RE: BMW to buy De Tomaso?
Tuesday 18th September 2012
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.
Here's one they made earlierBut 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?
Here's one they might make laterAnd 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.
And here's one they've forgotten about
BMW to buy De Tomaso?
Another left-field Italo/German alliance could be on the way
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
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
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
Discussion
If they can do a modern version of this, a la Ford's GT40, then I'd be very happy - one of my all time favourites.
And it has to sound like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRLggRd6y7w
And it has to sound like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRLggRd6y7w
Edited by Asterix on Tuesday 18th September 10:55
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.
While the De Tomaso brand is little known in the UK it does still have a following and recognition in the US.
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.While the De Tomaso brand is little known in the UK it does still have a following and recognition in the US.
Great. So long as they make something with a bit of personality, I think its a great move! Loved the last of the Pantera's and their earlier stuff was great and quirky too. Do that, with reliability, and ideally in low volumes, its sure to be a winner.
That used to be Maserati's stomping ground but not any more.
That used to be Maserati's stomping ground but not any more.
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.While the De Tomaso brand is little known in the UK it does still have a following and recognition in the US.
Yes, but.....
If you ever have come close to the factory in recent times, you'll recognize that it requires, as it is now, maybe more than it's value in refurbishing and renovation works (one for all, since 2004 no one has ever cared about the surrounding green that has, in the meantime, *cough*..... regained space).
So surely it must be down to purchasing primariliy the brand, and then the craftmanship still available in the area.
That said, if it goes better than the last attempt.....welcome BMW!
Enrico
If you ever have come close to the factory in recent times, you'll recognize that it requires, as it is now, maybe more than it's value in refurbishing and renovation works (one for all, since 2004 no one has ever cared about the surrounding green that has, in the meantime, *cough*..... regained space).
So surely it must be down to purchasing primariliy the brand, and then the craftmanship still available in the area.
That said, if it goes better than the last attempt.....welcome BMW!
Enrico
Asterix said:
If they can do a modern version of this, a la Ford's GT40, then I'd be very happy - one of my all time favourites.
And it has to sound like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRLggRd6y7w
Wibble wibble wibble.And it has to sound like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRLggRd6y7w
Edited by Asterix on Tuesday 18th September 10:55
God, those things are truly stunning, quite ludicrously desirable .... wanted one ever since an uncle mentioned he might be buying one back in the early 80s (he didn't and got a Marcos 3 liter instead)
I can see this working very well indeed.
BMW has all the makings as a main player in the huge-conglomerate wars. It has the prestige-brand saloons (BMW itself), the affordable FWD family cars (Mini), and the super-expensive almost-without-equal luxury marque (Rolls-Royce).
However, despite the M-division, they're lacking in supercar credibility. An M3 may well be supremely capable, but when all's said and done it is 'just' a tricked-up 3-series. Alongside a Gallardo or a 458 it's not what you'd call exotic.
Buying De Tomaso would bring them credibility in this respect. They have heritage via the M1 I guess, and the early Guaras used BMW V8s, but to bring the name 'De Tomaso Pantera' back into the international consciousness with an Italian-designed BMW-V8-engined mid-motored supercar would surely be irresistable. BMW would make it all work reliably too - look how VW turned around Lamborghini and how Fiat ownership stabilised Ferrari.
De Tomasos don't lose anything by having other people's engines in them either, so it wouldn't need some bespoke powerplant putting together. A virtue could be made of the fact you could get them serviced at BMW dealers in the way De Tomasos were originally possible to service at Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the US.
BMW has all the makings as a main player in the huge-conglomerate wars. It has the prestige-brand saloons (BMW itself), the affordable FWD family cars (Mini), and the super-expensive almost-without-equal luxury marque (Rolls-Royce).
However, despite the M-division, they're lacking in supercar credibility. An M3 may well be supremely capable, but when all's said and done it is 'just' a tricked-up 3-series. Alongside a Gallardo or a 458 it's not what you'd call exotic.
Buying De Tomaso would bring them credibility in this respect. They have heritage via the M1 I guess, and the early Guaras used BMW V8s, but to bring the name 'De Tomaso Pantera' back into the international consciousness with an Italian-designed BMW-V8-engined mid-motored supercar would surely be irresistable. BMW would make it all work reliably too - look how VW turned around Lamborghini and how Fiat ownership stabilised Ferrari.
De Tomasos don't lose anything by having other people's engines in them either, so it wouldn't need some bespoke powerplant putting together. A virtue could be made of the fact you could get them serviced at BMW dealers in the way De Tomasos were originally possible to service at Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the US.
I remember talk of BMW buying over another Italian car maker now in the hands of Audi to build the M1. De Tomaso bought to do the same? Or for the mark? I think this is more to build a new updated M1. Once building that, new a more classy/costly, model with the De Tomaso name, using the same running gear would make sense. I hope we do see a "low" cost R8 and a De Tomaso out of this.
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