RE: Aston Martin to stop Virage production
Discussion
They have several options: a compleately new naming culture, which is difficult as manufacutuers gobble up all sorts of daft names "just in case". Bez has already started this, using terms borrowed from Porsche: S for the slightly faster, GT for the hardcore version etc.
Keep it simple, like the 70s and 80s: the V8 engined car is known as the "V8". V12 is just the "V12". Faster versions become the Vantage, convertable becomes Volante, 4 door becomes a new brand entirely (Rapide or even revive the lagonda marque. Again). Racing versions and their road-based ilk become AMR rather then DBR or GT versions. So the Vantage GT4 would become the AMR V8
Go to the 50s/60s with the DB initials and DBR for racing derived models. Or as the current boss is Ulrich Bez who loves himself a bit too much, call them the UB1, UB2, UB3 etc, Faster versions are known as the schnell, convertable known as the zehrluft.
Or pre-war. The standard car is known as the Mark II, or simply based on engine sive, eg "six litre". Offer a range of body styles mainly built in-house. Racing based versions are devoid of chrome and known as "Ulster". As they share the same platform, refer to them as simply "long chassis" or "short chassis"
See? Its very difficult to decide where to go next.
Keep it simple, like the 70s and 80s: the V8 engined car is known as the "V8". V12 is just the "V12". Faster versions become the Vantage, convertable becomes Volante, 4 door becomes a new brand entirely (Rapide or even revive the lagonda marque. Again). Racing versions and their road-based ilk become AMR rather then DBR or GT versions. So the Vantage GT4 would become the AMR V8
Go to the 50s/60s with the DB initials and DBR for racing derived models. Or as the current boss is Ulrich Bez who loves himself a bit too much, call them the UB1, UB2, UB3 etc, Faster versions are known as the schnell, convertable known as the zehrluft.
Or pre-war. The standard car is known as the Mark II, or simply based on engine sive, eg "six litre". Offer a range of body styles mainly built in-house. Racing based versions are devoid of chrome and known as "Ulster". As they share the same platform, refer to them as simply "long chassis" or "short chassis"
See? Its very difficult to decide where to go next.
0a said:
Porsche, Audi and BMW make cars that look identical and ugly, and they are lauded by PH. Aston make beautiful cars - with the Virage possibly the most beautiful, and they are criticised for it.
what so a 1 series looks like a 5 series,or a 3 series looks like a 7 series,a x5 looks like 6 series ,they all look different,as does a Audi A3/A4/A5,Q7,then RS/A1,i love Aston Martins but i cant tell one model from another
jmesgotav8 said:
Having just been to the launch of the new vanquish.....
Lancaster in Cambridge? Snap! 
It's a shame the model wasn't called the DB9 from the outset, or even AM dropping the DB9 in favour of the Virage. It's a cracking car - a huge step up from the early DB9.
Incidentally, speculation of the Virage being dropped was doing the rounds a couple of weeks ago.
My Dad recently phoned a dealer about a Volante, mentioning the car being dropped. The saleman knew of the Virage's fate, but was genuinely suprised my Dad knew of it.
Darren
Edited by iluvmercs on Saturday 15th September 01:15
anniesdad said:
Sentimentally casting back to former glories with no recent success?
Objectively not up-to-scratch, but lovely to look at?
Anachronistic and silly?
Grossly expensive, but justifiable with man-maths and romance?
Nice noise, but not really that quick?
Aston Martin Vulcan. For reasons your accountant/wife (DAO) doesn't understand.
wormburner said:
anniesdad said:
Sentimentally casting back to former glories with no recent success?
Objectively not up-to-scratch, but lovely to look at?
Anachronistic and silly?
Grossly expensive, but justifiable with man-maths and romance?
Nice noise, but not really that quick?
Aston Martin Vulcan. For reasons your accountant/wife (DAO) doesn't understand.
Losing the "DB" prefix would be a spectacularly stupid thing to do.
Be like Jaguar dispensing with "XK" ..... or Ferrari using a dog instead of a prancing horse.
What is it with people who can't see when they have something valuable and they are just prepared to throw it away on the whim of some young thrusting "marketing" executive?
Remember the Royal Mail getting perilously close to changing their name to "Consignia"?
Aston are arguably THE historic iconic British car brand. They don't make "supercars" ... they make elegant sporting grand touring "hand made" works of art. Part of their appeal is their provenance and the history that's wrapped up in that. Why would you compromise that?
Can you imagine BMW making a BMW Mondeo or Laguna instead of a 5 series?
I'm lost for any more words ....... if it was April 1st I could understand it!
Be like Jaguar dispensing with "XK" ..... or Ferrari using a dog instead of a prancing horse.
What is it with people who can't see when they have something valuable and they are just prepared to throw it away on the whim of some young thrusting "marketing" executive?
Remember the Royal Mail getting perilously close to changing their name to "Consignia"?
Aston are arguably THE historic iconic British car brand. They don't make "supercars" ... they make elegant sporting grand touring "hand made" works of art. Part of their appeal is their provenance and the history that's wrapped up in that. Why would you compromise that?
Can you imagine BMW making a BMW Mondeo or Laguna instead of a 5 series?
I'm lost for any more words ....... if it was April 1st I could understand it!
Edited by I WISH on Saturday 15th September 13:35
XJR500bhp said:
0a said:
Porsche, Audi and BMW make cars that look identical and ugly, and they are lauded by PH. Aston make beautiful cars - with the Virage possibly the most beautiful, and they are criticised for it.
Totally agree
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