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The BBC has given so many free plugs on its TV news bulletins to the new James Bond movie Casino Royale it seems that our state controlled broadcasting monopoly must have moved into film financing. A side-effect of this constant publicity (and more evidence of BBCTV News’ relentless dumbing-down) has been an enormous profile for Aston Martin, which supplied the DBS sports car driven by secret agent Bond. This has also, serendipitously, provided help for the giant but crumbling Ford Motor Co of the U.S. which is currently trying to sell this storied British icon.
Ford has lost about $7 billion so far this year and isn’t likely to see black numbers until 2009. Selling Aston Martin, which it has owned completely since 1993, is expected to raise about $1.3 billion, so it isn’t crucial to Ford to unload the exclusive luxury car maker. Every little helps, must be the reasoning.
Aston Martins have appeared in many Bond movies since its debut in “Goldfinger” in 1964. That was the car which sported tyre-shedding hubcap blades, an ejector seat and onboard machine guns. The DB5 also looked simply beautiful.
James 007 Bond drives an Aston Martin DBS in the latest blockbuster movie, not to be confused with the 2007 Ford Mondeo which also takes a bow with a cameo appearance in the film. With well-orchestrated timing, the company’s new car, the V-8 Vantage Roadster is making its debut at the Los Angeles auto show.
Manual or automatic
The Vantage Roadster is powered by the same engine as the fixed roof version - a 4.3 litre V8 motor which produces 380 bhp and thrusts the car from rest to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Top speed would be 175 mph (280 km/h) if speed limits were suspended. You can order a six-speed manual gearbox, or a Sportshift automated manual transmission, which either changes gear by itself, or by using fingertip controls behind the steering wheel. Aston Martin hasn’t revealed the fuel consumption figures or the price, which is expected to start at about £70,000 (€100,000). This makes it the cheapest in the Aston Range, which is headed by the flagship Vanquish V-12 priced at £175,000 (€260,000).
The Vantage Roadster will be built at Aston Martin’s headquarters at Gaydon, near Warwickshire in the U.K, and includes luxury features like hand-stitched leather seats. The body incorporates high technology lightweight alloys, advanced composite materials and much use of aluminium.
Fast hood
Even the mechanism to open the roof is fast, taking 18 seconds from pressing a button on the centre console, to having it stowed behind the seats, without human intervention. Most convertibles need to be stationary before opening and shutting the roof. But this car’s roof can be moved at speeds up to 30 mph (50 km/h).
Two of Europe's richest men are said to be considering a bid for Aston Martin. Bernard Arnault, who controls Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessy (LVMH) of France and Albert Frere, chairman of Belgium's Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, are said to be thinking about a bid of €1 billion Euros. Other prospective buyers are believed to include Dubai-based private equity firm Istithmar, Texas Pacific Group, the American buyout company, and Alchemy Partners, run by Jon Moulton and Jac Nasser, the former chief executive of Ford.
German luxury car maker BMW was thought to be looking at Aston Martin. BMW already owns British premium brands like Rolls Royce and Mini, but has denied any interest in buying Aston Martin. Some suggested Porsche ought to try and buy the company.
Hybrid in 2010
Aston Martin aficionados will hope that whoever buys the company will want to endorse its ambitious expansion plans. This includes a hybrid petrol/electric engine for the Vantage by 2010, a new four-seat Rapide to replace the Vanquish at the top of the range in 2008, and the revival of the storied Lagonda brand with an SUV in 2010 and a big 4-seater Lagonda by 2015.
Meanwhile, visitors to the Los Angeles auto show will be able to drool over the stunning superstructure of the Vantage Roadster, and if they can stump up the cash, can take delivery in the Spring of next year.
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