Ford ready to sell Aston Martin

[Coventrysucks]

But, the ownership yields considerable power over the direction that the company takes.

But, which is no way to start a sentence, that isn't relevant to the point I was making.

Aston is still Aston. It is still the same management in charge of the same workers in the same factory building the same cars.

Over time, no doubt, there will be changes in overall strategy and direction, and possibly in terms of suppliers and the like, now that Aston isn't tied into Ford's "Grand Scheme", and yes, there probably will be a close relationship with Prodrive.

The fact that Richards is in charge of both Prodrive and the people that now own Aston doesn't mean that Gaydon will shut down and Aston production will start up next to the Impreza fettling bays, or that the Prodrive engineers will charge into the Aston factory and rout the incumbent engineers in a scene reminiscent of the Crimson Permanent Assurance.

They are different companies doing different things - one is a manufacturer of large numbers of high-status sports cars, one is an engineering consultancy and builder of race cars.

[092326001]

With Aston Martin gone, Ford may finally start more work on Jaguar.
Concepts are nice and all but we need to see new production cars. They've been showing us concepts for new x-types and s-types for a long time now. Yet nothing has happened. Ford needs to remake Jaguar into the World-Beater that it once was. It's sports sedans lack behind in terms of techonology and performance. Jaguar needs a kick in the pants to get them started up again. The XK is nice but expensive sportscar aren't going to earn all the money. The developement money needs to go the X-type and S-type, they have the potential to go far. These are the two cars will earn most of Jaguar's profit, Ford needs to see that.

Astons may improve now that Prodrive has hold of them. At least performance wise. Hopefully Vanquish replacement will coming out soon.

[Sauc3]

Astons may improve now that Prodrive has hold of them. At least performance wise. Hopefully Vanquish replacement will coming out soon.

I don't see how Aston is lacking performance wise? With a fair few racing cars currently, which have already been touched by Prodrive and the range of luxury touring sportcars, they're certainly not behind on performance. Which area is there left to improve in?

Oh and the DBS is the Vanquish replacement...

[092326001]

I didn't say it was lacking
just that there may be more performance in store

[Ingolstadt]

Lookin at the Jaguar XF (whatever it is) concept. I'm not being too optimistic of Jaguar.

[ScionDriver]

Overall I think I like this move. Ford needs the cash and it didn't just sell it to some company with no automotive expirence but just some dude with deep pockets (i.e. TVR)

And with Ford still having an 8% share they can at least kick in parts or something, which I am sure is why they did it. Overall this is a good move and I dont think Aston will suffer heavily in the short term at least.

[Equinox]

Ingolstadt
Lookin at the Jaguar XF (whatever it is) concept. I'm not being too optimistic of Jaguar.

I read somewhere that Ford was holding Jag back. Jaguar had alot of good ideas and concepts, but Ford said that it was not in their budget etc. etc. (Which is understandable, but Ford must have known Jag would be a costly brand to purchase) I'll see if I can find an article or something on the web. I heard it on T.V.

I don't see Jaguar ever going places, until Ford lets them do what they are capable of doing.

[Ingolstadt]

What Jaguar needs is not some outright major revamp of how their cars looked. They have a perfect, un competed segment whereby their cars always exude that kind of "Just-beneath-Bentley" perception.

They just have to improve the dynamics, engine options, comfort levels, equipment and loads of heavy marketing for their new XJ. And of course, they desperately need a new S-Type (maybe another name) and the X-Type, which when parked next to a BMW or Audi, made them looked like tasteless, ugly cars. Jaguar deserves to be the mass producer of Bentleys. Classy, understated manufacturer. That stupid XF concept just managed to screw themselves right up their arses.

[TVR IS KING]

...Why sell Aston and not Jag?

[Wouter Melissen]

...Why sell Aston and not Jag?

Aston is worth a lot more money seeing as it is healthy and all.

[Ferrer]

Aston is worth a lot more money seeing as it is healthy and all.

There are rumours they are considering selling Jaguar and Land Rover, though.

[Matra et Alpine]

I thought the DBr4/5's where there le mans cars??

DBR4 and 5s were F1 single seaters.
A good site to search for info with excellent pics can be found here

http://www.f1db.com/f1/page/Aston_Martin is good for F1 info on all marques

[Timothy (in VA)]

Good news already...

Aston's new owners confirm Rapide production

Aston Martin's new owners have confirmed plans to produce the Rapide four-door luxury sports car, which was previewed in concept form last year. Ulrich Bez, who will remain CEO of Aston, said the Rapide would add another 1000 to 2000 cars to last year's record output of 7000, according to the U.K.'s Times. Previously, Bez said the company only planned to make between 300 and 500 Rapides per year.



"This is an incredible opportunity - Aston Martin is one of the world's most iconic brands," said Prodrive boss David Richards, head of the consortium to buy Aston.


"David Richards and I have a great deal of mutual respect for each other and we are equally passionate about realising the brand's full potential," Bez added. He said the company would take on 200 more workers.


The Rapide will be the second new model launched by Aston Martin's new leadership. The first will be the DBS coupe, which will arrive later this year.

[Waugh-terfall]

I just don't get it, I think Aston are the only really proffitable part of the Ford Motor Company at the moment.

[Coventrysucks]

I just don't get it,

Which would you rather buy?

A car company selling cars at an unprecedented rate, that is bringing in a healthy profit and has two new cars in the pipeline ready to rake in even more.

Or.

A car company struggling to sell cars, is loosing money hand over fist and doesn't look likely to improve any time soon, without massive investment.