RE: Aston Lagonda official testing images

[P4ROT]

"All usual stuff for car testing, but obviously a real priority for Aston with this model."

Read as:

"All usual stuff for car testing, but obviously not for an Aston Martin"

[matrignano]

We need to see interior shots!

[daveco]

If this is a profitable venture for Aston why don't other premium brands throw caution to the wind and do limited edition runs for the middle east as well? I know you hear of one offs etc but are these all built to order first?

[anonymous-user]

In terms of choosing your market, the internet suggests the following:
Billionaires in UAE in 2014: 4
Billionaires in China in 2014 : 122
Millionaires in UAE in 2013: 54,600
Millionaires in China in 2013: 2,378,000

I can understand a small scale launch in the UAE, but in terms of market potential, why not go for China? Am sure that the pedestrian impact regulations will not be a showstopper for launch. But as well as hot weather testing, the cold weather , smog, city crawling testing may need to be extended a little...

Anyways, good to see audacious designs entering the market, it will never please everyone , but am sure it will be a nice place from which to observe the shopping malls and sandstorms.....

[Cheib]

I suppose if you make 50 to 100 of them they can find a home regardless of what it looks like for the people that just have to own one. I hope the interior is something very special.........

[blindswelledrat]

Malachimon said:

Question: why the hell would you put so much effort into an car and sell it ONLY in the Middle East?

You know that squiggle at the end of your sentence? Its a very clever thing called a question mark
Basically it's purpose is to ingeniously turn your written sentence into a question negating the need to begin it with 'Question:'

[After_Shock]

Aletsch said:

why not go for China?

I cant remember the exact figure but China has horrific import taxes especially with anything bigger than a 4.0 engine (assuming this has a bigger engine) so the price despite the audience market will swell to alot more than the no doubt horrific price they are already asking for this one.

Also I think China is a bit of a different proposition market wise, be interesting to see % of population figures based on UAE/Saudi that drive Rolls Royce/Bentley to that of a same calculation in China. Id assume the middle east would be a vastly higher percentage.

[chrisemersons]

Hideous, the farther east it goes the better imo........

[lamby]

Well, I live in Oman and I'm yet to see this cruising around. Would have deffo noticed, will be keeping a sharper eye out not. Although can't really miss it!

[Mr. Magoo]

My thoughts as a LCC member and Lagonda owner:
This makes a lot of sense for the following reasons:
1) When it comes to cars (and most other things) the middle east craves premium brands and exclusivity (AM is certainly premium and exclusive to most of the world but not in the ME). The ME also likes BIG saloons with room for the well to do portly oil sheikhs (have you tried sitting in the back of a Rapide). This car is mahoosive, it is not designed for Monaco or Marylebone.
2) From AML’s perspective they achieve 2 main goals, real world and localised testing (massive cost savings) AND the reintroduction of a dormant brand that has had strong middle east connections since the 70’s. AML does not need a Maybach on its books - 99.9% of the worlds luxury car buyers think a Lagonda is some kind of Italian boat and AML are not in the business of Brand management, they make cars.
My prediction is that because of point 1 it will sell out of the production run. Because of point 2 AML might have a fighting chance of homologating something with a Lagonda badge for worldwide consumption.

[DonkeyApple]

Aletsch said:

In terms of choosing your market, the internet suggests the following:
Billionaires in UAE in 2014: 4
Billionaires in China in 2014 : 122
Millionaires in UAE in 2013: 54,600
Millionaires in China in 2013: 2,378,000

I can understand a small scale launch in the UAE, but in terms of market potential, why not go for China? Am sure that the pedestrian impact regulations will not be a showstopper for launch. But as well as hot weather testing, the cold weather , smog, city crawling testing may need to be extended a little...

Anyways, good to see audacious designs entering the market, it will never please everyone , but am sure it will be a nice place from which to observe the shopping malls and sandstorms.....

Because China is new money. They want the real bling stuff. Once the world knows that Lagonda means you are very rich then the Chinese demand will appear.

Conversely, AM has a long track record of selling in the ME. It's what kept them afloat until Ford bailed them out. They will almost certainly sell more in the ME than they could ever sell in China.

Your average British public school or Oxbridge educated Arab has a long track record of buying Astons, unlike your typical Chinese slaver or copyright thief.

I'm guessing they know who bought most of their 177's and who is buying their other products?

Edited by DonkeyApple on Monday 8th September 14:54

[braddo]

^^^^


Car looks great.

[BlackpoolRock]

Almost as hideous as the original.

[bubney72]

Finally Aston have made a different car. It's damned ugly but after producing basically the DB7 repeatedly the last 25 years, it's a refreshing change.

[MrTappets]

Love this! If the Rapide had been this from the start it would have looked less like a DB9 variant and actually been big enough to fit things in, which was the whole point of its existence.

[foxhounduk]

what on earth is this monstrosity

[GingerMunky]

DonkeyApple said:

Because China is new money. They want the real bling stuff. Once the world knows that Lagonda means you are very rich then the Chinese demand will appear.

Conversely, AM has a long track record of selling in the ME. It's what kept them afloat until Ford bailed them out. They will almost certainly sell more in the ME than they could ever sell in China.

Your average British public school or Oxbridge educated Arab has a long track record of buying Astons, unlike your typical Chinese slaver or copyright thief.

I'm guessing they know who bought most of their 177's and who is buying their other products?

Edited by DonkeyApple on Monday 8th September 14:54

Beautifully put. Chinese really like longer wheel based cars, which makes the Lagonda and ideal car to sell there. But only after the ME market has shown it is only bought by the seriously wealthy, there by creating the Chinese aspiration for the car. That's if they haven't copied it or fined Aston Martin for price fixing along with everyone else

[Ocellia]

50 degrees? So you take a.....Black car?

Well, it'll certainly test it!
Better in White -or Chrome, being Oman/Saudi?

[Captainawesome]

Having actually seen one of these on the road near Gaydon I can confirm that it is bloody huge and that it looks a LOT better in the metal.

I want one for the Waitrose run.

[Turbobanana]

Ocellia said:

50 degrees? So you take a.....Black car?

Well, it'll certainly test it!
Better in White -or Chrome, being Oman/Saudi?

Exactly as described in the article - a tough test for the air conditioning. There'd be no point in taking a nice, reflective silver one would there?