CAR reveals Project Alligator as big Mercedes/Aston Martin collaboration
Project Alligator. That's the internal code-name for a potential collaboration between Mercedes and Aston Martin on everything from drivetrains to platforms. CAR's September issue gets into all the details, which includes such tasty nuggest as the possible use of AMG's 6.2-liter V8 in the next Vantage, porting over Mercedes' future eight-speed auto 'box into Astons, sharing platforms between both automaker's high-end models (think SL and beyond), cooperating on the development of diesels and hybrids, and using Aston's future products to keep Maybach alive and maybe even help the wayward ultra-luxury brand thrive with up to five new models. But it gets even bigger. A collaboration between the two could place M-B in a good position to buy Aston Martin if its new owners, including Prodrive's David Richards, decide to exit the automaking biz. As CAR points out, however, the only potential loser from Project Alligator coming to fruition is Mercedes' other partner, McLaren.
[Source: CAR]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Pete 2:03PM (8/06/2008)
Another British marque in the hands of Germans...LOL
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Andy 2:12PM (8/06/2008)
BMW and VW have done great things with Rolls Royce and Bentley respectively. Aston's relationship with MB should be beneficial to both and hopefully Maybach can really be brand that can compete with the other English-German brands.
LeRobert 2:05PM (8/06/2008)
My two favourite brands in bed together? I can't wait to see their lovechild!
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RG 2:11PM (8/06/2008)
Sounds like Aston is getting a lot of hardware in the deal while Benz is getting panache.
Sounds interesting, but it also sounds like a minefield of market cannibalization.
I could see these two cars very easily existing.
SL63
6.2 V-8
retractable hardtop
$120k
AM Vantage
6.2L V-8
clothtop
$120k
That doesn't make much sense, but then again with MB going gas free by 2015, they need someone to handle the gasoline sales, maybe AM is the right fit for the high-end market.
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Toy Yoda 2:29PM (8/06/2008)
I don't know why car enthusiasts are weary about market cannibalizations. Economists regard market cannibalization as a good thing for the survival of any given company. It happens frequently in the food industry and the restaurant industry where two different but competing "brands" are owned by the same company. And both industries have about the same profit margins as the auto industry.
The general thought by top management and economists in regards to cannibalization is it's better to be cannibalized internally than it would be from an outside competitor. At least internally, you can "peacefully" set your market territories.
Mobius_1 9:31PM (8/06/2008)
SLs are more cruisers than anything else, whereas the Vantage, even now, can be considered a proper focused sports car. I personally think they should stick the C63's lesser engine in there, but I would totally love the 500+ bhp of the SL63's engine.
A prettier, lighter, cooler SL63 with an AM badge... yes please
Alex 2:17PM (8/06/2008)
I can see the benefits for Aston Martin in this venture, but i'd rather see them go it alone and keep Aston Martin its own brand with its own very unique personality.
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ALEXDB9 2:20PM (8/06/2008)
They just don't go together.
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Landy 2:20PM (8/06/2008)
The biggest looser is Ford who could not resist to sell the icon Aston Martin for some poor bucks...
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waiownsyou 2:28PM (8/06/2008)
Too bad the project name isnt as epic as the collaboration.
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Franz 3:03PM (8/06/2008)
Not quite sure what to think about this one. You know good things can come out of it, but will they?
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Fritz 1:05AM (8/07/2008)
So now I'm sure Astons will be Auto only, too. I hate it already. It would be nice if they teamed up with a company that knows how to make lighter cars, the one thing neither company seems to grasp(smart doesn't count). This is like Mercedes partnering with Mercedes in a prettier suit. Odd how two old racing heritages come together in what will surely be some bland luxury mesh of grey, beige, and silver everywhere.
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Josh 3:24PM (8/06/2008)
I love Aston Martin and hope they go it alone. I know this may not make sense from a trade off point of view - they have a lot to gain from Mercedes - I just don't like Mercedes though. They have too much power and not enough beauty, their design language makes everything look like a freaking slug and i don't want to see Aston Martins filled with the same crappy components that go into Mercedes cars - it seems like everyone who I know who has owned one has had countless problems, and i am sure Astons have some reliability problems but i would rather Aston to make all of the parts and components for their own cars rather than building upon someone else's platform.
Maybe I am just too adamant an Aston Martin fan, as i have dreamed of (and hope to) purchase one in the future and dont want to end up purchasing a handsome mercedes benz.
I suppose i could be wrong about all of this though, in which case please tell me - this is just what i am thinking at the moment...
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steve clark 3:46PM (8/06/2008)
After what M-B did to Chrysler, I'm suddenly scared to death for A-M's future.
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retsel 5:21PM (8/06/2008)
What does AM have that MB does not... i am confused... it will be great for AM... but not so much for MB...
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Ubizzle 5:34PM (8/06/2008)
It means MB's parts would be cheaper. They could benefit from Aston Martin's lightweight body construction - again, being cheaper because of the economies of scale. These two marques collaborating makes me froth at the mouth. Throw Alfa Romeo in the mix and you'd come out with a car version of Scarlett Johansson - flawless (well besides the smoke, tyres instead of cigs)
daking 4:08PM (8/06/2008)
How did they coem up with project Alligator when both cars look like birds from the side view. Don't gators eat birds?
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wonkydonkydotnet 6:17PM (8/06/2008)
Funny how AM is Already putting good power into their cars, except for Enzo-like p/w ratios.
@steve clark: I agree. Hopefully, there is no 'direction' implied by this.
And MB has had such crap reliability lately, I can't see what they're going to bring.
Does AM need/want new Engine partners or something?
-I know the V8 was loosely based on the Jaguar one.
They get their transmissions from ZF, right?
Anyhoo, I can just hear James May losing his mind over this collab. w/ Ze Chermanz, guess we'll have to wait till the fall for that.
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Mobius_1 9:38PM (8/06/2008)
I hope there will be no MB buying AM, and AM should remain in its current hands, but as I said, access the the MB and AMG parts bin could do AM a load of good, and add some real magic to their cars
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Ssco 10:10AM (8/07/2008)
Could this be a route for AM to get into F1?
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