Thursday 18th November 2010

2 And 4 Wheels Good, Say AMG And Ducati

MotoGp deal heralds new joint marketing strategy

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AMG and Ducati have announced plans to co-operate on marketing activities, in a fascinating tie-up that could take us in all sorts of interesting directions if the partnership develops.

A 6.3-litre twin turbo V8-powered Ducati Monster seems the obvious apogee of the nascent relationship announced in Los Angeles yesterday, but sadly co-operation is currently limited to AMG sponsoring Ducati in the MotoGP series.

"I am very pleased that we are able to announce our strategic cooperation with Ducati today. AMG and Ducati ideally complement each other, as both companies share the same values: racing as the driving passion, and high performance plus exclusivity as the central brand messages of both AMG and Ducati. This long-term cooperation will help us to jointly access new customer groups," said Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, at a press conference.

"I am especially proud to have AMG as one of our sponsors for the MotoGP team. I am also very pleased that our joint marketing activities are well under way. In AMG we have found a partner who perfectly reflects our brand values of high performance, motorsport, excitement and our sense of unmistakable style and design," added his new best buddy, Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

The first visible results of the cooperation between AMG and Ducati will be joint marketing and sponsoring activities, they tell us.

During selected AMG events, participants will be able to take test drives with Ducati motorcycles, and Ducati customers will similarly have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the latest AMG high-performance cars.

Wonder if there'll be a media launch day to help get the party started...

[UltimaCH]

Isn't a certain Valentino R. riding for Ducati in 2011? I will love seeing an AMG badge on his leathers.

[TheOrangePeril]

Oo very nice. What are they after in the long run though?... Carbon fibre technology? High performance electric power? Range extenders?...

[esuuv]

Yes he is, I thought he was going to take Fiat with him from Yamaha to Ducati – clearly not now though………

[angusc43]

TheOrangePeril said:

Oo very nice. What are they after in the long run though?... Carbon fibre technology? High performance electric power? Range extenders?...

Nope; access to each other's customer lists of high net worth individuals who have 60k+ to spend on a car and 15k+ on a bike

[WMP]

At first I thought this was an odd tie up.

Then I realised that Ducatis and AMG Mercs are bought by people who tend not to use the full performance of their vehicles and dare I see it value perceived status higher than outright engineering excellence/performance. (although I like the noise made by Ducati V-Twins & AMG V8s!)

Not that theres anything wrong with that just an observation.

[MarJay]

UltimaCH said:

Isn't a certain Valentino R. riding for Ducati in 2011? I will love seeing an AMG badge on his leathers.

I'm wondering if they might borrow some engine expertise to help tame the Ducati lump...

[Cassius81]

Excuise my ignorance, but what is the car in the photos? Is that the new CLS63?

[Graham]

WMP said:

At first I thought this was an odd tie up.

Then I realised that Ducatis and AMG Mercs are bought by people who tend not to use the full performance of their vehicles and dare I see it value perceived status higher than outright engineering excellence/performance. (although I like the noise made by Ducati V-Twins & AMG V8s!)

Not that theres anything wrong with that just an observation.

i duunno, fair enough as a fairly inexperienced rider The ducati out performs me, but I bought it for the engineering rather than the snob factor.. L-twin, desmodronic valves, lattice frame mmmmm

[soad]

2-wheeled option looks pretty good tasty

[Beefmeister]

Christ, someone restrain Garlick, he'll be frothing at the mouth!

Mercedes + Motorbikes is his idea of heaven, no?

[Taffer]

Beefmeister said:

Christ, someone restrain Garlick, he'll be frothing at the mouth!

Mercedes + Motorbikes is his idea of heaven, no?

Add motorhomes and you'll have the Holy Trinity.

[angusc43]

Taffer said:

Beefmeister said:

Christ, someone restrain Garlick, he'll be frothing at the mouth!

Mercedes + Motorbikes is his idea of heaven, no?

Add motorhomes and you'll have the Holy Trinity.

So it's an AMG motorhome with a Duke on the back then.

[RadQuinn]

angusc43 said:

TheOrangePeril said:

Oo very nice. What are they after in the long run though?... Carbon fibre technology? High performance electric power? Range extenders?...

Nope; access to each other's customer lists of high net worth individuals who have 60k+ to spend on a car and 15k+ on a bike

^ This.

Fantasy world post: Would love to see what AMG could do to a Ducati..

[nelly_h]

Cassius81 said:

Excuise my ignorance, but what is the car in the photos? Is that the new CLS63?

Yep. 1st official pics I've seen of it though.

[RosscoPCole]

Nice machines in the photos. The new Ducati Diavel and the Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG. Wouldn't mind either in my garage.

[huffysteve]

So will this mean Rossi will move into dtm after bikes then.

[PaulMoor]

So, No more Rossi testing for Ferrari then?

I can see why AMG might want to send a few cars to a Ducati event, as most bikers can drive, but the other way around? I suppose pointlessly shipping bikes to AMG events is much cheaper than the cars to Ducati.

[nelly_h]

Well he's apparently quick in just about everything. MotoGP takes it's toll on the body and is a young persons game. He's been at the top so long he'll soon be due for some time off.

A nice relaxing drive around Hockenheim in a lazy V8 german barge might be just the ticket

[Oddball RS]

What an ugly bike.

[obscene]

soad said:

2-wheeled option looks pretty good tasty sh*t

EFA

Can't say I get the partnership myself, stange