DOOOO WHAT?

Hmhh Interesting.

I am waiting on something offical from ford though.

I am speechless.

Oh wait I got.

This is the equivalent of Wal-Mart buying GM and Target buying Volkswagen.

Atleast your Vantage will come with some nice matched luggage… Unfortunately the motor mounts were upgraded to fine Italian leather. Not sure how this will shake out….

That’s cool, because Mr. Vuitton will be able to contribute a lot of R&D to upcoming vehicles.

I dunno about this.

uhhhhhhhh….wtf?!

its the end of aston as we know it. too bad, they make what are probably the best looking cars on the road.

if they make the cars for drivers as well as they do purses for women, then this may work out rather well… but then again, there are not many similarities between making a purse and a car… we’ll just have to wait and see.

OH NO!!!

do you get a matching purse too? and i just started to fall in love with the new austin martins. this is one sad day for auto enthusiasts, i cant believe it, a womens accessories designer to screw up a fantastic car. will the interiors look like luggage, will the drivers sunvisor be enlarged to fit a make up mirror, will the cupholders accomodate compacs?

Actually, LVMH(I think)is this big multi brand luxury company. My guess is that they will be ‘hiring’ the right automotive people to handle Aston Martin.

What’s icky is if Ford sold Aston Martin to the highest bidder as a opposed to the most qualified.

Ford still has a 15% stake in Aston so its not like they have given up everything in the company.

?

I already thought Aston Martins were the ass getting-est cars on the road. Hell, after this purchase, they might as well use Spanish Fly ArmourAll on the tires and dash.

We have reached new heights in “bizarre” today.
This could work though: if they stick to the leather on the car seats – I need good back support, I need comfort when I’m drivin, damn it!

it makes sense, aston martins are more fashion statements then a performance car

It could be good, LV might just stay hands off, leave the people who build cars in charge and cut the administrative nonsense.

You guys are all nuts. I went shopping today and saw a set of Porsche kitchen knives. Do you seriously think anyone that has anything to do with Porsche motor cars had anything to do with those knives. Ipso facto…..

Great, now their masculine cars will be outfitted with feminine interiors that have a stench of perfume. Nice move Aston Martin (sarcasm). Economically it makes sense that the largest luxury goods conglomerate invests into luxury cars. Meanpants555’s, you are correct in thinking that LVMH is a multi-brand company, they make purses, Henessy Liquor(s), TAG watches, perfume, and other expensive items.

I agree with meanpants555, obviously they’re going to hire the best people for cars. I can bet not everyone who works in MHLV knows about purses or champagne, they have special people for each of their areas. And they’re known for being the best in each of them, so I think they’ll do a good job with aston martin, anyone can do better than ford.

it was the other way around LVMH, sorry

Somewhat concerned here.

Bizzare, but I hope the dumb people here don’t go off on little illogical rants, like CTS Drive up there. I’m sure that LV will still employ the best people for the job, they’re not going to stick “purse” people on this one, so lets not say such idiotic things. Can’t wait for GM#1’s comment, it’s going to insult LV for being feminine or something to that extent, and for being European, and then make a macho comment, and of course a G6/In flames Toyota comment…ahh i can see it now

noooooo!
If they take aston out of racing I will be forced to start burning every louis baton (I know, spelling) I see

calm down lambo i was just joking like the rest of the people here, im sure austin will be better than ever, lv will have time to focus on one car brand wheras ford would have let austin go down the drain eventually. This will be good for austin not to be blended with jaguar styling, as it is they are starting to look a little too similar,and i am definately glad it wasnt cherry or shainghai motors that bought it. its just too easy to joke about it you have to at least admit that.:)

and by the way, thanks for only calling me dumb, i see llv is starting to get a little more mature, i was expecting alot of profanities.

Actually dont look at Louis Vuitton look at the main guy behind them Bernard Arnault. I think AM is in good hands. Keep in mind, he was one of TIMES top 100 people that change our lives.

Jamey dont be ignorant, the French love racing, since the early Rallies of the 1900’s. Look at F1,Indy, and WRC drivers, most of them are French hehe.

Louis Vitton, Mary Kay….who cares who bought Aston Martin….. at least Ford is getting the money. Not much to stop the bleeding, but its a start.

Next step– SELL THE JAGUAR!!!

I think this is very good news. LV will definately add class and style to aston martin interiors. Also they can cooperate with Ford which has a 15% stake on aston. This will be very interesting BRAVO!

Is anyone else scared?

We will just have to see how it pans out, there is no use making predictions out of stereotypes. look at lambo they started out as a tractor company look at them now.

i can predict some pretty terrible interiors from here on out

All I can say is this. LV is a conglomerate of “luxury” brands. Their business model is built around customers that purchase Aston Martins. Using the same market research, they have the potential of turning out some pretty good products. Quality? Who knows. It should be interesting.

Louis Vutton/Hennesy/Moet is a company that obviously knows how to make money, by selling to a select and wealthy clientele. They will probably keep Aston’s current management and engineers in place, because these people already know the product. As for the silliness about LV lined interiors is concerned, LVHM has somehow resisted stuffing Moet bottles with handbags, or putting shots of Hennesy in Luis Vutton luggage. These people know their businesses, and there will probably be little crossover. In the event of crossmerchandising, a set of LV luggage, or golf bags would go perfectly with an expensive British touring car.

I’m not sure what to think of this. I thing LV will keep management in their place, as mentioned on here before. I wonder if Ford will have a lot of say in what happens or if they’ll mainly help out with development. Next to a Ford GT, the Aston Martins are my dream cars. Glad to hear Ford got some much-needed cash to help out. Too bad they didn’t unload Jaguar. Although, I really like that new Jaguar concept.

By the way, Bob Lutz is a putz!

I would have to agree with those that think that Aston is in good hands. LVMH will allow AM to still do business as they always do. Further LVMH is a luxury good conglomerate and Aston Martin should fit in well with their current portfolio.

W T F !!!!!!!!!!!!!????????

I know what this means for LVMH… I have no idea what it means for Aston Martin.

I agree that retaining a 15% stake is a good idea, but is it enough for Ford to push through the R&D and other projects they have been pursuing (i.e. Rapide and DBRS9) to fruition? And is this the end of AM in Bond flicks? Guess we will have to wait and see..

Now Ford just needs to sell Lincoln to Bill Blass in order to regain profitability!

its better than aston staying with ford 100% and eventually getting screwed because they dont know how to run things. more than likely the same people will continue working for aston martin so i donty think a drop in quality should be expected

If they do keep the same management team, why is this a bad thing? It just means its now in the hands of a currently much more profitable group, with all likelihood continuing in the same design direction before. All products of LVMH have high quality in common. Maybe we might even see the Ford Group switchgear removed, which is definitaly not a bad thing.

Do you think its any more relevant if James Packer, one of the rival bidders, got it? His family owns a media group which has far less in common. Same goes for any of the numerous private equity rival bidders.

Bond…James Bond, and I did I show you my matching Louis Vuitton luggage accessories?

bond wont have another aston so who cares hahaha he gets a jaguar what a pussmobile

Vuitton monogram package, $25K… Taiga leather seats, $10K… I can see this would be immensely popular with some upper class groups. Seriously though, being independent from Ford may benefit Aston as it may be able to purchase some technology outside Ford’s group. Magneride would be a nice addition…

Oh no. Makers of over-priced handbags have ABSOLUTELY NO business owning and/or running a car company.

hmm… it’s a free market… however, I don’t see a whole lot of parts-sharing going on here… maybe Citroen or Peugot or Renault can provide the engines…

However, those guys don’t win too many Ward’s awards for their motors.

I see this as good news. Louis Vuitton is all about quality, so you can bet that that’ll translate to their new “car department.” I believe they’ll hire the right people to manage the brand and keep it pretty separate from their purse department, save for maybe some occasional marketing/PR stunts. Much better than being owned by Ford, which doesn’t seem to care about quality products as much as they ought to.

Theyll build their own engines… ford doesnt supply them now… name another ford vehicle with a V12 sports motor in it.

ROFL F451 haha lol

“Another”? you mean “any” FORD right. They have a kickin’ 6L v10 they could put into production.. Anyway, LV makes luxury merchandise… now they are also into making luxury sports cars. And besides FORD is still a part owner. This should still mean they can slowly but back AM over time, much like their creeping ownership of MAZDA.

Besides, I’m sure that AM will actually do well. Low volume and high price tend to do quite well. and maybe next time we will have Bond in an AM again.

What…The…..F*ck?

it wouldn’t look good for ford if a purse maker would do a better job than ford

I can’t wait till an LV edition Aston hits the road. It’ll be the ultimate “pimp my ride” mobile. Just think of all the guys on Mtv that added LV aftermarket upholstery to their rides. Now they can get it straight from the factory. I think they’ll sell a ton of them to the rich hip-hop market.

Well thats sort of good news, don’t really like the french, but as long as the saudi’s don’t get it.

We’ll now see it the stocks hold up.

Coming soon to a rap video near you…

LV cars are coming…great!

It’s great. The LV people are marketing geniuses. They know how to get great brand recognition without diluting the perceived value of the brand. it’s going to be a great opportunity for Aston

GREAT!!!!! The new Louis Vuitton Don ride is here. Man imagine these cars with Louis Vuitton seats and leather trim. its gonna be cool. like it.

oh and they design cool items so theres no reason Aston is gonna make ugly cars after this. maybe even better.

Where’s the news today leftlane?

I’m sorta glad That AM will be an independent ” motorcar ” company.Their being able top buy the best parts should strengthen the breed. And clearly these cars have be relegated as luxury items long ago.So the ability of being able to market align them as such will be a good fit for all involved. And although I love the German cars too . . . isn’t it nice NOT to see ANOTHER part of British car history in their hands? Lets see how a French corporation will do this time with Britons remains.

Looks like Automotive news has been slow here at LLN.

this is going to be interesting.

um no, BLAKKARR, i mean ANOTHER ford, not ANY ford, as the aston martin is still a ford, and its V12 is not shared with ANOTHER ford product.

My fault CTS DRIVER I did jump on you a little too soon

LV – just don’t make it heavier or less sporty in any way. It’s already too heavy. Make it lighter.

the 6L V12 is based on two 3L Ford V6 blocks slapped together. Ford and Mazda and Jaguar (and everyone else basically) all use variations on the same Ford 3.0L V6. not that that is a bad thing… the same engine is twin turbo’d and worked over to be used in the Noble as well.

like the Noble… it is modified considerably from the source… but to pretend the engine is 100% OG Aston Martin design is seriously misinformed.

I think it’s an awesome match. The two companies have such great synergies.

Great, now we’ll be getting Astons coming out with hand bag holders and mirrors everwhere in the car. This SUCKS

Theres soo much negativity on this site. I think it’s great someone with $$ bought Aston as opposed to Ford draggin them down with their 12.7 Billion a year loss. A few months ago LLN had a story about a Versace Edition Lambo Murcielago LP640, it had a gorgeous interior and was atill lambo through and though. Even if they get slightly more expensive because of a nicer interior and possibly matching luggage. Ferrari includes luggage with almost every car and those are probably more expensive than anything Louis Vuitton would supply. So everyone just grow up, and wait and see what the next Aston is like…..

Shows how much Ford valued Aston. That’s a BOLD MOVE. I’m sure LMVH has a long and rich history in coachbuilding…Can’t wait to see the LV Aston Martin knockoffs in Chinatown.

Good for Ford. They need the cash, so this is a welcome sale.

My fault CTS DRIVER I did jump on you a little too soon

Comment by LamborghiniZ, posted on February3 at
i dont care what they say about you bro, you are a stand up kind of guy, you have my respest bro

hi deantj, bringing some spice back huh?