Aston Martin Sold to Prodrive

And this time, it looks like it’s for real as according to a report from Daily Telegraph UK, the deal will be signed on Friday in Detroit. "It's a done deal. All that remains is to cross the t's and dot the i's," quoted an unnamed senior source to the newspaper. The buyer is a consortium of business interests from America and the Middle East, led by David Richards, head of the UK motor sport organisation Prodrive.

We remind you that Prodrive has been a long-term partner of the British sports car maker and it runs Aston Martin's racing team. As for the price, it is rumoured that the deal will close at around 500m BP (1bil USD or 750m EUR) meaning that Ford has cut its expectations to half of what it was asking for Aston Martin when it put the British company up for sale last year
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njshift - 3/8/2007 9:19:15 AM

+2 Boost

Smart move for Ford.

dumpsty - 3/8/2007 9:33:27 AM

+1 Boost

If this is real, I'm sure ProDrive worked in some options to utilize existing materials and equipment for a period of time.

Will the current Jaguar concepts become a reality now that there's a new owner?

urbansouljah - 3/8/2007 9:58:34 AM

+1 Boost

Well the C-XF is just a concept version of the upcoming XF sedan so that concept is being made into a real car.

truecarlover - 3/8/2007 9:40:43 AM

+1 Boost

I wonder how this will affect the company overall? How much of their funding for R&D and such like come from Ford? I doubt the cars share many components with other cars in the Ford group - but I'm not really sure. I do think it's important for the industry to have Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Bentley, Lamborghini etc. functioning - even though they are small - it livens up the industry. Though Porsche is the only independent one because if I'm not mistaken Ferrari is part of the Fiat group.

Agent63 - 3/8/2007 9:56:54 AM

+1 Boost

Since ProDrive is a long term partner and company that runs the Aston Martin racing team this is only great news for Aston Martin!. This will mean they will be more focused on what they are building instead of having so many financial problems coming from former parent company Ford. Now Aston Martin can come up with a new breed of A.M's with new pedigree and influence from it's A.M Racing Team. At least I hope.

This is also a good move by Ford which means they can put less funding into the super/luxury car brand and focus on their house brands more. It's a win win situation for both.

I wonder what the next wave of Aston's will look like in comparison to it's now former cousin, the XK and XKR models from Jaguar.

-Agent63

VinnyP - 3/8/2007 5:25:27 PM

+1 Boost

I swear I read somewhere that the Aston martin designer is the person who designed the XK, they do look similar you have to admit...but your a jag expert...whatever merit that holds ?? so whatever, I say its a blessing for jag to be associated with Aston, rather than ford.

matt635 - 3/8/2007 10:16:22 AM

+1 Boost

I hope Prodrive brands it's F1 entry as ASTON MARTIN F1

EvoAudi - 3/8/2007 10:52:57 AM

+1 Boost

yay crazy differential exploration for AM

Westside7th - 3/8/2007 1:59:40 PM

+2 Boost

So the title of this article is wrong and the sale is still incomplete.

no1listensanyway - 3/8/2007 5:35:34 PM

+1 Boost

I saw DB9 on the way to the mall two days ago, what beautiful piece of machinery.

Lexus - 3/8/2007 5:41:40 PM

+1 Boost

Vinnyp, yes you are correct, the design for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage left AM and work for Jaguar. That the reason why the XK/XK-R look very similar to the AM.

AMguy - 4/20/2007 5:53:16 PM

+1 Boost

"VinnyP" and "Lexus".....you are both mistaken on your knowledge of who designs cars for Aston and who designs for Jaguar. Ian Callum designed the Aston DB7 over a decade ago and is now working for Jaguar designing the current jag models. Ian Callum has had nothing to do with Astons in the current model range. The Vantage and other new and upcoming Astons are under the design direction of Marek Reichman.......SO, NO, the Jag was not designed by the same guy that designed the DB9 or the Vantage

EnnNorak - 3/8/2007 6:23:39 PM

0 Boost

Hopefully , Aston Martin's sales will increase now that the brand is no longer contaminated by its perceived (or real) association with the lesser brands of it's former owners. I recall, decades ago, that Aston Martin used to make fabulous engines using exotic materials like lead-bronze engine bearings and maybe even chrome-moly cylinder liners -- I believe that none of this good stuff is currently found in the Ford parts bin. Ford could argue that current engines are superior because of the replacement of carburators with fuel injection for example; however, that is no excuse for abandoning the use of the most exotic materials for cars in that price range.

Lexus - 3/8/2007 6:43:20 PM

0 Boost

America is a great Country, but when it come the big 3 auto company, they alway do a half a$$ job. That the reason why they getting their a$$ kick by the Japanese, and Korean automakers.

Agent63 - 3/9/2007 1:34:57 AM

+1 Boost

jagexpert - 3/8/2007 3:18:57 PM

One again let me make this clear. The XK and XKR are not in any way related mechanicaly to the ASTONS! They do have similar engines due to that fact that the Jaguar engine was so dam good they developed it further for the ASTON. The cars are 100% completely different in architecture. GOT IT? GOOD

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Buddy what's with your "GOT IT? GOOD" ? i wasn't even saying Aston is the same as an XK. All I said it is now Aston's former cousin. The overall shape is similar. Never did I say it was mechanically related. GOT IT? GOOD. Slow your roll next time.

Westside7th - 3/9/2007 10:16:06 AM

+1 Boost

If it wasn't for Ford, Aston Martin would still be losing money and only making 700 cars a year.

And Lexus, your post has nothing to do with anything discussed on this page.

993Turbo - 3/16/2007 5:43:16 AM

+1 Boost

Good thing I didn't buy one!

993Turbo - 3/16/2007 5:43:48 AM

+1 Boost

Another 911 challenger bites the dust!

AMguy - 4/20/2007 5:57:03 PM

+1 Boost

Aston has not abondoned exotic materials, nor do they use anything out of the Ford's parts bin....Aston has their own Engine factory in Cologne Germany where they hand-build Aston Martin Engines.....when will everyone understand that Aston does not use ford engines or anything related to Jaguar?!?