“It’s not a proper Aston.” Conversations concerning the Cygnet scarcely run their course without this phrase cropping up. Effectively a Toyota IQ in a tuxedo and bringing only 98hp to the playground, the little Cygnet is a far cry from Aston’s 400+hp two-door sport coupes. Granted, so too is the four-door Rapide, though the 470hp executive saloon plays the stretched DB9 hand it was dealt well, especially in the showrooms.

A black sheep in the flock isn’t Aston’s style, and they’ve sunk a lot of effort into remedying the Cygnet’s troubled reputation, including this video showing its construction on home ground.