RE: Aston abandons Lagonda SUV
Discussion
BlackLabel said:
cullenster said:
Aston had a chance to build a spectacular Lagonda back in the mid 90s. But owners Ford wouldn't let them. Shame on you Ford.
Perhaps I'm in the minority but that is anything but 'spectacular' - it looks vile!
ks, but back in the day this was seen as a very svelte stylish take on what Lagonda could do...delays said:
DonkeyApple said:
In other words they are broke and can't afford to build it. Stupid greedy VC monkeys killing a great brand.
I see it the other way round.If Lamborghini build their SUV - which I believe they plan to do - then Aston will remain one of the few sports car brands which make solely sports cars (and a sports saloon with the Lagonda reintroduction). Many others have prostituted their brands for volume, except Aston (which perhaps would have liked to do in the past).
So therefore it now operates in its own niche - one can only assume that the strategy is to keep volumes low and maximise profit margin on each unit.
Each year that Aston remains selling a small number of niche GTs only is a year closer to being dumped for a quid and the board walking away having sucked tens and tens of millions out.
You only need to look at their basic accounts to see a truly miserable picture. They have placed themselves where Porsche were before the Cayenne
smilo996 said:
Thank god for that though there will be tears in Cheshire and the Premier Club players houses. Someone should tellBentley but won't.
myhandle - great idea, might as well sell AML to Merc and move production to Germany. The employees would be really happy.
Just hope they drop plans to become a coachbuilder too.
Hmmm not really. Given that the AMG deal is happening, like it or not, the range could go like this:myhandle - great idea, might as well sell AML to Merc and move production to Germany. The employees would be really happy.
Just hope they drop plans to become a coachbuilder too.
AMG engined V12 DB9 and Vanquish replacements
AMG engined V8 Vantage replacement
V8 and V12 engined Rapide replacement (plus probably a V6 for China)
Lagonda 4x4 built on platform of GL63 AMG
Then the fun stuff:
Limited edition, limited run cars in the mould of One-77 and upcoming Lagonda saloon
One-offs along the lines of the recent Zagato DB9 and DBS
This looks like some kind of plan which should please enthusiasts and employees - as they may well stay in a job if the company becomes a proper success.
DoctorX said:
The Austin Ambassador lives.This is good news. However, it is a timely reminder that car stylists are not rock gods. They are fallible - capable of creating munters in alarming quantity and variety when they should be in the business of beauty. That said, when you have the vanity and monstrous ego of someone like Bez added into the mix it is hardly surprising that some of the more pliant felt-tip fairies knuckle under - if only to keep their jobs.
Glad to hear that. Aston has always been my favourite british brand, and I think this is a sensible move. They make bentley look as sold greedy unclassy guys, maintaining the british pose, altogether. Rolls jumped the shark long ago, Aston is the only one keeping with what I understand as british luxury brand tradition, maybe with lately resurrected jaguar (in a different level).
Good for them. Mr. Bond should never stopped driving an Aston, or drinking dry martini.
Good for them. Mr. Bond should never stopped driving an Aston, or drinking dry martini.
I cant believe they stopped this, it looked amazing and really solidified the aston brand.
This would have brought new people into the brand, such as z list celebs, footballers, rich house wives etc, it could have used this money to make some proper Astons inspired from the 60's not like general reskinned models they churn out at the moment.
This would have brought new people into the brand, such as z list celebs, footballers, rich house wives etc, it could have used this money to make some proper Astons inspired from the 60's not like general reskinned models they churn out at the moment.
will someone translate please?cullenster said:
Aston had a chance to build a spectacular Lagonda back in the mid 90s. But owners Ford wouldn't let them. Shame on you Ford.
It didn't go into production but the Lagonda Vignale actually got built, well two of them did. It is actually way better looking than the photo.
Clivey said:
Hopefully (and this seems to be the "plan" going from the article), a tasteful Lagonda-badged saloon will sell by the bucketload in China, negating the "need" for yet another a blinged-up WAG mobile.
How well has the Rapide sold? Aston needed this car, look how many Cayenne's Porsche has sold.Amirhussain said:
Clivey said:
Hopefully (and this seems to be the "plan" going from the article), a tasteful Lagonda-badged saloon will sell by the bucketload in China, negating the "need" for yet another a blinged-up WAG mobile.
How well has the Rapide sold? Aston needed this car, look how many Cayenne's Porsche has sold.I'd buy a Rapide but I'm not living in some third world hell hole, married to a bohemoth with two lumps of lard for offspring.
The Rapide was again about cutting corners. They knew they needed a big saloon at least for the key markets that were delivering sales to their competitors but they chose to squeeze something out on the cheap, using an existing platform and funnel the money instead to their pensions.
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