Vw Beetle Spark Plug Wires 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.

Lincoln gets own design studio

Ford is creating a dedicated design studio for its luxury brand Lincoln in an ongoing bid to rejuvenate the brand and position it further apart from the core Ford offering. The new design studio will be situated in the Product Development Center in Dearborn, Michigan, with Max Wolff – recruited from Cadillac last year – charged with leading the brand in its revival efforts. Ford has also announced that it will be increasing spending on the brand, giving it unique interiors and powertrains.

Renault Captur Compact SUV production version teased

Renault has started the tease for their Clio Crossover – likely the Renault Captur – ahead of a debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The booming market for compact crossovers to blat round our congested urban landscape sees car maker scrabbling to offer up a product that can take the fight to cars like the Nissan Juke, and Renault’s offering in the market will arrive at the Geneva Motor Show in March – the Renault Captur. Before you get too excited, the production version of the Renault Captur appears to have little in common with the Captur Concept we saw at Geneva in 2011 – except for the name – and looks likely to be nothing more than a high-riding Clio 4 with added butchness.