Toyota and Aston Martin have come together to launch a new vehicle that will cut the carbon emissions of commuters.
Aston Martin has commissioned Toyota to use its iQ platform to produce a new Cygnet car that will have a low CO2 impact and be tailored especially for inner-city use and small-distance journeys.
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) will produce the car exclusively for owners of Aston Martins, who they anticipate are looking for a second or third vehicle, offering an environmentally-friendly and economic service.
Chief executive officer and president of TME Tadashi Arashima said: "It's a great compliment that the Toyota iQ has been hand-picked by one of the world's most prestigious sports car brands, a company with whom we also share a strong friendship.
"This collaboration represents a natural pairing of strategies: a small yet spacious package, perfect for the city driver, finished off with Aston Martin's iconic design language."
He added that the Cygnet will be both luxurious and eco-conscious.
Work on the vehicle will be carried out at Aston Martin's global headquarters in Gaydon, UK.
Toyota is using its iQ platform to produce the next-generation Yaris, which the firm hopes to have on the market by 2011.
It is also rumoured to be working on several other new cars based on the iQ platform, including one for Honda.
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