Tuesday 18th September 2012

BMW to buy De Tomaso?

Another left-field Italo/German alliance could be on the way

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If you thought Audi buying Ducati was unusual, get this: BMW is reportedly interested in buying De Tomaso, the Italian sports car brand that went into liquidation in 2004.

The Italian Industry Ministry is in discussions with several suitors, one of which is BMW, a trade union has revealed. The Ministry reportedly hopes to begin a sales process by the middle of October.

The sale would be for the structural assets of De Tomaso, including the firm’s former production facility in Modena, Italy. Another deal to buy De Tomaso, which included also buying an ex-Pininfarina factory near Turin, fell through earlier in the year.

Here's one they made earlier

But the big question is, why? What would BMW get from buying the assets of a borderline Italian sports car brand that was founded in 1959, used to own Maserati and Moto Guzzi, showed an intriguing SUV crossover at Geneva 2011 (main pic) but otherwise appears to offer little obvious appeal?

There are several theories. One, BMW wants an Italian sports car brand to rival Audi’s ownership of Lamborghini (a 21st century version of the Pantera is said to be under development). Two, it sees an opportunity to expand into the super-luxury SUV market with a production version of that Geneva concept aimed at models such as the Bentley EXP 9F (it has the underpinnings, after all: the X5/X6 M and X5/X6 M50d duo for starters).

Here's one they might make later

And the most intriguing theory of all? That BMW wants to put the beautiful Z4-derived Zagato concept into production, wearing De Tomaso badging. Pure speculation, but intriguing, don’t you think? Particularly if it could be built in low volumes by Modenese craftsmen.

Delve deep and the purchase does make more sense than first appears, but it remains a curious one – particularly given the brand’s glaring lack of recent-years heritage.

Indeed, De Tomaso is most recently known for its odd and tumultuous alliance with Qvale, which led to its turnaround mid-90s Biguà becoming the Qvale Mangusta. Which later became the MG SV, a car designed to help MG become a sporting brand after it had been sold by, of all firms, BMW. Small world…

And here's one they've forgotten about

[Frimley111R]

I thought that they didn't want it at all, they just want the factory? I really can't see De Tomaso being the best brand to 'do a Lambo' for BMW.

[Frimley111R]

mc_blue said:

365daytonafan said:

I suspect BMW's interest is because they can pick up the brand relatively cheaply. There have long been rumours of a BMW supercar to rival the R8, a new Pantera to rival the Gallardo, 458 and Mclaren 12C can be spun off that, and perhaps sold through the existing Rolls Royce dealer network?

While the De Tomaso brand is little known in the UK it does still have a following and recognition in the US.

I think it would be a fantastic fit for BMW and they could quite easily emulate the success of RR and MINI providing they market the new products effectively. With BMW behind it I could see great things from this famous marque.

I just don't see this at all. Its a niche supercar brand that's associated with the 70s and one which 99.9% of people have probably never heard of. Don't BMW own a few (Triumph/Riley) anyway? The only credible one I can see is Lotus tbh.

[Frimley111R]

mikefacel said:

Frimley111R said:

I really can't see De Tomaso being the best brand to 'do a Lambo' for BMW.

Which begs the question what would be a better brand for a BMW supercar? Can only thinkg of Lotus but there must be some other iconic sports car brands out there.

Yep, but I think you'd be starting from scratch with most of them. Only Lotus is a going concern and still sold/seen on the road and has enough Kudos to be seen as a competitor to the established brand. TBH the more I think about Lotus the more it makes sense for someone like BMW.