It seems the world has gone mad — one of the most iconic British motoring marques has suddenly decided to make a micro-car that owes more to Dinky toys than engineering excellence.

The Aston Martin Cygnet will go on sale next year for £30,000. “Great!” I hear you say, “finally I can afford to be flash, pose as James Bond every day and impress all the hot talent at the office!”

Well, good luck. You’re more likely to be the laughing stock of everyone from reception inwards with this embarrassment to the legendary brand.

Based on the ridiculous Toyota IQ rollerskate, it’s just about big enough to squeeze in one of Daniel Craig’s biceps. More like 002 and a bit than 007.

Naturally, Aston has tried to make it the last word in luxury with leather and wood everywhere. Apparently it took half a bonsai tree and an oxtail from the butchers to complete the seats and dashboard.

Never has the old saying “making a silk purse out a sow’s ear” seemed more appropriate and Aston have certainly made a pig’s ear of the whole idea of prestige motoring.

It seems the concept was formed when Aston chief executive Ulrich Bez met some of the Toyota boys at the race track.

Convinced it was a good idea, he signed on the dotted line shortly afterwards and the delighted Toyota execs disappeared back to Japan faster than you can say DB9.

Now the Cygnet will go on sale for £30,000, which is about three times the price of a Toyota IQ, although considerably less than much of the Aston Martin gift catalogue. Personally, for the same money, I’d rather have a watch.

At least I’d feel good about myself making everyone in the office ask me what time it was. That or hiding the Cygnet behind the bins in the back yard. Tough choice.

The one good thing is that it is only available to Aston Martin owners, presumably as a go-kart for their children to run around their country estates.

At least that saves on the marketing costs. Let’s face it, even the name is fatally flawed. Cygnet is, of course, a baby swan or, as any child familiar with the classic story will tell you, an ugly duckling.

The difference here is that it will never grow up into something graceful and superior — in other words, a proper Aston Martin.