Autoblog

The world's major sportscar-makers all have major parent companies behind them: Ferrari and Maserati have the Fiat Group while Lamborghini (and Bugatti) are under the VW/Audi umbrella. Pagani Automobili SpA, however, remains independent, but hooked up with Mercedes to provide the motivation in the heart-racing Zonda supercar. Not to worry, though, because by all accounts the V12 engine that AMG builds by hand for Pagani is an awesome powerplant. Its displacement and output have increased from six liters and 408 horsepower in the original C12 to 7.3 liters and 602 hp in the latest Zonda F. With dedicated development like that, it would be foolish for Pagani to look elsewhere or consider designing its own engine. So it's probably a good sign that Pagani and AMG have renewed their partnership, the fruits of which we're looking forward to seeing in the highly anticipated successor to the Zonda, whenever it debuts.

[Source: Pagani]

Instead of beating each other's brains out and assuring that nobody wins, SAIC and Nanjing have decided to stand close to each other on the playground. While they may still avoid eye contact and kick pebbles instead of developing a friendship, they will be carrying out what they're terming a "comprehensive collaboration." Design, production and sales efforts will be pooled in an effort to make China's automakers competitive with outsiders like General Motors and Volkswagen, who currently dominate China's vehicle market. The weekend announcement of the effort was mum on a merger, but did mention an asset swap as the two state-controlled businesses go forward splitting resources. At the very least, it seems like the cooperative effort will quell the bickering over the carved up carcass of Rover Cars.

[Source: Detroit News]

Auto Bild is reporting that Mercedes and BMW may consider collaborating on subcompacts in the coming years. BMW's keeping an eye on the MINI plant in Oxford, England. If the factory doesn't run at full-tilt, BMW takes a monetary hit. Shacking up with Mercedes to build the next generation A-Class at MINI's facility and on the MINI platform would keep production humming right along. Other potential partners have been mentioned as well, such as Honda and PSA. Mercedes and BMW are working on hybrid technology together already, but Mercedes will only say that while it remains open to collaboration where sensible, there are no current plans to partner further with BMW.

[Source: Reuters]

It struck us as an odd pairing when BMW and PSA Peugeot-Citroen formed their initial partnership. BMW, a German conglomerate building premium performance and luxury automobiles and controlling a couple small but iconic British marques, and PSA, a grouping of two run-of-the-mill mass-production French brands. Their products don't overlap much, but the all but total lack of competition is probably what helps them get along. No competition means no threat.

Now the two groups are looking at expanding their cooperation along the lines of their current partnership. PSA developed and builds the engines for the Mini, the French firm imparting their expertise with small engines on their Bavarian friends who are more adept at high-output performance powerplants. PSA and BMW are now undertaking a study to assess new ways the two can collaborate, and if they both like the findings, we may see Peugeot-Citroen engines in other BMW products, and maybe vice-versa.

Now isn't it so much nicer when the Germans and the French get along?

[Source: AP via Detroit News]

Apparently the partnership between Suzuki and Nissan is one that both sides like. So much so that they are already discussing additional future collaborations. We have already reported about the Suzuki-built, Nissan-badged Moco minicar, the Nissan-built, Suzuki-badged Jimny from Thailand, and then the sharing of another minicar for Europe in exchange for Suzuki getting a Nissan minivan to fill capacity at its Indian factory.

According to this new Forbes item, Nissan Motor Co. and Suzuki Motor Corp are now considering joint production to expand their ties in emerging markets. Russia and Brazil, in particular, were reported production sites.

Back in June the two firms decided to jointly build vehicles for the domestic market, while Suzuki would produce small vehicles in India for Nissan starting in 2008. The newest proposition has Nissan Co. producing Suzuki-badged vehicles at a new Nissan plant in St Petersburg, Russia. That plant won't start up until 2009, but with its annual capacity of 50,000 units, it could handle at least three midsize models.

Suzuki already sends SUVs from Japan and builds small cars at its plant in Hungary for export to Russia. They pulled out of the Brazilian market in 2003, however. Nissan, on the other hand, has been assembling vehicles in Brazil since 2001, including pickup trucks and SUVs.

[Source: Forbes]

Related Posts:

• Nissan and Suzuki expand collaboration
• Nissan, Suzuki to trade cars and trucks
• Nissan goes after emerging markets

While pondering the repercussions of an alliance between General Motors and Nissan/Renault, we realized our future automotive landscape might include an Altima wearing a bowtie or a pushrod-powered 350Z. Some of the combinations could be interesting, but history has proven that when two automakers collaborate, the opportunity for a turd is there. So regardless of whether or not these two companies hook up, we offer up this list of the Top 5 Worst Collaborations as a warning to both.

Note - We opted not to include vehicles that were rebadged within the same company, like the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. To be included, each pair of companies needed to be connected by an alliance, but one could not own the other.

Chrysler TC by Maserati (1989-1991)

The worst offender by far, the Chrysler TC by Maserati managed to sully the Italian allure of a great marque with common Chrysler hardware. Some question to this day whether or not Maserati has recovered from the TC. Some say it never will.

(Follow the jump for the final four and our Honorable Mentions)