RE: Aston to link with AMG?
Discussion
Skylinecrazy said:
Would you rather Aston die?
The Germans have done quite a good job with a make called Lamborghini. A manufacture which still has more soul than most out there. I think Aston will be just fine.
or:The Germans have done quite a good job with a make called Lamborghini. A manufacture which still has more soul than most out there. I think Aston will be just fine.
- Bentley
- Mini
- Rolls-Royce
The reason no "investor" is jumping at the opportunity is that Aston is a trophy asset rather than a sound investment. Unless you bring something to the table other than money (distribution capabilities, technology etc) you will never make money buying it. Investment Dar bought it as a trophy asset and hoped that they could sell it on at a profit to another like-minded individual or fund but the recession has pretty much put a dent in that plan.
This thread has got me starting to think about the link between tractors and luxury/performance cars
Obviously, Porsche (is there anything that they've not made?).
Somebody mentioned riding a Massey-Ferguson above and they have a very clear link to GT greatness: The first F in Jensen FF was of course the very same Harry Ferguson of tractor (and 4 wheel drive F1 car) fame.
Can't think of any others off hand...
Anybody?
Obviously, Porsche (is there anything that they've not made?).
Somebody mentioned riding a Massey-Ferguson above and they have a very clear link to GT greatness: The first F in Jensen FF was of course the very same Harry Ferguson of tractor (and 4 wheel drive F1 car) fame.
Can't think of any others off hand...
Anybody?
gl20 said:
How about a new platform or anything else that allows AM to come up with a car that looks like more than a refresh of everything that has come before in the past 10 years?
If all the Astons designed in the last decade were lined up, I would honestly struggle to differentiate them. As a result, there is a certain "meh" factor from my side when the latest "new" Aston appears.Limpet said:
If all the Astons designed in the last decade were lined up, I would honestly struggle to differentiate them. As a result, there is a certain "meh" factor from my side when the latest "new" Aston appears.
Erm yes, but most other manufacturers' line-ups have got uglier in the past decade. 
heavyearly76 said:
Why is the V12 "long in the tooth"?
Apparently achieving Euro 6 with it will be a bit of a challenge, I've read something about it costing more than the whole company is worth... Not sure what to think of that TBH. I didn't think Euro 5 > Euro 6 was too dramatic a step for petrol engines (diesels however...).IDrinkPetrol said:
This thread has got me starting to think about the link between tractors and luxury/performance cars
Obviously, Porsche (is there anything that they've not made?).
Somebody mentioned riding a Massey-Ferguson above and they have a very clear link to GT greatness: The first F in Jensen FF was of course the very same Harry Ferguson of tractor (and 4 wheel drive F1 car) fame.
Can't think of any others off hand...
Anybody?
Lamborghini started out in tractors, or has someone said that already?Obviously, Porsche (is there anything that they've not made?).
Somebody mentioned riding a Massey-Ferguson above and they have a very clear link to GT greatness: The first F in Jensen FF was of course the very same Harry Ferguson of tractor (and 4 wheel drive F1 car) fame.
Can't think of any others off hand...
Anybody?
EDIT was for spelling
patmahe said:
As long as Aston doesn't get too Germanic in its ethos. There's enough companies already for that.
Astons USP is its beautiful and distinctly British cars (though they do need something that doesn't look like a DB9 derivative)
Personally I don't quite see the problem in being a DB9 derivative. If something isn't broke then why fix it? Why would you necessarily want to change something that was inherently beautiful just because it had been around for while. If I was married to Juliet Binoche I wouldn't want to swap her for the latest brilliant French actress .... I might not get something quite as nice!Astons USP is its beautiful and distinctly British cars (though they do need something that doesn't look like a DB9 derivative)
The motoring world is littered with examples of manufacturers "updating" cars and making a real pigs ear of it.
tinkertaylor said:
Jasper Gilder said:
My old man always used to say that Germany really won WW2 - perhaps he was right....
Anyway, I digrees. Back on the subject of AML...
Like Lotus, they really need to be bought by a large OEM that can have them cover that market segement and use the lower production volumes/ higher unit costs to try new technologies. This is where IMO GM totally knackered-up Lotus & Saab.
Two things - how many manufacturers have a range of cars which are clearly distinctive from each other? Most have a lot of common design themes as Aston do, they may have more variation on size to help distinguish them but none look as good so why is there a problem? How easy is it to tell a 911 from a Boxster from the front?
Secondly, David Brown is a gear company who made tractors (and cars) for a while. They are still in their primary business, but not the others.
Secondly, David Brown is a gear company who made tractors (and cars) for a while. They are still in their primary business, but not the others.
I WISH said:
Personally I don't quite see the problem in being a DB9 derivative. If something isn't broke then why fix it? Why would you necessarily want to change something that was inherently beautiful just because it had been around for while. If I was married to Juliet Binoche I wouldn't want to swap her for the latest brilliant French actress .... I might not get something quite as nice!
The motoring world is littered with examples of manufacturers "updating" cars and making a real pigs ear of it.
Well, there are examples with Bentley and RR - is their 'updating' a 'pig's ear' or a 'Juliet Binoche'?The motoring world is littered with examples of manufacturers "updating" cars and making a real pigs ear of it.
As has been said, the problem is making the investment work for the shareholders. Investment DAR isn't skint but their refusal may be inviting better offers. Magna Steyr have also been mentioned as suitors
Incidentally (as I help run one) German companies survive because they LIKE making things and banks are quite happy to loan money to companies who WANT to make things. Very different attitude in Britain, sadly.
And from Wiki
'Magna Steyr is not an automobile marque. In 2002, it absorbed Daimler AG's Eurostar vehicle assembly facility. The company's vehicle assembly capacity reached 200,000 vehicles a year. It is the largest contract manufacturer for automobiles worldwide,[1] and has several manufacturing sites, with its main car production in Graz in Austria.
Magna Steyr developed Mercedes-Benz's "4Matic" four-wheel drive (4wd) system, and assembles all E-Class 4Matic models. The company also undertook substantial development on the BMW X3 and manufactures all first generation X3s, the Aston Martin Rapide and developed several cars on behalf of manufacturers such as the Audi TT, Fiat Bravo and Peugeot RCZ.'
patmahe said:
As long as Aston doesn't get too Germanic in its ethos. There's enough companies already for that.
Astons USP is its beautiful and distinctly British cars (though they do need something that doesn't look like a DB9 derivative)
Got to be honest having the same look for about 50 years doesn't seem to have hurt Porsche any and TBH the Aston is soooooo much nicer to look at.Astons USP is its beautiful and distinctly British cars (though they do need something that doesn't look like a DB9 derivative)
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