Will Triumph Cars Ever Return?
Discussion
The brand name Triumph (for cars) is currently owned by BMW. I have heard on more than one occasion that BMW will launch a Triumph branded car at some point in the future, but personally, I can't see it for the following reason:
Triumph motorcycles are a separate brand and they compete head-on with BMW bikes, so any Triumph car would confuse the branding terribly.
Therefore, IF we ever see a Triumph branded car, it will be once BMW have sold the brand. Case closed.
Triumph motorcycles are a separate brand and they compete head-on with BMW bikes, so any Triumph car would confuse the branding terribly.
Therefore, IF we ever see a Triumph branded car, it will be once BMW have sold the brand. Case closed.
This isn't exactly "News" !
But you've missed the point entirely.
Why on Earth would anyone bother to relaunch a "great name of British motoring" ?
All of them are tarnished by being associated with duff products and all but Rover and MG have been out of the market for decades.
Only PH types, a few classic car enthusiasts and pensioners even remember them.
From time to time there have been start up companies mentioned on PH that have aquired the rights to a "great name of British motoring" and are going to do great things. They never do. The reason is simple, the amazing marketing advantage of buying the name only exists in the minds of a few enthusiasts. Its really just money down the drain. Most of the PH types will buy something else, the classic car enthusiasts will hang on to their classics and the pensioners will just buy stuff from the far East with long warranties.
If you don't think I'm right then just look at Lexus. Toyota thought about buying a name from the past or a going corncern but in the end they decided to start a new brand.
The only names that might be revived are MG and TVR. The first because they have been in production and sold well untill relatively recently and the second because the cost of relaunching as a spares company first, then a kit car company and finally limited production is a bit more feasable for that type of product.
Other than that we should leave these names to rest in peace.
But you've missed the point entirely.
Why on Earth would anyone bother to relaunch a "great name of British motoring" ?
All of them are tarnished by being associated with duff products and all but Rover and MG have been out of the market for decades.
Only PH types, a few classic car enthusiasts and pensioners even remember them.
From time to time there have been start up companies mentioned on PH that have aquired the rights to a "great name of British motoring" and are going to do great things. They never do. The reason is simple, the amazing marketing advantage of buying the name only exists in the minds of a few enthusiasts. Its really just money down the drain. Most of the PH types will buy something else, the classic car enthusiasts will hang on to their classics and the pensioners will just buy stuff from the far East with long warranties.
If you don't think I'm right then just look at Lexus. Toyota thought about buying a name from the past or a going corncern but in the end they decided to start a new brand.
The only names that might be revived are MG and TVR. The first because they have been in production and sold well untill relatively recently and the second because the cost of relaunching as a spares company first, then a kit car company and finally limited production is a bit more feasable for that type of product.
Other than that we should leave these names to rest in peace.
IMO Any brand can be relaunched pretty much regardless of reputation.
Look at Skoda and VW.. Ok Skoda never went out of production but had the rep from Hell. Now it's quite a respected brand with VW's help.
Triumph is a distinctive brand with all kinds of history (good and bad).
If BMW were to bring out a more 'classically styled' Roadster i would of thought it would want the Triumph brand.
However, a) I don't think there is really a market for such a car at the moment and b) I think it could get very complicated with Triumph Motorcycles.
Look at Skoda and VW.. Ok Skoda never went out of production but had the rep from Hell. Now it's quite a respected brand with VW's help.
Triumph is a distinctive brand with all kinds of history (good and bad).
If BMW were to bring out a more 'classically styled' Roadster i would of thought it would want the Triumph brand.
However, a) I don't think there is really a market for such a car at the moment and b) I think it could get very complicated with Triumph Motorcycles.
Morningside said:
What about some other ones as well? How about a posh Wolsey?
I'd pay to avoid having that on a new car.Just think:
Only pensioners, PHers and classic car enthusiasts have ever heard of it. The first won't buy it, the second will complain about it not being true to their opinion of the name and the rest won't keep a business case running without massive advertising explaining the "new" name to everyone else.
A huge ammount of your efforts will be wasted as the advertising prompts not sales but endless debate about how the new car compares to the classics. The story that starts out as "this new car is great" will be twisted into "is this how a Wolsley should look?".
Any problem, and I mean any problem, will be blamed on the usual "British cars are rubbish" mantra. The whole project will be judged by the public with images of 70s BL cars and Red Robbo in mind.
Alternatively look how the Japanese did it. Weighed up creating a new brand versus buying the rights to an old one. Created Lexus etc. How do you think they came to this conclusion? Carefully after spending a fortune considering every option? Or did they ask some old bloke in a shed if he and his mates would like to see a new Triumph/Wolsley/Austin/Singer/Hillman or whatever?
Fire99 said:
IMO Any brand can be relaunched pretty much regardless of reputation.
Look at Skoda and VW.. Ok Skoda never went out of production but had the rep from Hell. Now it's quite a respected brand with VW's help.
Triumph is a distinctive brand with all kinds of history (good and bad).
If BMW were to bring out a more 'classically styled' Roadster i would of thought it would want the Triumph brand.
However, a) I don't think there is really a market for such a car at the moment and b) I think it could get very complicated with Triumph Motorcycles.
I've always wondered why VAG spent so much money rebranding Skoda when they could have just launched a fresh budget rangeLook at Skoda and VW.. Ok Skoda never went out of production but had the rep from Hell. Now it's quite a respected brand with VW's help.
Triumph is a distinctive brand with all kinds of history (good and bad).
If BMW were to bring out a more 'classically styled' Roadster i would of thought it would want the Triumph brand.
However, a) I don't think there is really a market for such a car at the moment and b) I think it could get very complicated with Triumph Motorcycles.
cymtriks said:
This isn't exactly "News" !
But you've missed the point entirely.
Why on Earth would anyone bother to relaunch a "great name of British motoring" ?
Well, I think that's a bit of a harsh assessment of my original post. First of all, we essentially agree with each other that Triumph cars will not be re-launched despite media speculation. However, the reason someone might be interested in doing so is due to the fact that the re-launch of Triumph bikes have been a carefully planned and well executed success. Despite the bikes of the 80's being frankly woeful, the badge had enough "cool" and goodwill to be worthy of a revival.But you've missed the point entirely.
Why on Earth would anyone bother to relaunch a "great name of British motoring" ?
Brands like Lexus made no secret of being Toyota engineered, so they could afford to be "unknowns". However, if you wanted to start importing cars from China, the biggest problem you'd have is a complete lack of recognition of the brand, right?
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