Aston Martin has been rather busy lately, finessing a big V-12 into the Vantage coupe, preparing for the launch of the highly anticipated Rapide four-door, and going all-out to create the $1.7 million, 700-hp One-77 supercar. Not to mention engineering a Toyota iQ–based microcar called the Cygnet. (Yes, it’s real.) Add the new 2010 DBS Volante (Aston speak for convertible) to the pile. Few would say that that the DBS coupe needs any help in the looks department. Yet the removal of its roof makes it even more alluring, not to mention one of the most indulgent tanning salons on the planet.

The Natural Look

Aston designed the DBS from the onset with open-air motoring in mind, and with the top up, the Volante keeps the coupe’s sleek profile mostly intact. By eschewing a trendy retractable hardtop, the ragtop also keeps the weight gain to a minimum and preserves much of the DBS’s limited trunk space. The roof can be raised or lowered in 14 seconds and at speeds of up to 30 mph. Compared with the fixed-roof car, the convertible is about 200 pounds heavier and 25 percent less rigid.

Badge-engineering has a bad name in the industry for a reason. It’s essentially a cheap way to expand a brand’s portfolio, but it does not respect heritage and brand values. Think of the ridiculous Chevy TrailBlazer–based Saab 9-7X or, further back, Cadillac grafting its logo onto a Chevrolet Cavalier and selling it as the Cimarron.

Yes, It’s Real

Imagine then what the Cygnet, an awkwardly restyled version of the 117.5-inch-long Toyota iQ minicar, is going to do to the image of Aston Martin, one of the most prestigious ultra-luxury brands and self-proclaimed “world leader in exclusive niche engineering.” Believe it or not, the blobby Aston Martin Cygnet, which is only a concept for now, is set to go on sale in Europe in the first half of next year.

The Toyota iQ was launched in January 2009 as Toyota’s answer to the rear-engine Smart. (It is likely to come to America soon badged as a Scion.) Unlike the Smart, but in typical Toyota fashion, the iQ is conservatively engineered. The tiny four-seater houses its powerplant up front and rides on a platform that draws heavily from the bigger Yaris. Weight varies depending on equipment and engine, but the iQ generally tips the scales at just over a ton.