BMW and Audi interested in buying McLaren Automotive
Discussion
MclaesLaren said:
I would prefer bmw in such a case. Vag has already Lamborghini.
BMW is interested in buying the road car business, Audi is interested in the F1 team (Audi and Porsche are currently in talks to enter F1 at some point).The BMW deal does seem somewhat plausible. BMW already has a Mclaren link through the Mclaren F1 engine and at one time there was even a deal on the table for BMW and Mclaren to cooperate on making more sportscars after the F1 (which fell through because Mclaren signed an F1 engine deal with Mercedes). And from the Mclaren side, they definitely could use the money.
I am not sure how Audi fits in, though. If BMW was willing to part with the F1 division and let Audi have it, there is no way it could continue to be called "Mclaren". So that would pretty much be it for the "Mclaren F1 team". I can't see that happening. And I also can't see how Audi would get the F1 division with rest of the Mclaren Group staying independent.
BMW is the obvious one they have nothing of their own to compete in the sector that McLaren does. Back when BMW made the best road car engines and their road cars were the.”Ultimate Driving machine” (certainly compared to the Audi and VW offerings) I could never understand why BMW didn’t try and launch some kind of mid-engined sports car.
Surely any deal for automotive is about McLaren gaining access to EV technology rather than the investors having to commit a lot money into internal development.
The answer BMW have given of the report is "wrong" is somewhat curious, maybe rather than acquisition the apparent meeting is to discuss the potential for technology/platform sharing? So access the McLaren's Monocell in return for a EV drivetrain?
The answer BMW have given of the report is "wrong" is somewhat curious, maybe rather than acquisition the apparent meeting is to discuss the potential for technology/platform sharing? So access the McLaren's Monocell in return for a EV drivetrain?
anonymous said:
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Given the success VW have had running Lamborghini, Porsche, Bugatti as separate brands; and when Fiat owned Ferrari you never saw a Fiat 328 or Ferrari Tipo, I would be surprised any buyer not keeping McLaren as a separate brand and product proposition. I just don’t see there being any people in the market for £150k+ new BMWs.
Taffy66 said:
Cheib said:
I could never understand why BMW didn’t try and launch some kind of mid-engined sports car.
They did. The M1Anyway BMW have said the report is “wrong” which presumably means they’re looking at something other than an outright purchase. If there was nothing in i there would be flat denial IMHO.
I think in reality with £700mil of debt the current shareholders would have to find someone with very deep pockets to take on that debt and pay them what they want.
The CEO left unexpectedly very recently so something is brewing.
Edited by Cheib on Sunday 14th November 23:10
Cheib said:
True but that was supposed to be a Lamborghini…I was really talking about the era of the 90’s and 2000’s. Cars like the E46 M3 and E39 M5 were head and shoulders ahead of anything else with engines of a quality only found in genuine sports cars.
Anyway BMW have said the report is “wrong” which presumably means they’re looking at something other than an outright purchase. If there was nothing in i there would be flat denial IMHO.
I think in reality with £700mil of debt the current shareholders would have to find someone with very deep pockets to take on that debt and pay them what they want.
The CEO left unexpectedly very recently so something is brewing.
BMW are and have been for a very long time one of my most admired car makers. I have owned a few before my obsession with Porsche began and IMO their under the skin engineering build quality is at a higher level compared to Porsche. Based on what they've achieved with Rolls Royce they would be the ideal parent company for McLaren. They have the nous based on RR to achieve a balance between financial assistance and leaving the McLaren's brilliant Automotive engineers the required freedom to express their ambitions into developing world beating road cars.Anyway BMW have said the report is “wrong” which presumably means they’re looking at something other than an outright purchase. If there was nothing in i there would be flat denial IMHO.
I think in reality with £700mil of debt the current shareholders would have to find someone with very deep pockets to take on that debt and pay them what they want.
The CEO left unexpectedly very recently so something is brewing.
Edited by Cheib on Sunday 14th November 23:10
In fact if BMW did buy McLaren Automotive it would be enough for me personally to switch allegiance from Porsche as I already love the cars, just my lack of confidence in the current management prevents me from doing so.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
The Artura engine 'allegedly' has BMW designed and sourced pistons and cylinder heads while the block is Ricardo. BMW and McLaren fell out big time after the F1 when they developed the Mercedes / McLaren SLR. I doubt very much there would be any deeper tie up with BMW which they have confirmed anyway. Edited by Bispal on Monday 15th November 10:25
More in CAR mag https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/industry-ne...
sounds like McLaren owners are pro-actively looking to sell the business if they can.
One factor that could help McLaren is that under the cost cap, their F1 team should become a profitable business in the future in the way it hasn't been to date - F1 can just gradually reduce the cap until it's under the income of a high-profile team like McLaren. If you believe that, then now might be a good time to acquire an F1 team - as well as the attraction of the road car business.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-financ...
Autocar said:
Audi has bought McLaren in a deal that gives the German manufacturer complete control over the whole group and secures it an entry into Formula 1, Autocar understands.
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