Aston Martin Announce the Revival of Lagonda Marque

by Clinton Deacon
September 1, 2008 7:00 PM
Filed Under: Aston Martin, Corporate/Financial, European, Lagonda

Under the stewardship of Ford, Aston Martin stagnated and nearly ended up on the junk pile, but ever since a consortium headed up by Pro Drive's David Richards took over, the company is gone from strength to strength. We are already looking forward to the four-door Rapide and the One-77 supercar and we can now reveal we we will see an even larger portfolio of products after Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez announced the company's intentions to revive the Lagonda Marque.

The high esteem that the Aston Martin brand holds makes it almost impossible for them to build anything other than sportscars. A fact that will bring a whole lot of relief to many fans knowing the British automaker will not diversify its heritage to produce money making vehicles, a direction one particular sportscar brand took at the beginning of this century.

The Lagonda brand will offer high quality and luxurious models catering for both existing and emerging markets and it will allow Aston Martin to extend its product portfolio availability from the current 32 countries up to more than 100.

In 2009 Lagonda will celebrate its 100th anniversary and Aston Martin intend to honour such an important event with the first unveiling of a concept from the brand. The aim is to launch the first production model in 2012.

Source: Aston Martin
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Comments

Do they really need to bring back the Lagonda? I thought this part of the 80s was gone forever. So, what does this make the Rapide?

by benz_man | September 1, 2008 7:04 PM
The Rapide name was previously resurrected in 1961. The resulting 4-door, Italian Carrozzeria Touring-designed Aston was called the Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide.

by car_nut | September 1, 2008 7:24 PM
i you knew about the old lagondas you wouldn't ask such a question...

welcome back!

by amade.ch | September 1, 2008 7:18 PM
What about the revival of famous Shooting Break? Wouldn't it be nice to see it back to life? Hey?

by martinbuschi | September 1, 2008 9:15 PM
I think this is a great move for AML and am anxious to see what beautiful new designs they create under the Lagonda marque. I must say, however, that I strongly disagree with the author's first sentence assertion that Aston Martin “stagnated” under Ford and “nearly ended up on the junk pile”. I wouldn’t exactly call becoming profitable for the first time in the company’s history, producing what is very widely considered to be one of the most beautiful GT designs in the history of the automobile in the DB7, building new, state-of-the art production and design facilities, and increasing production to unprecedented levels as “stagnation”. While I’m still quite happy with the company’s new ownership situation, I think most knowledgeable Aston-watchers would agree with me that Ford’s relationship with AML over the years has had far more positives than negatives for Aston Martin.

by Rbolz | September 1, 2008 9:57 PM
LAGONDA is reasonable step if you take in mind that they will have Mercedes-Benz hi-tech engines

by swifthead | September 1, 2008 10:43 PM
I can see this marque competing with the Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Flying Spur. It is a good idea to keep in mind the age and sources of the current engines such as the AM V12 and AJ V8 I would hope we would not see engines identical to Mercedes-Benz's own out of a co-operative deal. I cannot see which engine would actually suit an Aston from the Merc stable. The 5.5 V8 is too laid back, the 5.5 V12 T is a bit too old and common. The AMG engines would be too raucous so which will come?

by dom6698 | September 1, 2008 11:37 PM
DB7, DB9, AMV8....This is stagnation is it? The Lagonda name would work a treat in the world of super saloons.

by Paulbe | September 2, 2008 1:15 AM
aston martin or lagonda and mercedes engines? where did you get that from?

by amade.ch | September 2, 2008 8:38 AM
good move. ford never had anything in the AML range to use the name.

the new rich would be very happy to buy a non-S, non-7 german sedan.

good timing to compete with also new comer such as the baby rolls royce.

by M! | September 2, 2008 10:16 AM
Stupid Ford..... almost stuffed up one of the most desired car brand in the industry.

by The_woo_factor | September 2, 2008 12:17 PM
In which way, specifically, did Ford almost muck up Aston Martin? Just because you and the author make the ridiculous claim does not make it accurate. Keep in mind that when Ford took control of AM in the early nineties, AM produced about 40 cars TOTAL. What volume were they putting out in the mid to late nineties and today?

by mentir | September 3, 2008 12:11 AM
I agree... AM began its newfound success under Ford ownership... I know I didn't even know Aston Martin existed before the DB7 and the first AM I fell in love with was made under Ford ownership.

I dislike how people judge anything american in a bad light simply because of its heritage...

by Decypha | September 5, 2008 5:23 PM
And I'm not american btw...

by Decypha | September 5, 2008 5:23 PM

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