Aston Martin went bonkers when it made the Cygnet in 2011, and sold it for a few years. Why on earth did an automaker, known for V8 and V12-powered grand tourers like the Vanquish, create a city car based on a Toyota?

When first announced in 2011, the Aston Martin Cygnet piqued interest globally: a tiny sub 845kg (curb weight) hatchback with Aston mechanical gubbins. Where do I sign? Instead, the world received an Aston Martin-attired Toyota IQ.

With a 4.7-liter Aston Martin V8, rear-wheel drive, and a wheelbase the size of a running sneaker, the V8 Cygnet would be a hilarious way to turn tires into dust.