Say it isn’t true: VW to sell Lambo and Bugatti after Porsche takes over

WHAT??? NO!!!

And isn't it Audi's decision to keep Lamborghini? THEY own Lamborghini, not VW!!! And Porsche shouldn't have a say in the matter!

I thought that by VW owning Audi then they also owned Lambo.

Indirectly, yes.

That sucks, Lambo was finally going to get the respect they deserved by having Porsche as their owner. But I guess if it's good for business.

I will buy Lamborghini for $1 and Bugatti for £1.50. Take it or leave it....

the veyron is indead like concord, the last of its kind. maybe w/ the take over, porsche will give is a double decker (airbus 380) cayanne/toureg.

Wow, VW and Porsche will make a mistake.... I guess Porsche is scared to have any competition....unlike GM whose every brand competes directly against the other! Sad for Bugatti and Lamborghini, though I don't care as much about Bugatti, Lamborghini is a fav of mine since I was a child.... Maybe a fine suitor can buy them if that happens.

I have a feeling that there aren't many companies that can do such a good job with Lambo as Audi did. I really hope this doesn't happen. Bugatti, they can sell off- the Veyron is amazing but it's lost them billions. Lamborghini is profitable, I believe, and its cars are just stunning. It adds so much prestige to the lineup.

Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi... think about it.

I agree, porsche would be smarter to keep lambo. after all, what lambo models compete with porsche? maybe the LP640 and the GT, but the GT is all but laid to rest at this point. why go through the hassle of selling lambo and investing billions into redesigning higher end sports performers under the porsche name?

hell, if you own lambo, just use the same platforms, redesign the exterior a bit and throw a porsche crest on them.

but i guess the next question would be, who will buy lambo? man, I wish I had a couple billion in the bank...

Despite the move to sell off Bugatti and Lambourghini, Porsche Gmbh can concentrate on its own products and that of VW. I always argued that companies like Bugatti and Lambourghini should be Independent, just like Ferrari, Porsche itself, MB, and BMW.

Finally now, that it happenned recently to Aston Martin. Sport car company Independence will benefit Lambourghini and Bugatti and, in my opinion, create better-oriented products without product sharing from lesser brands.

Yes product / technology sharing from 'lesser' brands hasn;t helped huh? Prior to influx of VW cash when was the previous Bugatti? Remember? And Lambo has only gained something called everyday driveability and reliability a second model and interest in a 3rd. I guess these are things that only lesser brands (with cash) can offer. Unfortunately 2000 unit brands cannot stand alone make money given manufacturing, engineering, marketing, etc, etc.

Before VW, Bugatti was nonexistent, and Lamborghini was bankrupt (for what, the fifth time?). Being as small and expensive to operate as they are, Bugatti and Lamborghini need VW and Audi to thrive. Lambo would no longer be able to afford designing such fabulous sports cars, and Bugatti would be dead in the water. I'm scared. I hope Wiedeking changes his mind- he's evil!

I dont know how reliable of a rumor this is. I have not heard anything to suggest that VW group accepted the low take over bid. It seems Porsche has been planning to keep their 31% if the bid we've seen says anything at all. If this should be the case, I dont see why VW would have to do any of the above mentioned.

OK I'm gonna buy Bugatti just say the price!

Porsche taking over, hopefuly VW's quality will start getting better.

BMWKing - you are quite ignorant. Audi owns Lamborghini and they are to ones who brought Lamborghini to the level they are today. If you read this month's Automobile Magazine on page 30 - the president and CEO of Lambo says himself in the interview that it has been hard for them to meet the standards that Audi has put on them - and that is what pushed them forward. So stop being a fool - you make BMW fans look bad!! As for this story - it is just a rumor - nowhere is it even confirmed that Porsche is taking over all of VW - and if they do - decisions change all of the time in companies so who knows what they will do. Porsche people are good business people and don't have too big egos (except Ferdinand Piech) so I don't think they would let ego cause them to make a decision like that. As a matter of fact - doesn't Fiat control Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati?? I don't hear any of them complain. We can all deal with it IF it proves true.

Apparently, Weideking has a pretty big ego. He routinely brings tension to VW board meetings with his entourage, always getting into heated arguments with Piech and Winterkorn about their "toy" brands. Family arguments can be harsh.

If Porsche is getting rid of Bugatti and Lamborghini they are cowards and scared that they won't be the only supercar maker. If it's all about funding they should keep Lamborghini and Bugatti.

Worst comes to worst I just hope that if Bugatti and Lamborghini are sold that their quality hasn't been compromised. I will still love their cars. It's also too bad these two great companies aren't secure like Ferrari and Maserati are.

The Autocar article never mentions the notion of Bugatti being sold but instead transformed into a different role. Lamborghini does not fit in the grandscheme with Porsche as a parent company.

Truecarlover, As for Audi's ownership of Lamborghini, you have to consider than Volkswagen has great influence in Audi. I do agree with you; Porsche's ownership over Volkswagen is not yet confirmed. So we have to wait and sit out because you cannot read too much into articles like Autocar's.

They are part owners but not owners with enough power to get rid of Lamborghini.

You are right though. Two supercar automakers can not co-exist. Too much conflicts.

I think that Porsche should stay independant and leave everything as it is because it seems that most of VW AG's brands are doing quite well. However in the fast paced world MONEY is everything.

that would be bad news, VW has done a great job with both brand, yes I would rather have a Gallardo than a 911

This is all speculation. You have to take it for what it is worth and see how everything pans in the end. Also the article is three months old, as in the world of business plans for tomorrow probably have already changed.

I think the idea of Bugatti as an ultra-exclusive coachbuilder isn't downgrading the operations. As if the Bugatti wasn't exclusive enough; how many Veyrons have been allocated, how many orders are still unfulfilled, and what is the maximum that will be built?

If Bugatti indeed turns into a coachbuilder what kind of vehicles will they produce? Will it be one-offs or a standard line-up similar to that of Morgan Motor Company? Traditionally coachbuilders use wood along with metals yet that goes against Bugatti ideals, so will Bugatti maintain its image by as a cutting-edge technology manufacturer by employing more exotic materials in their coachbuilding mantra?

I read that Bugatti would probably do coachbuilt one-offs. I think the Veyron will quite easily become a classic halo car, revered for generations, but they need to stop flushing money down the toilet on an unprofitable brand and just keep Bugatti as a relatively inexpensive company. They don't need marketers- it would be a coach brand. Even so, the Veyron will market for them. If someone wants a $200K car that nobody else has, they can look to Bugatti, the maker of the Veyron. It's good bait.

And they should NOT sell Lamborghini. After all Audi has done for them, it would sadden me deeply to see them get into trouble again... or worse: maybe someone will make their cars boring...

VW should buy Toyota so they can get the Sienna minivan in the lineup since they won't bring back the Microbus.

Dumbest post today?

bmw should buy lamborghini and then commission lambo to make m1 circa 2010. it'll be like e26 m1 again! :D jk jk

Smart move, they have way too many conflicting brands..I mean Bentley serves as competition for Maybach(Mercedes) and Rolls Royce(BMW), Bugatti(if downgraded) will serve as compeition for Ferrari and Mclaren(Mercedes)..They have the Audi to compete against Mercedes,BMW,Lexus and have VW to compete against mass produced cars..And ofcourse Porsche..It just doesnt make sense to have Lambo in the big picture..

This rumor apeared a few months ago, meanwhile in one of the interviews gave by the new VW director (Martin Wintertork or whatever) he said that VW was keeping both brands!!!

This comes down to business.

I think Audi helped Lamborghini, but now that they've improved Lambo's business processes and hijacked some great engine technology, the honeymoon is over.

Both had fun while it lasted, no regrets, learned from the other, but it's time for them to see other people.

This news is from Janurary 2007, the more recent news from autocar was February stating just the opposite

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/224164/