One of my favorite car journos:

https://collectingcars.com/stories/c...-column-week-1

 

Encouraging to hear he likes Felisa better than Moers.

There are journos I highly respect that were excited about Moers move to AM from his time at AMG and now we've seen how that worked out. Harris' take on Moers from his time at AMG and AM both seem much more level-headed. Not that he had much time but from a customer facing side it doesn't seem like much came from Moers' tenure.

It's hard to predict where AM is heading between Stroll, F1, electrification, and their current line up being aged out other than DBX. The Valkyrie and Valhalla while cool seem to have had disproportionate resources invested in to them and still aren't finished. IMO Marek needs to be reigned in a little bit and they need to get back to unquestionably beautiful design for their regular line up instead of avant garde for avant garde's sake. I don't mean regress just have a rethink from the current philosophy and style theme.

I wish they would expand their legacy vehicle support like Porsche and BMW have started doing with modernized radios etc. It doesn't necessarily add to the bottom line immediately but it supports the prices of the vehicles already produced and the brand cache at the same time.

 

At the AMOC event in the Berkshires over the weekend, I spoke to several passionate owners about the prospects of AML. Several of them are in the financial markets and the general consensus is not that great. Why would they hire a guy in his 70's? St. Athan's is a big factory for just one car and they don't have the cash to expand into the electric/Lagonda cars.

Lots of angst towards Mercedes power plants. When AML goes electric, do buyers care as much who makes the electric motors or batteries? AML still cannot make a real profit on a car. Will there be a fire sale of the company towards a conglomerate where all the stock holder are pretty much screwed? Even if bought out for 50% above today's stock price would be a miserable outcome. I suspect the F1 team could well disappear and Aston Martin will produce cars that a shadow of their former glory. I hope not on all fronts.

Heck, AML cannot even keep spare parts moving. Try ordering headlights or tail lights recently? A lot of craftsmen have left AML, going to Lotus.

 

Bob Lutz is 90 and I've watched recent interviews with him and he's still wholly impressive. An older and well regarded Ex-ferrari CEO with nothing to prove and no subsequent ego boost from being named boss doesn't necessarily strike me as a bad thing. It just depends how in touch he is still but I doubt he'd take on a project like the AML turnaround unless he is still with it. He could be living la dolce Vita in an Italian estate lol.

I think how they manage their ICE relationship or split with AMG or whatever happens next is key. It seems like all the legacy luxury brands are trying to go further up market where the margins are higher and volume is lower to pre-empt the electric era.

 

Bob Lutz or Bernie Eccelstone are not running companies today; as impressive as both are.

 

This is true. I just don't think the age thing is quite as bad as folks seem to think. If Montezemolo came to lead AM I don't think anyone would grumble about his age.

 

Too bad we didn't get to talk much in Lenox. I will say that for me, the Benz engine is an absolute deal-breaker. Doesn't matter how good it is, it doesn't belong in an Aston. So far, no one has made an EV that actually makes me want it. No idea what lies ahead but, imo, Moers was awful.

 

My neighbor has one and it doesn't sound that good. Sounds like an AMG G wagon, to my ears at least. Kind of a disappointment.

 

The Lotus Eletre should make you take notice once it's in the showrooms.

I'd love to see Ford take a stake in AML again. They could be a good steward of the marque. I like the Ford Sync better than Mercedes Command. Ford based engines will put many current and future buyers/owners at ease.

 

We'll see. The thing is, I like engines. I find them interesting -- how they work, how they sound, their different power and torque characteristics, how the cylinder count and other factors influence all of these things. I've driven several EVs, including the Taycan and various Teslas. They're very impressive. But they leave me cold. None has ever made me think about the drive afterwards. None has made me want to drive it again. None has made me want it. I seriously doubt I'd ever take one out for a drive purely for the sake of driving it. About sound, it has to be the real thing -- fake sound won't help. I hate fakery, whether it's an EV or the shameful faking of sound in so many current ICE cars.

I think Ford was a superb steward of Aston Martin. However, I don't want Ford-based engines either, unless it's in the same realm as the V12 that is based on the "architecture" of the Duratec, meaning that the result is a substantially different and dedicated engine unique to Aston. In other words, it need not be clean-sheet, but it has to be an Aston-only engine. I'll add that I consider the 4.3/4.7 V8 an Aston Martin engine. It was "based" on the Jaguar AJ V8, but has its own unique block, crank, bearings, rods, pistons, rings, heads, cams, valves, etc. I also don't want Ferrari engines in an Aston. I know it's easy to say and expensive to do, but Aston Martin deserves an Aston Martin engine.

 

Speedraser, I agree.
We own a 2021 Mustang Mach E EV.
Engineering masterpiece...but I have yet to have an urge to just go out and drive it.
Thanks,
JH

 

EV's are inevitable. Higher end marques will make the transition 100% before the mainstream name plates.

 

Bones, that's interesting. And telling...

Brighton, they probably are inevitable. It's not inevitable that I'll want one. But here's the thing: I am not anti-EV. I am anti-EV-only. EVs have numerous pros. They also have numerous cons, but that seems to be a huge secret. ICEs also have numerous pros and cons. EVs certainly have their place, probably a large place. But why must they completely replace ICE cars? Especially within the timeframe being "required," it doesn't make sense. And that's not because I like engines.

 

We own 2 EVs... and an Aston. EVs make great daily drivers. I'm not taking the kid to school in the Aston (if she could even ride in it, which she can't). 95% of the driven miles we do are electric, charged at home via solar. That's great.

I'm a big advocate for electrification of everything, and have invested significantly in my own lifestyle towards that (the Aston is the only thing I own that directly burns gas). The world will be better with all EVs. But - those who say EVs feel 'sterile' have a point, and I agree actually, which is why I got the Aston. But we can't use that as an excuse to keep burning millions of barrels of oil inefficiently to move around every day. The 'feel' of our cars isn't enough justification to ruin our planet.

I figure enthusiasts like the folks here will keep engines alive for a long time. But anyone driving a Camry can't tell me that they enjoy the 'feel' of their car. The appliance cars need to all be EV.

 

Exactly. EVs for daily stuff and an exotic for weekend pleasure rides.