Aston Martin Once Built a V-8 Cygnet. Now, It's for Sale - Related to from, politics, aston, evs, sale
Aston Martin Once Built a V-8 Cygnet. Now, It's for Sale
A few years ago, Aston Martin proved that you can do just about anything if the price is right. We have no idea how much the owner of the world's only V-8-powered Aston Martin Cygnet originally paid for this wild creation. Similarly, we don't know how much that owner is selling it for now. But it is for sale. And you won't find another one like it anywhere in the world.
To refresh your memory, the Cygnet was Aston Martin's short-lived city car. Literally a reskinned Toyota IQ, less than 1,000 were built before Aston Martin pulled the plug in 2013. But at some point after that, someone approached the business's Q by Aston Martin customization service and asked for one with a V-8. Why? Who cares... it's a V-8 shoved into something barely large enough for seats. Be glad that it exists.
Photo by: Nicholas Mee Photo by: Nicholas Mee Photo by: Nicholas Mee.
Of course, V-8-swapping a Cygnet is no simple task. Aston Martin started with a bare body and fabricated a roll cage, transmission tunnel, front bulkhead, and all the required mounting points to use front and rear subframes from a late 2000s Vantage. The [website] V-8 also comes from that era Vantage, making 430 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque. It goes entirely to the rear wheels through a seven-speed Sportshift automated manual. Considering the ultra-short wheelbase, we suspect parasitic power loss is minimal.
Aston Martin showcased the car at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed before turning it over to its owner. It's now listed for sale through Nicholas Mee, a dealership north of London that specializes in Aston Martins. The original owner managed to survive approximately 2,900 miles behind the V-8 Cygnet's wheel, and it's reportedly still in "almost as new condition."
Included in the sale is a car cover, technical specifications, and the only Cygnet V8 owner's manual in existence. Not included: a place to store your immense chutzpah should you actually attempt to reach the car's quoted top speed of 170 mph.
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Lego Built a Full-Size Replica of Ferrari's F1 Car
How long does it take to build a Ferrari? Naturally, everything depends on the model. And the greatest challenge for the crew from Maranello is to give life, every year, to a new Formula 1 single-seater. Design, rendering, prototypes, wind tunnel tests, modifications. Certainly not child's play.
Despite being made from toys, building the first Formula 1 Ferrari made entirely of Lego wasn't child's play, either. It's a 1:1 scale model that represents an incredibly faithful reproduction of the SF-24 driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz last year. using an incredible 562,000 bricks.
This build required patience and precision, with 100 hours of design and more than 1,200 of "field" work for the team led by Riccardo Zangelmi, the only Italian LEGO Certified Professional, and creator of the Lego Ferrari SF-24. The car was created using only colored bricks, and includes every design aspect from the real car, from the 80 logos to the various aerodynamic details of the bodywork.
Lego built this giant scale model to promote its new set dedicated to the Ferrari SF-24, a 1:8 scale model made up of 1,361 bricks. The mass-produced model uses many fewer bricks than those used for the 1:1 version, but it's still a faithful reproduction of the Maranello single-seater. It comes complete with a two-speed gearbox, a V-6 engine with rotating MGU-H, an adjustable rear wing, and steerable wheels. Only the driver is missing.
The 1:8 scale model SF-24 will go on sale starting from March 1, 2025—both online and in stores—with an asking price of $[website] It's the latest in a collaboration between Ferrari and Lego that began in 1998 and, over the years, has seen the creation of sets dedicated to the Daytona SP3, F40, 512 M and many others.
If you're interested in seeing the one-off 1:1 scale model SF-24 for yourself, you'll have to head to the Lego store in Milan, Italy on Friday or Saturday. After that, it'll be brought on a tour of major Italian cities.
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How To Save EVs From Politics
Detroit is the heart of American automaking, and the great state of Michigan is seeing almost $9 billion in private investments and 14,000 jobs to craft the new era of electrified vehicles. Yet last fall, Michigan's Elissa Slotkin—a Democrat and a supporter of Joe Biden and later Kamala Harris—had to run ads with an "I don't know about this whole EV thing" vibe in her run for the [website] Senate.
Ultimately, for Slotkin, that approach worked. Or at least, it didn't hurt her successful election bid. But anyone who watches the car industry or is just a fan of EVs must be wondering how the hell we all got here. How did EVs become so politicized over the years, and as the entire global auto industry trends toward electrification, what can be done about it?
That's one of the big topics of today's Plugged-In Podcast. In this episode, co-host Tim Levin and I interview Mike Murphy. He's a longtime GOP strategist who's worked with the likes of Mitt Romney and John McCain (he was actually the latter senator's lead strategist on his 2000 presidential run) and, believe it or not, a big EV guy. That's why he runs the EV Politics Project and the American EV Jobs Alliance, two related groups trying to de-politicize EVs across America.
Besides just liking the electric experience more effective than gas cars these days, Murphy, himself a Detroit native, is clear about what's at stake here. "It will not be the end of the world if we're all driving Chinese EVs that cost $27,000, but it will break my heart," he told us.
Yet in polling, his group has found that years of climate change-focused messaging has turned off many voters to EVs, and that angles like jobs and competing with China haven't broken through yet. He's working to try and fix that.
In a wide-ranging chat, we talk about what turns many GOP voters off EVs (including the drawbacks that are justified, like costs and lack of a charging network); what role Elon Musk and President Donald Trump will play in the next few years of the EV transition; and what can be done to bring folks around.
Plus, we chat about some big extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) news from Scout and Ram, and the latest on solid-state battery prototypes from Mercedes-Benz.
Our podcast is available on the InsideEVs YouTube channel later today and all major audio platforms: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Audioboom. New episodes drop every Friday.
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Market Impact Analysis
Market Growth Trend
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.3% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% | 12.3% | 12.7% | 12.8% |
Quarterly Growth Rate
| Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.9% | 11.7% | 12.4% | 12.8% |
Market Segments and Growth Drivers
| Segment | Market Share | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Connected Cars | 35% | 14.2% |
| Autonomous Driving | 22% | 18.5% |
| EV Technology | 28% | 21.9% |
| Telematics | 10% | 9.7% |
| Other Automotive Tech | 5% | 6.3% |
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity:
Competitive Landscape Analysis
| Company | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Tesla | 16.9% |
| Waymo | 12.3% |
| NVIDIA DRIVE | 10.7% |
| Bosch | 9.5% |
| Continental | 7.8% |
Future Outlook and Predictions
The Built Aston Martin landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing threat vectors, and shifting business requirements. Based on current trends and expert analyses, we can anticipate several significant developments across different time horizons:
Year-by-Year Technology Evolution
Based on current trajectory and expert analyses, we can project the following development timeline:
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity, influencing adoption timelines and investment priorities:
Innovation Trigger
- Generative AI for specialized domains
- Blockchain for supply chain verification
Peak of Inflated Expectations
- Digital twins for business processes
- Quantum-resistant cryptography
Trough of Disillusionment
- Consumer AR/VR applications
- General-purpose blockchain
Slope of Enlightenment
- AI-driven analytics
- Edge computing
Plateau of Productivity
- Cloud infrastructure
- Mobile applications
Technology Evolution Timeline
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
Expert Perspectives
Leading experts in the automotive tech sector provide diverse perspectives on how the landscape will evolve over the coming years:
"Technology transformation will continue to accelerate, creating both challenges and opportunities."
— Industry Expert
"Organizations must balance innovation with practical implementation to achieve meaningful results."
— Technology Analyst
"The most successful adopters will focus on business outcomes rather than technology for its own sake."
— Research Director
Areas of Expert Consensus
- Acceleration of Innovation: The pace of technological evolution will continue to increase
- Practical Integration: Focus will shift from proof-of-concept to operational deployment
- Human-Technology Partnership: Most effective implementations will optimize human-machine collaboration
- Regulatory Influence: Regulatory frameworks will increasingly shape technology development
Short-Term Outlook (1-2 Years)
In the immediate future, organizations will focus on implementing and optimizing currently available technologies to address pressing automotive tech challenges:
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
These developments will be characterized by incremental improvements to existing frameworks rather than revolutionary changes, with emphasis on practical deployment and measurable outcomes.
Mid-Term Outlook (3-5 Years)
As technologies mature and organizations adapt, more substantial transformations will emerge in how security is approached and implemented:
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
This period will see significant changes in security architecture and operational models, with increasing automation and integration between previously siloed security functions. Organizations will shift from reactive to proactive security postures.
Long-Term Outlook (5+ Years)
Looking further ahead, more fundamental shifts will reshape how cybersecurity is conceptualized and implemented across digital ecosystems:
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
These long-term developments will likely require significant technical breakthroughs, new regulatory frameworks, and evolution in how organizations approach security as a fundamental business function rather than a technical discipline.
Key Risk Factors and Uncertainties
Several critical factors could significantly impact the trajectory of automotive tech evolution:
Organizations should monitor these factors closely and develop contingency strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on technology implementation timelines.
Alternative Future Scenarios
The evolution of technology can follow different paths depending on various factors including regulatory developments, investment trends, technological breakthroughs, and market adoption. We analyze three potential scenarios:
Optimistic Scenario
Rapid adoption of advanced technologies with significant business impact
Key Drivers: Supportive regulatory environment, significant research breakthroughs, strong market incentives, and rapid user adoption.
Probability: 25-30%
Base Case Scenario
Measured implementation with incremental improvements
Key Drivers: Balanced regulatory approach, steady technological progress, and selective implementation based on clear ROI.
Probability: 50-60%
Conservative Scenario
Technical and organizational barriers limiting effective adoption
Key Drivers: Restrictive regulations, technical limitations, implementation challenges, and risk-averse organizational cultures.
Probability: 15-20%
Scenario Comparison Matrix
| Factor | Optimistic | Base Case | Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation Timeline | Accelerated | Steady | Delayed |
| Market Adoption | Widespread | Selective | Limited |
| Technology Evolution | Rapid | Progressive | Incremental |
| Regulatory Environment | Supportive | Balanced | Restrictive |
| Business Impact | Transformative | Significant | Modest |
Transformational Impact
Technology becoming increasingly embedded in all aspects of business operations. This evolution will necessitate significant changes in organizational structures, talent development, and strategic planning processes.
The convergence of multiple technological trends—including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and ubiquitous connectivity—will create both unprecedented security challenges and innovative defensive capabilities.
Implementation Challenges
Technical complexity and organizational readiness remain key challenges. Organizations will need to develop comprehensive change management strategies to successfully navigate these transitions.
Regulatory uncertainty, particularly around emerging technologies like AI in security applications, will require flexible security architectures that can adapt to evolving compliance requirements.
Key Innovations to Watch
Artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and automation technologies leading innovation. Organizations should monitor these developments closely to maintain competitive advantages and effective security postures.
Strategic investments in research partnerships, technology pilots, and talent development will position forward-thinking organizations to leverage these innovations early in their development cycle.
Technical Glossary
Key technical terms and definitions to help understand the technologies discussed in this article.
Understanding the following technical concepts is essential for grasping the full implications of the security threats and defensive measures discussed in this article. These definitions provide context for both technical and non-technical readers.
solid-state battery intermediate
electric vehicle intermediate
platform intermediate
hybrid intermediate
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