Toyota says to supply iQ-based car to Aston Martin

TOKYO, June 29 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Monday it would build an ultra-small car based on the iQ model for Aston Martin in what would be the Japanese automaker's only original equipment manufacturing (OEM) deal with an outside brand.

The Aston Martin version, to be called Cygnet, will have its own styling to differentiate it with the stubby iQ model, which Toyota says is the world's smallest four-seater car at less than 3 metres (9 ft 10 in) long. It will be sold in Europe.

A Toyota spokesman said other details such as the launch date, price and production volumes had not been decided.

"Much work is still required, but I am confident that this project could become reality in the not-too-distant future," Aston Martin Chief Executive Ulrich Bez said in a statement on the company's website, which offers a photo of a Cygnet prototype. ">here

The British premium carmaker is best known for its sports cars, made famous by the James Bond films.

In Japan, Toyota said it would launch a sporty, limited edition iQ customised under Gazoo Racing, a racing team under the Toyota-operated marketing website www.gazoo.com.

President Akio Toyoda, who took over as president last week, has been a member of the Gazoo Racing team for the past few years and has said he would aim to develop cars that are more fun to drive. [ID:nT329018] (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Chris Gallagher)