Aston Martin CEO details the carmaker’s future

Posted Fri Apr 6 2007 8:48 AM by Ralph Hanson

Aston Martin will remain a niche sports carmaker despite rumors of the introduction of several new models including a possible crossover and flagship supercar. The only expansion plan in the near future is to add a consultancy division that will supply its engineering expertise to other carmakers, explained its CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez. "It may not be tomorrow, but we can do it," he said during an interview with Australia’s GoAuto.

Aston has no restrictions on its intellectual property, which it shares with Ford, and is free to work with other marques in developing engines, suspension systems and internal structures. In the case of the Vantage Roadster, “the engine is our engine, the aluminum structure is our structure, the suspension part is our structure, the brakes come from Brembo, the gearbox comes from Graziano, the same as Ferrari and Maserati and we have lots and lots of suppliers,” Bez outlined. "The real parts, the real technology, which comes from the Ford Motor Company, is literally nothing,” he said.

Ford will still maintain some ties with Aston including a 15% stake as well as a substantial connection with Prodrive, one of the companies in the consortium that bought Aston Martin from Ford.

MotorAuthority