM brand is completely in conflict with a small city car. The MINI by Goodwood was a better approach IMO - getting Rolls to trim a MINI to be super luxurious, and avoiding messing up either brand. I think the issue of space is another that someone mentioned - perhaps these cars might actually be too small; a Focus/Golf sized maybe a better segment for balancing practicality and the sense of luxury delivered by space. It will be interesting to see if the aforementioned Vignale brand works (but I think it doesn't go far enough in terms of the interior differentiation).

Goodwood mini. Sounds like a terrible thing. Everybody knows you go to Harold Radford.

[StottyGTR]

If I walked past my Aston Martin to get in a Mini, I'd wonder what the fk am I doing and have a word with myself.

[aaron_2000]

I'd walk past an Aston Martin on some occasions to have a go in a well restored 205 GTI, throw in the MI16 16v and we have a winner. Althpugh I think that kind of goes past the whole idea of a luxury/high end supermini