2011 Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition Review and Performance Comparison

Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition - [2011]

Aston-Martin

Aston-Martin Cygnet Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 2011 Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition is a powered by a Petrol Straight 4. This variant of the Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 2011. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo.

This particular Aston-Martin Cygnet has a 1329cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Aston-Martin Front Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol Straight 4's include the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce

The Cygnet shares its Petrol Straight 4 engine configuration with the likes of the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce and the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Cygnet's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the earlier 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 930 kgs (2050 lbs) places the Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition in a similar weight category as the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged and the excellent 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged, give or take 50kg.

The Aston-Martin Cygnet shares the same bhp with the 2020 Toyota Yaris GR RS (118 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 1329cc 16 valve, Straight 4 engine produces around 97 bhp (72 kW) @ 6000 rpm which is comparable to the 2020 Toyota Yaris GR RS (118 bhp) and also the 2017 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi ST-Line 120 (118 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated Straight 4 throws out 92 lb-ft (124.7 Nm) @ 4400 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2020 Toyota Yaris GR RS (107 lb-ft) or the 2013 Caterham 7 160/165 0.7L Turbo (79 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 2011 Aston-Martin Cygnet in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 1999 BMW X5 4.4 V8 (129.3 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Aston-Martin Cygnet.

The Aston-Martin Cygnet has a power to weight ratio of 104.3 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 2011 Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition means you're competing with the 1999 BMW X5 4.4 V8 (129.3 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 1991 Peugeot 205 Rallye 1.3 8v (129.1 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition generates around 98.9 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 1980 Ford Mustang M81 Mclaren 2.3 Turbo (123.8 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2001 Honda Civic 2.0i 16v VTEC Type R EP2 - JDM (123.7 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition can accelerate 0–60mph in 11.20 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 11.6 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition include the 1981 Mercedes 230 CE (11.20 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 1972 Chevrolet Impala Custom Hardtop 6.6L V8 (11.20 secs).

The Straight 4 engine of the Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 1979 Daihatsu Charade 1.0 Turbo (11.30 secs) and the 1974 Ford Mustang Mach 1 170 2.8 V6 (11.40 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition and the Mini Cooper SD Paceman

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 2011 Aston-Martin Cygnet can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 17.13 secs with a trap speed around 79.5 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Mini Cooper SD Paceman (17.14 seconds @ 79.5 mph) and a close race between the Mercedes 200 W114 Sedan Serie 1 (17.14 seconds @ 79.4 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 2011 version of the Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition has a maximum speed of 106mph.

Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi V8 1st Gen - [1968] image

Top Speed of the 2011 Cygnet equals the Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi V8 1st Gen (105 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 2011 Aston-Martin Cygnet 1.3L Launch Edition then there's the slightly slower the Plymouth Road Runner 426 Hemi V8 1st Gen (105 mph) or how about the impressive Chevrolet Impala Custom Hardtop 6.6L V8 (105 mph).

— AutoSnout