What is Aston Martin up to? - Page 117

bludvl_x19 · 1 Jun 2011, 12:40 (Ref:2889362)

Are AM still owned by Ford?

Assuming an answer in the positive, is it impossible that they could use the 4.0L I6 that Ford Australia fit to the Falcon? It is a reliable* turbo engine that in Typhoon guise puts out 310kW, in a reliable state of tune for the road. Surely another couple of hundred kilowatts could be found if long term (more than 100000kms) reliability wasn't needed.

Just putting it out there....

* albeit for road use

Fogelhund · 1 Jun 2011, 13:05 (Ref:2889379)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bludvl_x19

Are AM still owned by Ford?

A

No, they aren't still owned by Ford, though they do maintain a less than 10% share holding in the company they sold off in 2007.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/12/i...r-925-million/

MitchZ06 · 1 Jun 2011, 13:05 (Ref:2889380)

Nope, no longer owned by Ford iirc.

Tim the Grey · 1 Jun 2011, 13:57 (Ref:2889402)

Owned by a Kuwaiti investment corporation, I believe. Fronted by DPR as chairman.
I thought Ford retained a 16% share?
Whatever, FoMoCo have no controlling interest in the place.
As an aside, Jag/LRover and AML share a site over in Gaydon that's an old RAF base(The first place used to train V bomber crews, if it's of any interest) and the border disputes are interesting. To get IN to AML, you have to pass through a lot of JLR territory. The old AML management car park is now locked and unused, as it's on the 'other' side of the fence...
It's all very confusing!

The Badger · 1 Jun 2011, 15:59 (Ref:2889452)

So , That makes Aston Martin a Kuwaiti brand & company then ?!?!?!

Gingers4Justice · 1 Jun 2011, 16:35 (Ref:2889468)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

So , That makes Aston Martin a Kuwaiti brand & company then ?!?!?!

It most certainly doesn't, it is a British sportscar company! Burn the witch!!

GT6 · 1 Jun 2011, 19:45 (Ref:2889580)

I would agree ginger but in the UK badgers are a protected species unless the farmers get to cull them

The Badger · 1 Jun 2011, 21:01 (Ref:2889626)

Ok , Kuwaiti owned British Sportscar Company then .

But if its owned by another country , doesnt the company adopt the identity of the owner , legaly ?

Hey , anyone know any law out there ?

pederb · 1 Jun 2011, 22:27 (Ref:2889682)

Is Ford still making the engines?

chernaudi · 1 Jun 2011, 23:38 (Ref:2889714)

On the Mulsanne's Corner facebook page, there's a graph showing the shift/gear change times between the Aston, Pug and Audi at Monza, with the Aston having the longest gaps between gear changes, and the Audi the shortest.

AstonGeoff · 2 Jun 2011, 07:21 (Ref:2889780)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

Ok , Kuwaiti owned British Sportscar Company then .

But if its owned by another country , doesnt the company adopt the identity of the owner , legaly ?

Hey , anyone know any law out there ?

Surely a company takes the nationality of the country where it's registered office is? Which in AML's case is bound to be in the uk somewhere, Gaydon or Newport Pagnell maybe.

Actually to say that AML is Kuwaiti owned is not entirely correct, they may be the majority shareholders, but Ford, David Richards, and some other Americans I believe also hold shares, but I may be wrong. So like many non-privately owned companies they have shareholders dotted around the world. How do you decide the nationaility of any company that has shares issued and purchased by individuals and organisations around the world?

In the case of Lotus of course it is easy as they are wholly owned by Proton, and for MG as they are wholly owned by some Chinese lot.

Steptoe · 2 Jun 2011, 10:34 (Ref:2889896)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstonGeoff

Surely a company takes the nationality of the country where it's registered office is? Which in AML's case is bound to be in the uk somewhere, Gaydon or Newport Pagnell maybe.

Don't forget 'Feltham' !

I agree with whats been said before......... overseas backing but without a doubt a British Car Company.

The Badger · 2 Jun 2011, 11:16 (Ref:2889914)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstonGeoff

Surely a company takes the nationality of the country where it's registered office is? Which in AML's case is bound to be in the uk somewhere, Gaydon or Newport Pagnell maybe.

How do you decide the nationaility of any company that has shares issued and purchased by individuals and organisations around the world?

Good point about where its registered .

So , like Lola . Its Irish owned (Martin Birrane) but a British engineering company ?

AstonGeoff · 2 Jun 2011, 11:52 (Ref:2889932)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steptoe

Don't forget 'Feltham' !

AML don't have a factory or anything in Feltham anymore, I was only listing their current locations, whilst ignoring Milton Keynes (Stores Dept)

AstonGeoff · 2 Jun 2011, 11:56 (Ref:2889933)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

Good point about where its registered .

So , like Lola . Its Irish owned (Martin Birrane) but a British engineering company ?

I reckon so. Now if Lola were moved lock, stock and barrel to Ireland then they would become Irish.

IMHO a company only stops being British once the product is no longer made here, hence Dyson (the vacuum cleaners, not the American racers) are no longer truly British.

Tim the Grey · 2 Jun 2011, 12:04 (Ref:2889940)

Hmmm. German V12 or Welsh V8.
Gearbox from, erm, Germany, I think?

It's perilously close to not being English any more! They NEED that new engine, and fast...

Victor_RO · 2 Jun 2011, 16:07 (Ref:2890043)

Video from the AMR-One's test at Monza...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok9s8aEyv3w

All I can say is... blimey. When that engine runs, it actually sounds brilliant. Didn't think I'd say this, but it almost rivals the V12.

Simmi · 2 Jun 2011, 16:50 (Ref:2890054)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Video from the AMR-One's test at Monza...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok9s8aEyv3w

All I can say is... blimey. When that engine runs, it actually sounds brilliant. Didn't think I'd say this, but it almost rivals the V12.

Thank you Sir! Been waiting for a video like this. It's growing on me looks-wise and that noise will do just nicely.

All the best to them.

Speedblood · 2 Jun 2011, 17:13 (Ref:2890062)

Maybe it's just me but that engine does have a tinge of Audi quattro/early 80's to it? Still can't quite warm up to the looks but the engine is making it much better. Hope it can spring a suprise next weekend!

gustavobamba · 2 Jun 2011, 18:02 (Ref:2890090)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedblood

Maybe it's just me but that engine does have a tinge of Audi quattro/early 80's to it? Still can't quite warm up to the looks but the engine is making it much better. Hope it can spring a suprise next weekend!

A surprise next week i don´t think so, but next year with a new aerodynamic pakage, and the I6 upgraded, will performe a lot better.

My guess is that they will last 7/8 hours next week.

Gilles lives! · 2 Jun 2011, 18:24 (Ref:2890105)

I was left pleasantly surprised by that video, although the wet conditions masked the car's actual speed, the sound was lovely. Bit of a misfire there at certain revs, which probably won't help over distance though.

I think I'll be at Arnage at 18.00HRS next Thursday, waiting to hear it for the first time for real

Dome S102 · 2 Jun 2011, 18:46 (Ref:2890115)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilles lives!

I was left pleasantly surprised by that video, although the wet conditions masked the car's actual speed, the sound was lovely. Bit of a misfire there at certain revs, which probably won't help over distance though.

I think I'll be at Arnage at 18.00HRS next Thursday, waiting to hear it for the first time for real

I'm not sure this is misfire

, it sound more like traction control to me.

GT6 · 2 Jun 2011, 21:55 (Ref:2890235)

I was very disapointed that I was denigned the Aston when at spa, but next wednesday I will be waiting for the first glimse and now thanks to previous comments to hear the sound of the new engine

Simmi · 2 Jun 2011, 22:13 (Ref:2890247)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT6

I was very disapointed that I was denigned the Aston when at spa, but next wednesday I will be waiting for the first glimse and now thanks to previous comments to hear the sound of the new engine

Seems safe to say you will likely hear it before you see it. Just the way it should be!

reef1234 · 2 Jun 2011, 22:37 (Ref:2890254)

That will be the TC kicking in not a misfire...

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