Aston Martin Rapide Forum | rapideboard.comFor the upcoming BMW M5 competitor: the four-door Aston Martin Rapide. Only unveiled as a concept car, but will be launched in 2007. rapideboard.com
Subject to getting it done by year-end (a requirement of Ford), the buyer is French conglomrate LVMH (Louis Vittoun). There are several suitors (MBZ, BMW, Toyota, Hyundai); but a very knowledgable inside source says it's a "done deal" with LVMH. Don't ask me how I have this info; I can't tell you.
I'm relieved it isn't BMW. After what he did to BMW design, I can't imagine how badly Chris Bangle would destroy AM. Makes me sick to my stomach just to think about it.
Anyway, if true and it actually gets done, I suspect AM will remain a great brand and be well supported by LVMH. No car experience there; but top prestige and vast resources. 'Could be interesting.
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Dan
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Daily Driver
'02 M5 (Chiaretto Red Metallic w/black napa full heritage leather/wood trim/leather Euro cntr console/BSW speakers and sub) Sig series Dinan S/C'd S3 package/ Dinan S3 clutch-flywheel/Dinan high capacity oil cooler /Dinan forged aluminum wheels/Dinan SSK/Dinan - Brembo BBK/Stg 3 Dinan - JRZ suspension/monoballs/275-35-18 RA 1's all around
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The "Predator"
'02 996TT w/X50 (slate grey metallic w/full natural grey leather, small carbon package, aluminum trim pieces, exterior color painted wheels, etc, etc).
EVOMS Stage 4 (640hp/615tq)
PSS9 w/F&R H&R sways and EVOMS F&R shock tower braces
Sachs clutch and Porsche SSK
Toyo RA-1's 245/18 fronts; 305/18 rears
Last edited by DRM; 4th September 2006 at 00:04.
Reason: Clearer title
Very interesting!!! thanks for sharing your info.. Luis Vuitton have a good sense of brand value and are a nice company (the whole of LVMH). sounds still weird but I guess they see lots of business sense in that move
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Forza Ferrari, Kimi vs Schumi..
I'm relieved it isn't BMW. After what he did to BMW design, I can't imagine how badly Chris Bangle would destroy AM. Makes me sick to my stomach just to think about it.
Why would you have had any reason to believe Bangle would have any input into AM if BMW bought it. He doesn't have any input into Mini. Nor did he effect any design influences on Rover when it was under BMW control.
Good morning.
Im a Driveline development Engineer who spent several years working for Aston Martin on DB7 Vantage, Prototype Vanquish & V600 Le Mans.
I can say with reasonable confidence, that this aquisition, though big news in the paparazzi, has not been confirmed to me by any of my Engineering collegues working at the Gaydon site,
If proven to be true however, will be a disaster waiting to happen in the future.
I can confirm that of those private parties who are interested in AML , only one is an Automotive venture capitolist, who has just finished wrecking another British sports car manufacturer.
The other interested parties are agriculture & heavy construction vehicle based.
Farrell
Last edited by farrell; 17th September 2006 at 11:19.
Good morning.
Im a driveline Engineer who spent several years working for Aston Martin on DB7 Vantage, Prototype Vanquish & V600 Le Mans.
I can say with reasonable confidence, that this aquisition, which has not been confirmed to me by any of my Engineering collegues working at the Gaydon site, will be a disaster waiting to happen in the future.
I can confirm that of those parties who are interested in AML , only one is an Automotive venture capitolist, who has just finished wrecking another British sports car manufacturer.
The other interested parties are agriculture & heavy construction vehicle based.
Farrell
That would be a crying shame. However, my understanding is the current Chairman/CEO of AM is putting together this deal to buy from Ford; with the financial backing of LVMH. I'm crossing my fingers that it gets done and AM stays in the mgmt hands it's been in. It's just such a fine, fine car and I don't want to see it fu*ked up.
__________________
Dan
______________________________________________
Daily Driver
'02 M5 (Chiaretto Red Metallic w/black napa full heritage leather/wood trim/leather Euro cntr console/BSW speakers and sub) Sig series Dinan S/C'd S3 package/ Dinan S3 clutch-flywheel/Dinan high capacity oil cooler /Dinan forged aluminum wheels/Dinan SSK/Dinan - Brembo BBK/Stg 3 Dinan - JRZ suspension/monoballs/275-35-18 RA 1's all around
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The "Predator"
'02 996TT w/X50 (slate grey metallic w/full natural grey leather, small carbon package, aluminum trim pieces, exterior color painted wheels, etc, etc).
EVOMS Stage 4 (640hp/615tq)
PSS9 w/F&R H&R sways and EVOMS F&R shock tower braces
Sachs clutch and Porsche SSK
Toyo RA-1's 245/18 fronts; 305/18 rears
I agree 100% with your final statement.
I know that AML still rely heavily on the expertise of the Premier Automotive Group.
The Engineering centre resource resident at Gaydon is stronger than it has ever been..but the far reaching global resource that is Ford will be hard to replace.
There are many in the market place who like to tinker (read meddle)
Very few had the might & foresight of FoMoCo through Jac Nasser 's past dedication to give us the AML we have now.
06 M5 (Silver Gray/Walnut Madeira/Black Perf/all options/V1 hardwired/M40 enabled/Reus Audio upgrade package III) 
03 M5 (Carbon Black/Black/all options/80 Gig Phatbox/V1 Hardwired) - gone but not forgotten!
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Zipmeister
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