Aston Martin sold.

[Tles]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2007/02/...-aston-martin/

Ford to retain 15% but Aston Martin to go to LouisVuitton for around 1.2billion US plus. That's the whisper anyway.

[pertuan]

Isnt Louis Vitton a fashion label? How are they gonna make cars?

[5.4 GT]

NOOOOO.... Aston is screwed!!

[XR Rob]

What a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad idea.

Did I mention it was a bad idea?

[The Monty]

I can see the new Aston wearing sequins.

[MRJUCY]

The French owning Aston, Jeremy Clarkson would be having a fit.

[uranium_death]

That my friend is called globalisation. You don't have to know anything about anything in particular. As long as you have the cash, you get your way.

The main "quality prestige" cars that will survive as independents are Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini (I am rather drunk atm and cbf researching) because they do carry a proud name. Aston Martin however don't sell the same volume of cars.

Like many cars (e.g. Volvo), as they are taken over by other companies, there will be a compromise for quality.

And that's why I like Ford. No pretentious promises. You pay peanuts, on an internation scale, you get a **** car, but for once again, for the peanuts, a decent vehicle.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

That my friend is called globalisation. You don't have to know anything about anything in particular. As long as you have the cash, you get your way.

The main "quality prestige" cars that will survive as independents are Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini (I am rather drunk atm and cbf researching) because they do carry a proud name. Aston Martin however don't sell the same volume of cars.

Like many cars (e.g. Volvo), as they are taken over by other companies, there will be a compromise for quality.

And that's why I like Ford. No pretentious promises. You pay peanuts, on an internation scale, you get a **** car, but for once again, for the peanuts, a decent vehicle.

Ferrari is not indepedant. It is owned by Fiat.

Porsche owns Lamborghini. Porsche also owns Bugatti. They own the entire Volkswagen Auto Group. Porsche is the only true, major, independant sports car manufacturer.

[MethodX]

Great news.
A Pom company owned by the French

Suffer Clarkson.

And steffo Fiat dont own all of Ferrari.

[plext]

Porsche do not own VAG either. They hold 27.4% currently.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by plext

Porsche do not own VAG either. They hold 27.4% currently.

They own the controlling interest in VAG. And they're slowly expanding. They originally started out with a 20% share, expanded to 25.8% and it looks like they've recently aquired more.

[M14A-Mclaren]

Originally Posted by MethodX

And steffo Fiat dont own all of Ferrari.

56% , I'd say thats a controlling stake since the next high amount is 29%

[Homer1]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Great news.
A Pom company owned by the French

Suffer Clarkson.

And steffo Fiat dont own all of Ferrari.

Pom companies are owned by pretty much everyone but the Poms!

But rest assured Clarkson will still love Astons and make a humrous diatribe over the takeover on Top Gear. He's a Legend!!

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Ferrari is not indepedant. It is owned by Fiat.

Porsche owns Lamborghini. Porsche also owns Bugatti. They own the entire Volkswagen Auto Group. Porsche is the only true, major, independant sports car manufacturer.

Porsche don't own Lamborghini or Bugatti, the VW group does, and Porsche own a fair slice of VW, so they don't directly own it. I think Audi has the controlling interest in Lamborghini, hence they use a version of the Gallardo chassis in the Audi R8 and the V10 in the S6 and S8.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Porsche don't own Lamborghini or Bugatti, the VW group does, and Porsche own a fair slice of VW, so they don't directly own it. I think Audi has the controlling interest in Lamborghini, hence they use a version of the Gallardo chassis in the Audi R8 and the V10 in the S6 and S8.

When you have the controlling interest in a group of companies, like the Volkswagen Auto Group, which is made of up Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley, you generally end up with control of the whole ship. Which means that Porsche-AG can directly make decisions that influence and/or affect any of the companies in the group they have the controlling stake in.

Why do you think that the said Audi V10 (which is the Lamborghini unit increased from 5.0 to 5.2 litres) uses VW's FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection) and everyone in the group shares things like DSG etc. And the 911 is getting FSI soon (MY2008). You can link pretty much every vehicle in the big group's DNA with each other, and that includes Porsche with the rest of them.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Steffo

When you have the controlling interest in a group of companies, like the Volkswagen Auto Group, which is made of up Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley, you generally end up with control of the whole ship. Which means that Porsche-AG can directly make decisions that influence and/or affect any of the companies in the group they have the controlling stake in.

Why do you think that the said Audi V10 (which is the Lamborghini unit increased from 5.0 to 5.2 litres) uses VW's FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection) and everyone in the group shares things like DSG etc. And the 911 is getting FSI soon (MY2008). You can link pretty much every vehicle in the big group's DNA with each other, and that includes Porsche with the rest of them.

But Porsche don't own the whole shebang and don't control the whole show. They would have members on the board who can influence decisions, but thats it. Its a big difference. Porsche can't just tell the others what to do.

[XR8putts]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Porsche owns Lamborghini.

Nope.

[thefargo]

at least the aston may now come with very nice luggage

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by thefargo

at least the aston may now come with very nice luggage

That or some nice interior.

Look atleast someone brought it, I dont understand how they were losing so much money, I thought they were selling alright.

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by thefargo

at least the aston may now come with very nice luggage

And the rear seats can be reshaped to suit designer dogs.

[Josh_XC]

And isnt Lamborghini owned buy Audi? Its been coming for a long time ford just couldnt hold onto Aston Martin. Hahah i can imagine Clarkson now lol

[Thunder]

I think all you people are a bit misguided. The Louis Vuitton that has taken over AM is not the fashion brand, but the WORLDS LARGEST LUXURY GOODS importer.

The company is called LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Moet, Hennesey) owns the brands TAG Heuer, Zenith, Dior, LV, Moet & Chandon, De Beers, Donna Karan etc. They know a lot about luxury products with the highest quality control (did i forget to mention TAG Heuer!).

Personaly i think LVMH would do a better job at building a luxury/sports car than Ford!

http://www.lvmh.com/

Just one problem though if LVMH buys Aston. The next James Bond would either not drive an Aston or not wear a Seamaster. One is fine, just without the other.

[HLC]

i am a big fan of Aston's, and a big fan of LV stuff.

so i can see new Aston's with LV interior trimmings : veryy nice. hope i win lotto soon :

[data_mine]

Originally Posted by Thunder

Just one problem though if LVMH buys Aston. The next James Bond would either not drive an Aston or not wear a Seamaster. One is fine, just without the other.

More people know what JB drives (except that one off BMW movie), than what chronograph he wears.

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by data_mine

More people know what JB drives (except that one off BMW movie), than what chronograph he wears.

You'd be suprised. There is not mutch difference between the auto and watch industry. I'd say more people would know the brands Omega and Rolex over a brand called Aston Martin from past movies IMHO.

[S3SR]

as long as LV make aston martins the same or better, who really cares....
itll be a shame that ford would have to sell off aston martin to keep afloat

buy ford and none of this would have happened you only have yourselves to blame..lol :P jokes

[aussiblue]

Well I guess I could hack the Louis Vuitton monogram pattern on an AM's upholstery but I don't know how it will go as an external colour scheme.



Can someone photoshop it so we can see.

[aussiblue]

perhaps they will go with a silver or stainless body and this paint scheme:

[XR8putts]

It could've been worse. I don't see AM going downhill, I believe it'll remain business as usual. It's a pity for the blue oval however.

I bet LV will starting influencing the interior trim for sure, kinda like the Versace interior in the Lambo LP..

Should be nice!

[XRQTOR]

Think about this logically here, this LV fella has made billion's of dollar's over the year's selling handbags to women at what $5ooo+ a pop. That at most would have cost $1oo to produce. Clearly the guy is switched on and listen's to what the consumer's want so imagine what he could possibly do with aston martin and a basically unlimited budget.


I saw an Aston martin DB9 sitting in a multi story carpark behind cronulla's main strip today, had private plates spelling a womens name : . Funny how that one car was probally worth more than the other 2oo in there, not very often you come across a car like this parked up in a normal carpark.