Commentary: Aston Martin fans won't be happy with sale to Italian equity group

[nadepalma]

Aston Martin fans won't be cheered by deal with private equity group
December 7, 2012
NICK GIBBS

News that private equity firm InvestIndustrial has won the battle to buy 37.5 percent of British luxury sports car firm Aston Martin won't be cheered by fans of the 99-year-old brand, despite the Italian group's promise to invest 150 million pounds ($240 million).

Aston has been cash-starved since Ford offloaded it in 2007 on Middle Eastern shareholders led by Investment Dar.

Private equity firms such as InvestIndustrial are traditionally more hard-headed. The view among more knowledgeable fans in Britain is that it will invest just enough to polish the company for a profitable resale, such as happened with Italian bike maker Ducati. The fear is it won't invest enough to create a new body architecture as well a new range of engines to replace the ageing V12 and V8. These naturally aspirated units are currently built by Ford in a dedicated engine factory in Cologne, Germany.

CONTINUE READING AT: http://europe.autonews.com/article/2...e-equity-group

[Stéphane Dumas]

A little tip for the Italian equity group for the new engine. Maybe they could do a deal with Chrysler-Fiat and make a V12 derived from the V6 Pentastar.

[nadepalma]

A little tip for the Italian equity group for the new engine. Maybe they could do a deal with Chrysler-Fiat and make a V12 derived from the V6 Pentastar.

That's an interesting idea. Putting a V12 together from two V6's sounds like it wouldn't be that tough, but I'm sure it's not something that you can snap your fingers and do. Still, I don't know if Marchionne would go for it though since Aston competes with some of their own luxury products. Besides which, I wonder what kind of contractual obligation Aston has with Ford.

As an aside, they mention the hookupu with Benz again here. I always wondered if Benz was just trying to bide their time, and keep Aston dancing on a string, until they could swoop in and snag the brand for a steal. Obviously they just had a chance to do that and didn't, but perhaps InvestIndustrial will make a real go of it with Aston.

[minnfang]

Aston Martin is one marque that needs to be "brought home". Some old money Brits need to step up to the table. Buy engines and transmissions from someone else if need be, but the Aston design language is too good to let die.

[germeezy1]

That's an interesting idea. Putting a V12 together from two V6's sounds like it wouldn't be that tough, but I'm sure it's not something that you can snap your fingers and do. Still, I don't know if Marchionne would go for it though since Aston competes with some of their own luxury products. Besides which, I wonder what kind of contractual obligation Aston has with Ford.

As an aside, they mention the hookupu with Benz again here. I always wondered if Benz was just trying to bide their time, and keep Aston dancing on a string, until they could swoop in and snag the brand for a steal. Obviously they just had a chance to do that and didn't, but perhaps InvestIndustrial will make a real go of it with Aston.

A little tip for the Italian equity group for the new engine. Maybe they could do a deal with Chrysler-Fiat and make a V12 derived from the V6 Pentastar.

Ironically their current V12 is for all intents and purposes two Duratec V6's mated together with a bespoke block. This may never happen because Aston, and Mercedes Benz already entered a memorandum of understanding previously. Mercedes of course has a quite excellent V12 which is of course good enough for Pagani, and conversely should be adequate enough for Aston Martin.

[vetmst]

Ironically their current V12 is for all intents and purposes two Duratec V6's mated together with a bespoke block. This may never happen because Aston, and Mercedes Benz already entered a memorandum of understanding previously. Mercedes of course has a quite excellent V12 which is of course good enough for Pagani, and conversely should be adequate enough for Aston Martin.

I could be wrong but I thought the talks with MB for their engines fell apart. That was the main reason the new Vanquish still uses an updated version of the old V12

[germeezy1]

I could be wrong but I thought the talks with MB for their engines fell apart. That was the main reason the new Vanquish still uses an updated version of the old V12

That could very well be true because most of what was reported is at least 3-4 years old as far as the memorandum of understanding between Mercedes and Aston Martin.

[2b2]

A little tip for the Italian equity group for the new engine. Maybe they could do a deal with Chrysler-Fiat and make a V12 derived from the V6 Pentastar.

That's an interesting idea. Putting a V12 together from two V6's sounds like it wouldn't be that tough, but I'm sure it's not something that you can snap your fingers and do....

as germeezy pointed out,
FoMoCo probably COULD do it with not much more than a fingersnap

tho what I'd like to see is 2 of the coming Nano 2.7v6 be used for that...prolley 700hp with EB

(a straight six made from two 1.0EB's would be nice too...350hp?)

[JeffInDFW]

Shame Ford didn't sell Lincoln to the Arabs and keep Aston Martin for their luxury division.

Investment groups don't build or sell anything. These guys will repaint, install new carpet and sell their share of Aston in less than 2 years.

[germeezy1]

as germeezy pointed out,
FoMoCo probably COULD do it with not much more than a fingersnap

tho what I'd like to see is 2 of the coming Nano 2.7v6 be used for that...prolley 700hp with EB

(a straight six made from two 1.0EB's would be nice too...350hp?)

They already do make a V12 from two V6's, and even the amazing 7.3L Aston Martin V12 is at least loosely 37 Duratec based. I can not help but think that a 7.0 liter Quad Turbo with a nominal 730 hp, and 840 lb ft would make an amazing Aston Martin engine.

[megeebee]

Shame Ford didn't sell Lincoln to the Arabs and keep Aston Martin for their luxury division.

"The Arabs", as you put it, wouldn't want Lincoln. No one would, any more than Mercury. That's why Ford had to keep it and try to make the best of it. What would anyone want with a North America-only quasi-luxury name when they could have a storied and respected Global name of long standing like Aston Martin at a bargain-basement price? If I were Alan Mulally I'd have done the same thing.

[Xenon]

Whatever happened to Ford's 777 project? Since Ford has no use for it, they might as well let Aston Martin have it.

[eaton53]

Ironically their current V12 is for all intents and purposes two Duratec V6's mated together with a bespoke block.

Does this mean when I get my Aston (used Astons are cheap!!) I can take it to the Ford dealer for the $19.99 Oil Change Special?

[ChevyRules]

Shame Ford didn't sell Lincoln to the Arabs and keep Aston Martin for their luxury division.

Investment groups don't build or sell anything. These guys will repaint, install new carpet and sell their share of Aston in less than 2 years.

Aston is too high up to replace Lincoln. Having Aston enter "affordable" luxury would ruin the brand. Ford should have kept Jaguar and sold Lincoln to Tata. Then Ford could have kept Aston as Jaguar and Aston could share components on the high end to help keep costs down.

[AMERICA 123]

JLR +AM for the possible win.....

You know, don't like sayin' it at all, but looking at it coldly, Toyota should take a lookie see - could give them something they themselves don't have and never will.

Or maybe Honda....... or......Nissan..... or someone in China...... or ..... HK........ or.... * takes deep breath * or GM.

Corvette + Cadillac + AM .......... might be a winner done right.

Including perhaps.... a '4' door Vette like AM.