Dr. Bez is no more

[Pentoman]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Aston-Martin-Dr-Ulr... might be worth a read anyone?

Who was in charge and responsible when the DB9 and Vantage were created?

[erics]

Bez gave us the dbs and the v12v among other good things. Didn't he?

[Lionel014]

Sincere condolences - my first thought when I read this.

Don't have an opinion on this, yet. Though, I searched my a** off to find some official statement, PR or AML internal farewell-mail-leak or something ... nothing.

On the other hand: Since owning the V8V for four weeks there was this recall and now the CEO is no more. Somewhat I feel responsible - what have I done!?

[divetheworld]

Pentoman said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Aston-Martin-Dr-Ulr... might be worth a read anyone?

Who was in charge and responsible when the DB9 and Vantage were created?

£47?????? Fuke-me... His golden handshake couldn't have been that good.

[F1 NDW]

Jon39 said:

Some strong words have been flying.

I am not in a position to be able to judge Dr. Bez.
However, I can see that he has been at the helm, for a quite a portion of the Company's longest period of survival.

1913 -> 1920
1920 -> 1924
1924 -> 1925
1926 -> 1932
1932 -> 1947
1947 -> 1972
1972 -> 1975
1975 -> 1980
1980 -> 1987
1987 -> now

Those who have made critical comments might enjoy one of Mr. Warren Buffett's quotations. "I try to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful, that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will".

We have discussed before, that a sports car business is far from easy to run profitably. I wish the next CEO good luck.

1987-> now ????
Bez was CEO from 2000-> now.
David Brown's length at the helm is the most significant.

Edited by F1 NDW on Saturday 8th February 13:57

[RichB]

F1 NDW said:

Jon39 said:

Some strong words have been flying.

I am not in a position to be able to judge Dr. Bez.
However, I can see that he has been at the helm, for a quite a portion of the Company's longest period of survival.

1913 -> 1920
1920 -> 1924
1924 -> 1925
1926 -> 1932
1932 -> 1947
1947 -> 1972
1972 -> 1975
1975 -> 1980
1980 -> 1987
1987 -> now

Those who have made critical comments might enjoy one of Mr. Warren Buffett's quotations. "I try to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful, that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will". We have discussed before, that a sports car business is far from easy to run profitably. I wish the next CEO good luck.

1987-> now ????
Bez was CEO from 2000-> now.
David Brown's length at the helm is the most significant.

Indeed, seems the Walter Hayes period has been forgotten.

[Jon39]

F1 NDW said:

1987-> now ????
Bez was CEO from 2000-> now.
David Brown's length at the helm is the most significant.

On my list of dates, the use of the word 'now' is confusing. Perhaps this is better;

1987 -> onwards

Each pair of dates represents not the person in charge, but the period from rescue to the point of financial collapse, or near collapse.

Yes, I think most of us would certainly agree with your comment, about Sir David Brown. An era of leadership, beautiful cars, and the Le Mans victory.

Perhaps the 1987 onwards era, will also in the future be judged as important. All thanks to Ford and their designs of the current range of beautiful cars, each of which has evolved from the DB7, Vanquish and the DB9 in 2003.

Would I be correct in saying that Dr. Bez has guided the Company's export market expansion?
Wth 80% export production, that must be a significant success, because if the UK was the only market now, there would be big trouble.

Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 8th February 20:33

[Y100]

If this helps,,,earlier today whilst on at the Gaydon factory, I asked Dr Bez the direct 'retirement' question. His answer suggested his role at Aston Martin would not be at an end but would deminish, adding "Other engineering challenges are out there". The direction was not specific but clearly he has no intention of throwing away his bag of spanners just yet.

[clarky5150]

"Brakedwell
975 posts
77 months
[report] [news] Friday 7th February
n8ony said:
We were lucky that Ford had a period of ownership.

I am not sure who the next Ford will be!!
Mercedes Benz?"

Surely not MB because they have Maybach. Oh, nope, just wound up that brand in the last few weeks.
But surely we wouldn't use German derived performance engines in our c....
Ahh, I see a conspiracy theory developing before my very eyes.

AMG = Aston Martin Group.

Now where's my tin foil hat to block them alien mind rays.

[SELON]

Might be too obvious, but maybe Meecedes halt of the Maybachs clears the deck for AML to be integrated as the luxury brand. Similar to VW/Bentley and BMW/RR.

[clarky5150]

Audi/Lamborghini, fiat/Ferrari etc..

[jonby]

SELON said:

Might be too obvious, but maybe Meecedes halt of the Maybachs clears the deck for AML to be integrated as the luxury brand. Similar to VW/Bentley and BMW/RR.

ish.

Mercedes had a deal provisionally in place for AM to help with the interior of what was to be the next gen of Maybachs, on the basis that Merc just couldn't do the whole luxury feel in the way Aston can. Then Maybach was canned

However the latest S class is to have a whole raft of derivatives that include Pullman version(s) to replace Maybach. They won't (I imagine) be launching a £150-200k saloon under the Aston name to rival the S class Pullman that will follow the more mainstream S classes

[Jon39]

Aston Martin, a subsidiary of Daimler Benz Eh!
Might that mean changes to the existing brand image?

Bond, James Bond. Vodka Martini shaken not stirred.
"Herr Bond, Wodka-Martini geschüttelt, nicht gerührten"

Made in England by skilled craftsmen and women.
Hergestellt in Deutschland von erfahrenen handwerkern und frauen ROBOTS.

Understated traditional design.
Der Entwurf will change more often as die C-Klasse ändern.

Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 12th February 12:06

[avinalarf]

Bottom line is in the past 5 Years Ferrari ,Lamborghini , Maserati ,Jaguar have introduced several new cars into their line up.
Now I am an Aston fan but,apart from arguably the Vanquish, Aston have just tweaked the model range in the past 10 years.
To attract new customers and not just keep die hard fans Aston must certainly produce a new range very shortly.
I have no idea if that is the fault of Bez but the buck stops at the top.

[Y100]

avinalarf said:

Bottom line is in the past 5 Years Ferrari ,Lamborghini , Maserati ,Jaguar have introduced several new cars into their line up.
Now I am an Aston fan but,apart from arguably the Vanquish, Aston have just tweaked the model range in the past 10 years.
To attract new customers and not just keep die hard fans Aston must certainly produce a new range very shortly.
I have no idea if that is the fault of Bez but the buck stops at the top.

Steven, I think you could include with the Vanquish the new Zagato too,,,,and please don't forget the One-77. The Cygnet was a miserable failure, goodness only knows what went on there. Shoehorning a V12 into the chassis of the origially 4.3 V8 was a major tweak too.

Although I agree the shape today is still very obviously derived from 10 years back, in fairness there have been more than just a few tweaks,,,no?

[avinalarf]

Y100 said:

Steven, I think you could include with the Vanquish the new Zagato too,,,,and please don't forget the One-77. The Cygnet was a miserable failure, goodness only knows what went on there. Shoehorning a V12 into the chassis of the origially 4.3 V8 was a major tweak too.

Although I agree the shape today is still very obviously derived from 10 years back, in fairness there have been more than just a few tweaks,,,no?

I do not speak from my personal requirements,in that I am reasonably content with the rather slow evolution,more from the perspective of gaining a bigger and fresh customer base.
Did not mention Cygnet for obvious reasons and the Zagato is arguably not mainstream.
I quite like the styling details of the CC100 and of course the One77 ,that would be enough for me with the addition of a more fuel efficient engine and a good sat nav .
Also instead of another RR derivative how about a proper 4/5 seater 4WD sport brake along the lines of the Jaguar model.

[Y100]

avinalarf said:

Also instead of another RR derivative how about a proper 4/5 seater 4WD sport brake along the lines of the Jaguar model.

I forgot the Rapide didn't I,,,there seems to be quite a lot of interest especially now in the new S model. Your 4/5 4WD idea sounds good to me.

[avinalarf]

Y100 said:

I forgot the Rapide didn't I,,,there seems to be quite a lot of interest especially now in the new S model. Your 4/5 4WD idea sounds good to me.

Yes the Rapides ok, seems to be getting a good press and a good idea for a family with older kids.
Shame the DB9 doesn't have more legroom in the rear like the Maserati.

[brakedwell]

To move on and develop new models will need massive investment and access to the latest technology, which can only come from companies like Mercedes Benz. On the downside it might limit the Aston Martin model range to two or three top end sports cars, but at least it would ensure the survival of the brand.

How long can AML remain in business producing a meagre 4000 cars a year?

Edited by brakedwell on Thursday 13th February 06:23

[killingjoker]

avinalarf said:

Y100 said:

I forgot the Rapide didn't I,,,there seems to be quite a lot of interest especially now in the new S model. Your 4/5 4WD idea sounds good to me.

Yes the Rapides ok, seems to be getting a good press and a good idea for a family with older kids.
Shame the DB9 doesn't have more legroom in the rear like the Maserati.

Glad to see the Rapide S built in the UK. Building the original Rapide in Austria was a bad move. I doubt it would have been built there if not for Dr Bez. Along with the god awful Cygnet, another misguided 'ego' decision that didn't help AML.

Edited by killingjoker on Wednesday 12th February 23:28