RE: Will Aston Martin make SUVs?
Tuesday 13th March 2007
Fancy one with an AM grille?Is Aston Martin prepping to make an SUV?
Will Aston Martin make SUVs?
Bez' enigmatic comments hint at widening range
Fancy one with an AM grille?
During the press conference yesterday at which Ford announced that it was relinquishing ownership of AM to a consortium led by Prodrive boss David Richards, Aston's current and continuing CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez made reference to a car known as the DBX.
At the time, we assumed he meant the DBS. But what if he didn't? It was by no means clear what car he meant, and he wouldn't be drawn on what it might be, apart from saying that long-term growth would come from beyond the current range of cars.
But with Porsche now happily making SUVs and shed loads of cash as a result, and the brands being applied to all sorts of vehicles that would have been unthinkable only ten or so years ago, the possibility is that Aston Martin too is thinking along these lines.
How would an AM SUV sit with you? Or a people carrier...?
Discussion
pasthim said:
If it worked for Porsche and made them enough cash to develop sports cars further then why not? As much as many of us hate the Cayenne it's profits feed proper Porsches. An AM 4x4 could do the same and help secure the future of AM further.
Can't deny the logic, but it'd just feel so... dirty...
What if it has nothing to do with that at all...and is in fact a 2-seater Boxster/SLK rival??
Seems to me that similar financial gains and 'stability' would come from an affordable 2-seater. Likely to dilute the AM brand a little, but as soon as anything becomes 'more affordable' the exclusivity can be lost.
Seems to me that similar financial gains and 'stability' would come from an affordable 2-seater. Likely to dilute the AM brand a little, but as soon as anything becomes 'more affordable' the exclusivity can be lost.
bigmanszetec said:
I hope this rumour is just that.
OK, maybe the Cayenne did make some cash for Porsche to fund sports car, but for me it wrecked there image when they produced such an ugly lump. I really hope AM never go down this path.
OK, maybe the Cayenne did make some cash for Porsche to fund sports car, but for me it wrecked there image when they produced such an ugly lump. I really hope AM never go down this path.
I agree, but unfortunatly business is filled with descisions that are hard to stomach but neccessry.
Theres no doubt they need a more secure financial standing and this could be the way forward
I think it would be good to see a "pretty" AM SUV. Very few people liked the Cayenne's looks, but maybe Aston can pull something out the bag? It doesn't feel right, and I'd never want one myself... but I guess lots of people said that about the Cayenne.
The Cayenne was based on the Tourag/Q7 platform, would the AM SUV be developed from the ground up I wonder?
The Cayenne was based on the Tourag/Q7 platform, would the AM SUV be developed from the ground up I wonder?
This is wild speculation, surely.
It could be an SUV (which I find highly unlikely)
It could be the 2-seater I mentioned above (much more likely as it fits into the AM 'theme' and opens up the 'affordable' sportscar market occupied by the Boxster and SLK)
It could also be a genuine 'executive saloon' - think along the lines of the Mazzer Quattroporte - as opposed to the 'rapide'. (less likely as it would trample on the Rapide's market)
I would put my money on a 30-40k 2-seater at this stage.
It could be an SUV (which I find highly unlikely)
It could be the 2-seater I mentioned above (much more likely as it fits into the AM 'theme' and opens up the 'affordable' sportscar market occupied by the Boxster and SLK)
It could also be a genuine 'executive saloon' - think along the lines of the Mazzer Quattroporte - as opposed to the 'rapide'. (less likely as it would trample on the Rapide's market)
I would put my money on a 30-40k 2-seater at this stage.
Edited by PhantomPH on Tuesday 13th March 11:32
We would hope not; then again, you can't imagine them churning out an ugly motor - there isn't really a "cool" looking SUV on the market is there? Can imagine 007 would be pleased, do a bit of off-roading to catch those baddies...but could be worse- a few weeks ago it looked like Aston Martin were going to be making a sideline in handbags! 
Suckmychrsitmas said:
If it generates cash, then why not? (Yes, it will offend the purists, but rather the marque survive and continue making decent sports cars than fade into obscurity because it lacks the requisite funds to invest in new cars.)
I must begrudgingly (did i spell that right???) agree. I hate the Cayenne with a passion, but if it serves to give Porsche the money to make more 911s then I can deal with it. Should this DBX SUV happen I won't like it (don't care how it looks, SUVs don't sit well with me at all) but if it sells well and gives Aston the capability to make new and even more wonderful sportscars then that's all well and good.
Day one of the new ownership and already they are talking about SUVs and 4x4 off-roaders, what the FECK!!!!
I think they must have drunk too much champagne yesterday.
Aston is a sports car manufacturer and should stay that way. So what if Porsche built a SUV... have you seen it? One of the most ugly cars in the world, and the only reason it is making money is becuase so many fecking chavs and wags are buying them.
I think they must have drunk too much champagne yesterday.
Aston is a sports car manufacturer and should stay that way. So what if Porsche built a SUV... have you seen it? One of the most ugly cars in the world, and the only reason it is making money is becuase so many fecking chavs and wags are buying them.
sdw2003 said:
Day one of the new ownership and already they are talking about SUVs and 4x4 off-roaders, what the FECK!!!!
No they are not. This is an absolute non-news story written by someone with nothing better to do.
It may as well say "Aston to build Concorde replacement????", as it's based on no fact other than Bez referred to 'DBX'.
sdw2003 said:
Day one of the new ownership and already they are talking about SUVs and 4x4 off-roaders, what the FECK!!!!
NO THEY ARE NOT.
Bez referred to the DBx... he did NOT say anything about an SUV.
The "story" is complete conjecture... clearly with TVR down the pan, attentions for fabrications have to be steered elsewhere...
Christ... might as well run an "exclusive" on the forthcoming Focus RS...
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