Lagonda - official press

[AdamV12V]

The new Lagonda saloon has appeared on the AM website overnight.

http://www.astonmartin.com/en/live/news/2014/07/24...

[V8V Pete]

So much better (and more in keeping with the brand) than an SUV.

[brakedwell]

V8V Pete said:

So much better (and more in keeping with the brand) than an SUV.

Agreed, leave the SUV's to Porsche.

[speech]

Aha, one in the face for all those people who've been telling me that I have to get a more practical car now that I'm getting married!!!

Hopefully nobody will point out that it's available in the Middle-East only, by invitation only, and not a chance in h*ll that I'll be able to afford one...

[AdamV12V]

Yeah, not available in the UK

Aston Martin live news said:

The stunning luxury super saloon revives the Lagonda ethos of ‘the finest of fast cars’ and will be offered exclusively in the Middle East, as a result of specific market demand.

Just goes to show however that if we demand something enough they will make it!

[jonby]

AdamV12V said:

Yeah, not available in the UK

Aston Martin live news said:

The stunning luxury super saloon revives the Lagonda ethos of ‘the finest of fast cars’ and will be offered exclusively in the Middle East, as a result of specific market demand.

Just goes to show however that if we demand something enough they will make it!

Been biting my tongue for some while on this one !

As it happens, if you search the 'net hard enough, there's all kinds of things you could find out about this vehicle, including production numbers, model name, power, gearbox, etc. You just have to know where to look :-)

The various articles that have appeared today seem to solely combine complete speculation with a rehash of the official release. Most of the info in today's mags (e.g. 6 speed ZF box) is simply incorrect, with the exception of course of the info in the AML release

I'd be amazed if it's 'invite only'. Yes production numbers are low but as with ONE77 and Zag (which I think this will sell better than, not just in numbers but in speed of sales, as it's just so appropriate for the ME market) I don't see it selling out on day 1 and I can't see it would be difficult to buy one if you are prepared to stump up the cash

Having said that, it's been so long since there's been a saloon in this price bracket, with this level of exclusivity, which effectively is in hypercar territory, maybe some sheiks will look to buy fleets of 5 or 10 of them ! Let's face it, there's a fair amount of competition between pagani, Ferrari, k'egg, Porsche, McLaren, lambo, etc at the top price bracket but not really in the saloon arena which those super rich who choose to be driven occupy

Edited by jonby on Friday 25th July 09:36

[avinalarf]

A car that would be relevant to those of us that require an Aston to put our families in.
Certainly relevant to China where they like big saloons.
As you know the SUV is the best seller of most brands offer,so might it not be a good idea for Aston to have one in the range.
For me the interest will be how Aston price their new models.
I expect them to go up by circa 30%,following Ferrari's lead.
Personally I would like them to follow Porsche on pricing,but I think that's wishful thinking,as Porsche has a much larger range and volume sales,compared to Aston.
It is interesting that Bentley appear to be successful,carving out a niche in the area of luxury saloon and sports saloon market.
It might be better for Aston to follow their example and stay as a niche brand of sports and GT cars rather than venture into other areas,already pretty well covered.
If they feel the need to do that maybe it should be under the Lagonda banner.
Any of this will require very deep pockets.

Edited by avinalarf on Friday 25th July 09:47

[jonby]

avinalarf said:

A car that would be relevant to those of us that require an Aston to put our families in.
Certainly relevant to China where they like big saloons.
As you know the SUV is the best seller of most brands offer,so might it not be a good idea for Aston to have one in the range.
For me the interest will be how Aston price their new models.
I expect them to go up by circa 30%,following Ferrari's lead.
Personally I would like them to follow Porsche on pricing,but I think that's wishful thinking,as Porsche has a much larger range and volume sales,compared to Aston.

the pricing of this Lagonda will have no connection to the pricing of other cars in the range

there is a market for Astons that fit a family, but this car will not fill that objective as a result of size (it's very long for the UK), production numbers & price

[hashluck]

jonby said:

I'd be amazed if it's 'invite only'. Yes production numbers are low but as with ONE77 and Zag (which I think this will sell better than, not just in numbers but in speed of sales, as it's just so appropriate for the ME market) I don't see it selling out on day 1 and I can't see it would be difficult to buy one if you are prepared to stump up the cash

Edited by jonby on Friday 25th July 09:36

Agree with this. I also think it will not be ME only, I think that might be a marketing ploy to make it even more exclusive and desirable in certain other markets and/or there will be editions of this specific to, say, China

[jonby]

hashluck said:

jonby said:

I'd be amazed if it's 'invite only'. Yes production numbers are low but as with ONE77 and Zag (which I think this will sell better than, not just in numbers but in speed of sales, as it's just so appropriate for the ME market) I don't see it selling out on day 1 and I can't see it would be difficult to buy one if you are prepared to stump up the cash

Edited by jonby on Friday 25th July 09:36

Agree with this. I also think it will not be ME only, I think that might be a marketing ploy to make it even more exclusive and desirable in certain other markets and/or there will be editions of this specific to, say, China

My head agrees with this but at the type of price they are talking about and with the production numbers currently being suggested, they would risk a backlash at an early stage of resurrecting the Lagonda badge if they just did some tweaks and produced an additional number for another market like China

I don't fully understand the rationale behind making it ME only but that certainly appears to be their intention at this stage

[adamfawsitt]

My understanding is that it's Middle East only.

[downr]

very clever bit of marketing imho

[avinalarf]

downr said:

very clever bit of marketing imho

I'm not sure about that.
Aston bringing out halo models,all very nice but totally useless to most of us that want to see a new range.
For financial reasons it appears a cohesive range is circa 4/5 years away.
Meanwhile competitors forge on,taking market share from Aston.
Interested parties might change brands by then.

Edited by avinalarf on Friday 25th July 11:42

[jonby]

avinalarf said:

downr said:

very clever bit of marketing imho

I'm not sure about that.
Aston bringing out halo models,all very nice but totally useless to most of us that want to see a new range.
For financial reasons it appears a cohesive range is circa 4/5 years away.
Meanwhile competitors forge on,taking market share from Aston.
Interested parties might change brands by then.

Edited by avinalarf on Friday 25th July 11:42

regardless of the validity of all of that, most of which I agree with (although first models of totally new range will start to filter through by 15/16, at least in show form, IMO) I don't see this particular exercise doing any harm, quite the opposite

It will use the ONE 77 production facility which currently has effectively nothing going on and it certainly enhances brand image. Effectively I'm saying yes it doesn't help those wanting new 'production cars' but does it impact negatively on the new production range either ?

If it generates some profits for the coffers in the meantime that can only be good. Added to that, it certainly won't harm residuals for the regular cars if they are associated with a brand producing a half million pound + mega exclusive LWB saloon

[hashluck]

jonby said:

regardless of the validity of all of that, most of which I agree with (although first models of totally new range will start to filter through by 15/16, at least in show form, IMO) I don't see this particular exercise doing any harm, quite the opposite

It will use the ONE 77 production facility which currently has effectively nothing going on and it certainly enhances brand image. Effectively I'm saying yes it doesn't help those wanting new 'production cars' but does it impact negatively on the new production range either ?

If it generates some profits for the coffers in the meantime that can only be good. Added to that, it certainly won't harm residuals for the regular cars if they are associated with a brand producing a half million pound + mega exclusive LWB saloon

+1

They cannot do anything much about the current situation they are in with production models in the short term so they could do a woe is me head in the sand or they could try and do something in the meantime and this looks like a pretty good something.

[avinalarf]

jonby said:

regardless of the validity of all of that, most of which I agree with (although first models of totally new range will start to filter through by 15/16, at least in show form, IMO) I don't see this particular exercise doing any harm, quite the opposite

It will use the ONE 77 production facility which currently has effectively nothing going on and it certainly enhances brand image. Effectively I'm saying yes it doesn't help those wanting new 'production cars' but does it impact negatively on the new production range either ?

If it generates some profits for the coffers in the meantime that can only be good. Added to that, it certainly won't harm residuals for the regular cars if they are associated with a brand producing a half million pound + mega exclusive LWB saloon

Fair point,no problem with your comments.
It's just that I'm getting a bit aggravated at having to wait so long.
A case in point, I saw a McClaren spider drive past in volcano orange,it looked fab,so I would also look at that before buying a car from the current Aston range.
Having said that,probably end up with an Aston.

[downr]

i hear your frustration

but my point was more that this is being sold as an ultra-exclusive, ultra high price, saloon for the Middle East only. Which Sultan of Brunei is going to be able to resist that in the game of one-upmanship?

[jonby]

avinalarf said:

It's just that I'm getting a bit aggravated at having to wait so long.

that I fully understand. Maybe this announcement adds to those frustrations - understand that too

But it's been a long time since AML could compete on performance/tech terms with the likes of Mac, Ferrari, Porsche, etc and whilst AML will never be the best in that sense, the only way the gap will be bridged (well closed up as won't ever be fully bridged) is with a tech partner such as the one they now have - we have to wait that extra 1-2 yrs before we can see the results

[jonby]

downr said:

i hear your frustration

but my point was more that this is being sold as an ultra-exclusive, ultra high price, saloon for the Middle East only. Which Sultan of Brunei is going to be able to resist that in the game of one-upmanship?

Exactly. And when you see some of the literature, you'll see they really are focussing on this being ultra exclusive, ultra bespoke, ultra expensive, ultra prestigious.

In a country where Rolls Royce Phantoms won't impress anyone and the main options that are more expensive/exclusive are 2 door, 2 seater sports cars, this could work very well indeed

The main area I know absolutely nothing about that could be crucial is the interiors - I'm sure they will look opulent inside especially in the rear but if the switchgear, centre console, etc look too similar to what already exists in the current line-up, I believe that could be problematic - this can't be a V12 Zag type exercise. Mechanically, it will be 'good enough' for the exercise - power will be up to at least 600bhp and for a luxury saloon that's not trying to break speed records, I guess that will suffice

[SFO]

downr said:

i hear your frustration

Which Sultan of Brunei is going to be able to resist that in the game of one-upmanship?

Such folks have true one offs built for them, and no one else ..