Warner Standard Speedometer on 2040-parts.com

Ford to sell Aston Martin

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 31 August 2006 02:39 The world’s two biggest luxury goods firms – including the conglomerate behind brands like Moet and Louis Vuitton – are locked in a battle to buy Aston Martin from cash-starved Ford. Ford announced today that the British sports car manufacturer would be sold and CAR has learned that Swiss-based Richemont and the French holding company LVMH have emerged as most likely to take on Aston despite having no previous experience in the car industry. Ford desperately needs to tap into the potential $700m-$1bn the sale of Aston could generate and hopes to finalise a deal by the end of the year.

Scandal-laden Jaguar up for auction

A STUNNING 1959 Jaguar XK150 Drophead Coupé with connections to one of the most famous British political scandals of all time has been lined up for auction. The car, with the number plate WLY 150, was owned by Dr Stephen Ward, the osteopathic physician who was at the centre of the Profumo Affair in 1963. Ward was the man who introduced John Profumo, Conservative MP and Secretary of State for War, to longstanding friend, model and showgirl Christine Keeler, who at the time was also allegedly in a relationship with Soviet spy Yevgeny Ivanov.

FAW Hongqi H7

The Hongi H7 from FAW is the first D-segment sedan from the brand since the 1980s. Aimed at the executive private market as for use by Chinese officials, the Hongi H7 was developed by Giugiaro in Italy. The sedan features a ‘straight waterfall' chrome front grille inherited from the brand's traditional identity.