![]() ![]() The rear bumper insert, the front bumper and of course the alloy wheels could all be colour-matched by original buyers to suit their preferences, with the different panels exchangeable by dealers within minutes. The customisation options didn't end there either. The X-graphic that dominates the grille section is normally black, but with paler colours could be specified in lighter shades for a contrasting look that extends right back to the door mirrors. This car was designed so that as many parts as possible could be snapped off and replaced with different colour bits. It's supposed to be a manifestation of the Japanese youth culture 'J-playful' design philosophy that the brand wants all its small cars to have and is key to the appeal of this model because it leads directly to the theme that Toyota hoped would give this MK2 Aygo a real lift: namely customisation. Just look at the front end, apparently inspired by the car in the Japanese cartoon 'Astroboy'. So this one was created as standard with a hefty dose of attitude. Terai and his team set out to create something very different from the inoffensive first generation version of this model, noting that in a crowded marketplace, it was better to have a design that half the potential customers would love rather than one that nobody would object to at all. Compare this car against its French counterparts and you'll find that aside from the rear passenger door and the angle of the windscreen, not a single body panel is the same. That didn't leave Aygo Chief Engineer David Terai much scope for his product to have an individual appeal - except when it came to exterior style, so when it came to styling this second generation model, he and his team grasped that opportunity to do what they could to be different with both hands. The three cars roll out of the same Czech factory, riding on the same common platform, using the same 1.0-litre petrol engine and sharing many interior fittings. GROWLY NOTES AUTOMATIC TEXT REPLACEMENT SKINIt simply had to be different, not only because the citycar segment was - and still is - over-stuffed with talented opposition but also because this model (like its predecessor) had to share so much under the skin with its design stablemates, Peugeot's 108 and Citroen's C1. We're not going to tell you what we think of that particular marketing slogan but it does accurately sum up the 'out-on-a-limb' 'love-it-or-hate-it' approach that Toyota took in marketing this car. We'll focus here on the original version of this car which sold until mid-2018, when a facelifted model was announced. Let's see what else this MK2 Aygo has to offer the used car buyer. On top of that, no other competitor from this era (2014-2017) is more efficient, safer or more laden with technology. ![]() It wasn't only the look that was unique but also the very specific way that original buyers could personalise it to suit almost any kind of taste or preference. That was also the case with the first generation Aygo, but that car didn't make much attempt to differentiate itself. As before, this design was produced as part of a joint Toyota/PSA Group venture that also brought us French alternatives sharing most of this car's important bits - namely Peugeot's 108 and Citroen's C1. ![]() Let's start with the fundamental thing that wasn't changed here. Yes, it shares many of its mechanicals with the original design. You might think you know this car but if you haven't tried this MK2 version, launched here in the Summer of 2014, then you probably don't. So, what makes a car feel 'fun'? Sprightly handling? Cheeky looks? Clever marketing? And can an urban runabout really qualify for purchase on those grounds? With this model, the second generation Toyota Aygo, we were told that it could. It certainly has a lot more of its own identity in MK2 guise. This was - and is - in the brand's own words, 'a car you could be proud of'. GROWLY NOTES AUTOMATIC TEXT REPLACEMENT PLUSPlus it offered a whole host of personalisation options. The second generation version of Toyota's Aygo citycar launched in 2014 proved to be a little more efficient, a little more hi-tech and a little more fun to drive than its predecessor. ![]()
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