How long before Aston Martin collapses then?

[Zak33]

I suspect not much. Even with the Alfa Stelvio supposedly being the only SUV that can actually go around corners, it is still basically a utility bus compared to the V6 Giulia saloon that it is related to.

Alfa have gone from pinning their improved sales hopes on a large SUV to making a smaller SUV.

agreed..entirely

but the idea of SUV ownership just leaves me cold, so I'm not expecting great things of that either.

now I DID used to feel that way..but now... I appreciate a proper 4x4 ablity and the size more than ever I thought I would. Subaru Forester on the drive now....

[Zak33]

I really cannot see James Bond swanning around in an SUV, though....

that simply depends on the budget offered to the film producers....

lets be utterly brutally honest....

Casino Royale.. has a Mondeo in it.

[MrJim]

But then I never expected there to be a FIAT Multipla (ugly bug) owner's club so what do I know

Hey, no rude comments about Fiat Multiplas! My 14 year old 1.9 JTD Eleganza is still going strong (admittedly, I went for the 2nd gen 'non bug-eyed' version). Chris Harris loves the Multipla, which is all the affirmation I require!

[Saracen999]

exec SUV



that Roller is kicking arse in the top price SUV market and that's EXACTLY where Aston wanna be.. and just aren't. Partly because they're late...

and partly because theyve made a Mini Clubman lookalike

In the exec SUV segment .... I have no opinion as I have no interest. But wider, company-wise, I still don't see those competing against each other despite the chimps. In fact, if the chimps think thaf .... I rest my case.

[DanceswithUnix]

Hey, no rude comments about Fiat Multiplas! My 14 year old 1.9 JTD Eleganza is still going strong (admittedly, I went for the 2nd gen 'non bug-eyed' version). Chris Harris loves the Multipla, which is all the affirmation I require!

Oh I hear they are awesome vehicles. Was just surprised that what seems a very utility vehicle seemed to have such a proud owners group. Every May there is an Italian car meetup in Brooklands museum at Byfleet, the place is awash with Ferraris and Lambos, a big section for Alfas and some really rare stuff dotted around. Among the FIATs you used to get a proud line of mk1 Multiplas, though I don't remember seeing any last year. I guess there aren't so many around these days.

If you are anywhere nearby and like cars you could bring yours along, any Italian vehicle is welcome.

[Zak33]

I think someone at Aston thinks they have the money of Elon Musk!

Aston Martin plots super-exclusive Speedster inspired by Le Mans

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/n...spired-le-mans

When you're neck deep in doodoo what you tend not to do is try to sell a handfull of cars at £3/4m each

Idiots.

The Speedster is set to make its debut later this year before first customer deliveries at the start of 2021 and has only been previewed in a design sketch so far

a sketch right now.. and out the door in 1 year

Put the crack pipe down people and start focussing on REAL LIFE!!!

[Ttaskmaster]

that simply depends on the budget offered to the film producers....
lets be utterly brutally honest....
Casino Royale.. has a Mondeo in it.

The Mondeo was only a rental, though. Same as the Citroen in FYEO for comedic value.

[Zak33]

The Mondeo was only a rental, though. Same as the Citroen in FYEO for comedic value.

Yes it was a "rental" in the film...but it wasn't even launched - it was Ford Marketing & was Ford's money that put it in the film...

it was the frist time anyone had seen it , before adverts etc

[Ttaskmaster]

Yes it was a "rental" in the film...but it wasn't even launched - it was Ford Marketing & was Ford's money that put it in the film...
it was the frist time anyone had seen it , before adverts etc

I wouldn't expect either Walther or Aston would need to pay to get their stuff in the films, though. They're so synonymous with Bond, I'd almost expect EoN to be buying them in!

[Smudger]

Isn't there a Land Rover Defender in the new Bond? Or is it driven by someone else?

[kalniel]

Jaguar-Land Rover have been sponsoring Bond for a few films - 20, 24 and 25 at least. The baddies usually end up in them

[Zak33]

I wouldn't expect either Walther or Aston would need to pay to get their stuff in the films, though. They're so synonymous with Bond, I'd almost expect EoN to be buying them in!

yeah, they do.

In the last film, in total, the "brands" paid in excess of £75million to be in it.
now some of that cost is the item/object itself, but they pay... one way or another.. to be on screen.

LandRover pays , Ford paid , Aston paid.
Lotus paid back in the day too.

Audi pay to be in Iron Man! ...lots.

then, the brands who pay, license their product to other brands to recoup some of it. Key rings, kids packed lunch boxes, toys and models, .. the re-licensing is endless

[DanceswithUnix]

now I DID used to feel that way..but now... I appreciate a proper 4x4 ablity and the size more than ever I thought I would. Subaru Forester on the drive now....

Ah, now that sounds like a reasonably robust vehicle for lugging stuff around.

I think the problem with the likes of Aston and Alfa selling an SUV is that the Venn diagram intersection of "People who want a driver's car" and "People who want a large 4x4" is going to be quite small, and within that group many will buy two vehicles to not compromise the driver's car handling.

That's not a problem for the likes of BMW and Audi where enough people buy for the badge rather than any interest in driving that they have a decent sized market.

[Ttaskmaster]

yeah, they do.
In the last film, in total, the "brands" paid in excess of £75million to be in it.
now some of that cost is the item/object itself, but they pay... one way or another.. to be on screen.

I'd be curious to see some kind of authoritative source on how much was paid by AM and especially Walther... "It was reported by the Daily Mail" doesn't count. IIRC, Walther was the only brand so consistently mentioned by Fleming, to the point where it's not really Bond without one (unless you're a diehard book fan, or Timothy Dalton).
Moreover, film companies tend to get their firearms from dedicated specialist services, like Bapty & Co, which means they get to choose from that company's stock. Most will have Walthers available, so they can feature the signature Bond stuff without it really costing them much.

Other brands I can understand having to pay, though, as they don't have that kind of established provenance. Maybe Aston, given how much the things cost....

[Saracen999]

I think someone at Aston thinks they have the money of Elon Musk!

When you're neck deep in doodoo what you tend not to do is try to sell a handfull of cars at £3/4m each

....

One of my mantra's for life, sadly born of experience ... when stuck in a hole, the first rule is to stop digging


But .... "pots of money" is a bit different to most large campanies. It's not all about cash, but about credit, capital ratios, whether you finance by debt or equity, and so on.

It's entirely plausible that a company like Aston could announce, show designs of and pre-sell 100 'limited' cars at £3m (-ish) each, before priiduction even starts. So if they cost £150m to design and make ..... it's a no-brainer. And doesn't need pots of money.

And by the time you look at those with stupid money looking for something to buy, they're as interested in buying somethjng others can't, if you like "out-spwnding the Smiths", that it's more about getting one than what it's like as a car.

I remember going into Maranellis about 20 years ago and seeing a second-hard 355 at about £90k+. A quick chat with the sales guy estabished that it was a regular that changed his Ferrari every year because he only wanted that year's plate. It had under 1500 miles on it and, as far as I know, the ash tray wasn't even full.

If Aston wanted to sell 100 "exclusive" models, they could probably manage it by limiting customers to the Saudi royal family.

I do also tale DanceswithUnix's point about buyers of multiple cars. I know a couple of guys that have an Aston and a Rolls (/Bentley), and others, because they want dufferent cars for different purposes, ir even to suit their mood on a given day. And that "market" is very hard to predict. They buy to suit their whim and give as much consideration to £150k (+/- £100k) on a car as most people give to deciding between pizza and chinese for the evening's takeaway. It really is a world apart.

[Zak33]

One of my mantra's for life, sadly born of experience ... when stuck in a hole, the first rule is to stop digging
..

If Aston wanted to sell 100 "exclusive" models, they could probably manage it by limiting customers to the Saudi royal family.

agreed...but it's still on the drawing board and they want to sell in next year