AM Future Plans

[DB9VolanteDriver]

So, FWIW, Automobile magazine interviewed the good Doctor and their take away, (including inferences) is:

New DB9 in 2013 (didn't say if that meant ready for the 2013 MY or released in 2013 as a 2014 model). Will move apart from the DBS to widen the gap between models.

DBS and Virage to also be more differentiated, but no timetable given.

Rapide needs seriously rethought packaging...it is a failure as a 4-seater as compared to the Panamera.

Vantage to move downscale to make it more affordable and again further differentiate with the V12 models.

V12 engine good till at least 2020.

MB engines are a good possibilty, especially the recently brought back to life inline 6 cylinder.

[steveatesh]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

So, FWIW, Automobile magazine interviewed the good Doctor and their take away, (including inferences) is:


Vantage to move downscale to make it more affordable and again further differentiate with the V12 models.

Hmm, does downscale mean down market ie cheaper to widen the pool of potential customers? I can see how they may sell more cars but not convinced thats good for the brand. devil is in the detail of course!

[yeti]

Hmm, all sounds positive - in so far as they at least have some ideas!

As mentioned above, hope the new Vantage doesn't get too cheap... Aston is a premium brand, doesn't need a brand new £40k car!!

[Murph7355]

yeti said:

...
As mentioned above, hope the new Vantage doesn't get too cheap... Aston is a premium brand, doesn't need a brand new £40k car!!

I'm thinking the new Jag is making them parp their pants.

And taking it up and away from that car to retain a premium price would ruin the cars above in the range (or lead to more expense improving them...which might prove tricky).

The devil will be in the detail as mentioned already. But I'll be shocked to see game changing, life saving stuff next year. I'm thinking the DBS will get Virage styling similarities and a minor boost in power. Not sure what to expect of the DB9

[krisdelta]

yeti said:

.....hope the new Vantage doesn't get too cheap... Aston is a premium brand, doesn't need a brand new £40k car!!

Maybe it does to survive financially? If you can hook in the folk early and keep their brand loyalty, there is a lot to be said for a financially accessible entry level model in my eyes.

It's never going to be on the Ford Focus scale, but I've only seen two other Aston Martins on the road in the last 3 months (besides the Brooklands meet).

[Neil1300R]

krisdelta said:

Maybe it does to survive financially? If you can hook in the folk early and keep their brand loyalty, there is a lot to be said for a financially accessible entry level model in my eyes.

It's never going to be on the Ford Focus scale, but I've only seen two other Aston Martins on the road in the last 3 months (besides the Brooklands meet).

Probably doesn't need to get that much cheaper - just needs to have a realistic list price. Dealers are offering brand new, no miles Vantages for £79,995.00 at the moment. Look in the classifieds and there are used ones for more than that. Just hope it doesn't mean using cheaper parts.

Was out in the Vantage on Sunday and saw 5 other Astons - but only one Ferrari

[steveatesh]

Neil1300R said:

Probably doesn't need to get that much cheaper - just needs to have a realistic list price. Dealers are offering brand new, no miles Vantages for £79,995.00 at the moment. Look in the classifieds and there are used ones for more than that. Just hope it doesn't mean using cheaper parts.

Was out in the Vantage on Sunday and saw 5 other Astons - but only one Ferrari

Seconded about the cheaper parts - the last thing AM want to risk is increasing failure rates of various parts. Not only is it expensive to put right but the damage to reputation would be significant IMHO. We already see "its a known issue" too frequently on this forum.

As part of their moving forward strategy they could do a lot worse than working feverishly on working with suppliers to improve their supply chain and assembly (eg thermostats, LED lights, outside thermometers, side strake chroming, door handle painting), improve "rubbing points" in the cabin maybe by reducing the number of individual mouldings on the dashboard for example, and then offering a longer warranty to provide differentiation with rivals. Yes expensive to implement but demonstrates confidence in their product and makes the whole ownership experience much better too. Mine has been marred by a series of minor faults, most of which seem to be quite common and although all corrected under warranty definitely have dented the first 2 years of ownership for me.

Plus would a cheaper downmarket Vanatge risk putting it in competetion with that new circa 50k jaguar that is coming out soon? Is that a fight AM can win if so?

Edited to add link to article OP refers to:

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1204_sn...

Edited by steveatesh on Thursday 1st March 10:36

[:J:]

Still the same price as always, rather than giving the dealer a V8 with 'some cash in the boot', they have just taken the cash off the price of the car. I guess all they have done is remove any offers the dealers could give ?

As Neil alluded to, dealers are selling brand new at £79,995 now. This will just be the price of the car from now on, IIRC ?

Where people are getting the idea of cheaper parts from, I do not know ?

Edited by :J: on Thursday 1st March 12:21

[yeti]

:J: said:

Where people are getting the idea of cheaper parts from, I do not know ?

OP says downscaling of the Vantage to make it affordable. One way of saving costs is to use cheaper parts. 2 and 2 does actually equal 4.

It's just speculation!

[yeti]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Rapide needs seriously rethought packaging...it is a failure as a 4-seater as compared to the Panamera.

I did wonder... what that would it be like if it had the V8 instead of the V12 and the resulting reduction in cost that appiles to V8 Vantage Vs DB9.

Competition with the Panamera and Quattroporte is tough. One is ugly but well built with a great reputation, the other is fast, beautiful, flaky but so cheap compared to the Rapide.

Rapide should have been (and still could be) badged as a Lagonda, been V8 powered with 400bhp and priced to compete with its rivals. No-one wants to be chauffeured in the back of a Rapide when you can be in the back of a Bentley

[cjm]

A Vantage with a merc straight 6 would downscale it from the v8 and give a model below the current range.

[JaseB]

Wonder if they'd stick the V8 in a DB9 to split it from the Virage!?

[jonby]

yeti said:

I did wonder... what that would it be like if it had the V8 instead of the V12 and the resulting reduction in cost that appiles to V8 Vantage Vs DB9.

Competition with the Panamera and Quattroporte is tough. One is ugly but well built with a great reputation, the other is fast, beautiful, flaky but so cheap compared to the Rapide.

Rapide should have been (and still could be) badged as a Lagonda, been V8 powered with 400bhp and priced to compete with its rivals. No-one wants to be chauffeured in the back of a Rapide when you can be in the back of a Bentley

They should have badged the rapide as a DB9-4 (for 4 door) which is effectively what it is and people wouldn't have had such unrealistic expectations. Or Badged it DB9L (long wheelbase) and kept it the same size but made it 2 door, so that it becomes a proper 2+2

By giving it 4 doors & a new name it was always going to be judged against the wrong stuff

As I see it, it's not trying to be a competitor for panameras or quattroportes - it's a DB9 with proper room in the back compared to the joke rear seats in the DB9/S

Now they are where they are however, IMO they should drop the rear seats on the DB9/S comletely to give better packaging for luggage (which is what the Ferrari 599/new F12 do) and then do a shooting brake style (I'm referencing Ferrari again I'm afraid - do it in the style of the FF but much much nicer in the way only Aston can do) with decent rear seats. That would be a proper competitor to the BEntley continentals

[Neil1300R]

Just read the article:-
"the next Vantage may move down a fraction in price and performance."
It doesn't need to have less performance!

Also:-
Aston Martin will replace its entire lineup, starting in 2013 with the DB9, which is its oldest car"
I thought the DBS was due for a replacement. Didn't RobGT / Molly GT post up about a conversation they had with Dr Bez about the new DBS? Can't find it though


Good to see though the thoughts / direction coming out of the factory.

[yeti]

Neil1300R said:

Aston Martin will replace its entire lineup, starting in 2013 with the DB9, which is its oldest car"
I thought the DBS was due for a replacement.

They might be referring to that particular wheelbase - the DBS >is< a DB9 with lots of small tweaks, it should only ever have been called the DB9-S or a DB9 Vantage IMHO. Or even DB9 X-Pack

Build the DB9 replacement and the DBS replacement comes off it. To quote an Aston mechanic when I was trying to find out whether the bonnets were interchangeable. When asked how the came up with the DBS body, they 'just bolted stuff on'

Any thoughts on names? DB10 which might suggest V10 hence avoiding DB8 as well - which also looked like a doule 'B' or maybe DB11? OR something beginning with a 'V' in the spirit of Vantage, Vanquish and Virage?

I'd buy an Aston Martin Velociraptor

Edited by yeti on Thursday 1st March 22:05

[Neil1300R]

Well this would suggest the next DBS won't be a DB9 with add ons / performance increases.

"The next DB9 will move further away from the DBS, which in turn must distance itself more from the Virage"

[yeti]

Neil1300R said:

Well this would suggest the next DBS won't be a DB9 with add ons / performance increases.

"The next DB9 will move further away from the DBS, which in turn must distance itself more from the Virage"

I really can't see there's any need to have a three car range at that level??

V8 430bhp DB9, 490bhp Virage, 550bhp DBS if they do..?

[steveatesh]

yeti said:

I'd buy an Astone Martin Velociraptor

Won't the DB9 replacement be called the Aston Martin Viagra for people of a certain age?

Okay, I'll get my coat........

[Ice27]

I did hear a rumour from a dealer of the return of Vanquish.
Maybe that would replace the DB 9 whilst still allowing room for DBS as another model?

[jonby]

Ice27 said:

I did hear a rumour from a dealer of the return of Vanquish.
Maybe that would replace the DB 9 whilst still allowing room for DBS as another model?

other way round surely

A new vanquish would top the range

There is some confusion however as to whether the new vanquish (which has been rumoured) is the same car as the new DBS which has also been talked about (and will have a different name to DBS regardless as they are dropping all the DB model names) or whether these are two separate cars


Either way as I say, I'd be surprised if any car called vanquish or 'new vanquish' would not top the range