RE: Aston Martin to stop Virage production

[Camlet]

I WISH said:

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!

Edited by I WISH on Saturday 15th September 13:35

I agree. When a company starts to dick around with its own proven brand names you know it's in big trouble. The reality is Aston can't compete with the big guys - again. And that's sad. I bought from new a beautiful DB7 Volante. It was the original blower version. Yes, the car was like Frankenstein. MX5 door handles, old Jag engine. But with Ford's help, at least it showed Aston was coming back. Then came the "new" V12 and the "old" Vanquish, which just about competed with the 550 Maranello (assuming one ignored its awful gearbox). But then Ferrari pulled away with the 599 and now F12. Ferrari's current line up is light years ahead in technology and experience. Aston Martin is a wonderful brand that has forever suffered due to lack of proper funding. For Top Gear magazine to describe the One-77's gearbox as "rubbish" is shocking and must have Sir David Brown turning in his grave. How do you allow a £ 1.2 million car to leave the factory with a gearbox that's rated as "rubbish"? Depressingly, the game play with its DB equity, the horrible Toyota/Aston Cygnet and the early demise of the current Virage suggests we are witnessing the final descent of Aston Martin, as technology and government restrictions finally make the mountain too hard to climb. I just wish Aston's marketing people had the balls to focus on what's important, what's necessary and if it comes to it, to go down fighting.

Edited by Camlet on Sunday 16th September 09:47

[V41LEY]

Take your pick !
http://phrontistery.info/v.html

[anonymous-user]

SimonBerrill said:

I'd have thought they would drop the DB9! It just doesn't make much sense.

Was thinking the same

[Urban Sports]

I wouldn't have a clue which was which TBH they all genuinely look like the same car to me.

[XJR500bhp]

If you think all Astons look the same, then you're blind! There's only 4-5 in the range and there all noticeably different. They are all noticeably gorgeous too (Cygnet aside)

[Urban Sports]

XJR500bhp said:

If you think all Astons look the same, then you're blind! There's only 4-5 in the range and there all noticeably different. They are all noticeably gorgeous too (Cygnet aside)

Nope I'm not blind and to me they all look the same.

[Japveesix]

Urban Sports said:

XJR500bhp said:

If you think all Astons look the same, then you're blind! There's only 4-5 in the range and there all noticeably different. They are all noticeably gorgeous too (Cygnet aside)

Nope I'm not blind and to me they all look the same.

What are you talking about, they're all completely different and easily distinguishable from miles away!

[Urban Sports]

Japveesix said:

Urban Sports said:

XJR500bhp said:

If you think all Astons look the same, then you're blind! There's only 4-5 in the range and there all noticeably different. They are all noticeably gorgeous too (Cygnet aside)

Nope I'm not blind and to me they all look the same.

What are you talking about, they're all completely different and easily distinguishable from miles away!

Yes of course, my apologies

[SE24]

I feel this is yet another sign that we are looking at a company with a lack of strategy and no clear direction. Obviously this is very sad.

[myhandle]

Urban Sports said:

Yes of course, my apologies

Ok. How about this.
If it has big round sidelights like the DB7 Vantage, and muscular flanks, it's an original Vanquish.
Numberplate in the rear bumper, it's a Vantage of some sort. Two vents on the bonnet, it's a V8, four vents it's a V12.
A long elegant car is a DB9. If it looks like a tuner special from Kahn or Mansory, it's a DBS. If it has V shaped headlights from the Rapide, it's a Virage.
If it has rear lights shaped like the One-77, it's a new Vanquish.
Clear or red rear lights are not a good guide, as V8 Vantage and DB9 sometimes have them, but the DBS, Virage and V12 Vantage always have them.
I think they all look pretty good, but the original Vanquish looks the best by some margin.

Edited by myhandle on Sunday 16th September 14:35

[Asterix]

Japveesix said:

The Vanquish is by far the best looking of all of those. Looks like a prizefighter just about to beat the crap out of someone.

[LotusOmega375D]

AM Valediction

[GarryA]

CTRL + V

[Bodo]

GarryA said:

CTRL + V

[black412i]

GarryA said:

CTRL + V

Brilliant!

[DS240]

My plan for Aston;

Assume the Virage is the new DB9.

Vantage V8, V8 S, V8 R (coupes and cabriolet). Three models.

Vantage V12 (Coupe and Convertible). One model level.

DB9, DB9 S, DB9 R(this is the DBS). Three model levels. (Coupes and Convertible). Maybe a DB9-V8 model, same as DB9 but with a V8!

Vanquish & Vanquish S. Distance it further from DB9.

Rapide & Rapide S

Still scope for limited run supercars to slot in.

Create a new 4x4 and call it the Vulcan or Valour or Victor or DBX.

Ditch the Cygnet. Or do a decent link up with Audi. A1 by Aston Martin... Aston green with silver contrast rails, Plush leather, Aston dials, unique trim/alloys but no Aston nose grafted on. Much better.


Another option..... Call the Vantage range the DB4 (keep it 991 level & up), and then create a cheaper entry level Vantage range with V6 power (Caymen / Boxster rival)

Surely this would be a big enough and simple enough model line to keep them going?

[davepoth]

DS240 said:

Surely this would be a big enough and simple enough model line to keep them going?

No; they need new cars, not new trim specs, bumpers and headlights on the existing cars.

[71tuscan]

Aston Martin Veryunlikelytohaveapropermanualgearbox ?

[Chimaera001]

Sorry chaps but I just don't understand the rationale of the masses here => "They all look the same and that's a disadvantage". Granted there is a clear and distinct family look along with many tell-tale attributes, but what is wrong with that? Do you think Hugh Hufner has ever strolled around his man-pad, surveyed the array of pneumatic blondes tottering about and thought "Hey, hang on - they all look the same! I should do something different! Bring me a landing craft full of obese ginger midgets immediately"? Hardly. In other parallels I'm sure his "models" are also very pleasant places to spend time inside as much as they are to ogle and listen to at high revs...

Just IMHO of course

[Oddball RS]

wormburner said:

anniesdad said:

I think see where you're going with this:

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.

I take it that group of comments was a joke right?

Just in case it wasn't, design started in 1946, it flew like a fighter, was much more versatile than an equivalent B36/47/52 yes it covered this entire USAF period and flew the longest combat mission on record and in the lkast two years of its service life in 1982.