Remember the news about the V8-powered Aston Martin Cygnet? Eight cylinders are great, but what about four more? Rumor has surfaced that Aston Martin is working on a V12-powered Cygnet. With enough demand, the wolf in sheep’s clothing could hit the market as a limited edition model comparable with the Nissan Juke-R.
The Aston Martin Cygnet ‒ in fact a rebadged Toyota iQ ‒ is powered by a 1.3 liter straight-four engine which offers 97 horsepower and 125Nm of torque. According to Autocar, Aston Martin has completed a feasibility study and concluded that there is enough room in the engine bay to fit the 6.0 liter V12 without extensive modifications.
The Cygnet does need a number of modifications in order to cope with the weight and amount of power provided by the engine. The 510hp V12 which normally powers the DB9 and Vantage will be detuned so the small three-door hatchback will remain driveable.
Sounds too far stretched? Jalopnik greeted this news with skepticism and has contacted Aston Martin. The British manufacturer said these rumors are untrue, so it’s likely the engine swap will remain an interesting idea, but nothing more.
