Aston Martin beds down with Mercedes for new chassis platforms

Aston Martin has confirmed that it's going to develop new chassis platforms in co-operation with Mercedes-Benz, as well as using versions of the Mercedes-AMG V8 engine. Chief financial officer Hanno Kirner said, "our strong ownership structure and strategic partnership with Daimler AG, finalised in December 2013, provides us with a solid foundation for the unprecedented investment programme that will underpin our future growth."

He continued: “We are engineering a completely new architecture and technologies to ensure that our next generation of sports cars is at the forefront of design, performance and technology. The strategic partnership with Daimler AG will bring with it cutting-edge electrical and electronic expertise, and the shared development of world-class bespoke V8 power trains.”

The supposition had been that Aston would abandon both its current VH carbon-fibre-and-aluminium chassis and its Ford-based V12 engines in favour of steel-and-alumnium Mercedes chassis and the AMG V8. However, it now seems as if the V12 will live on. Speaking to Autoblog, Aston spokesperson Matthew Clarke said:“Our 6.0-litre V12 engine will remain, with ongoing development, at the heart of a number of our flagship models for the foreseeable future.”

It remains to be seen how Aston will be able to reconcile the continuation of the old-school V12 with increasingly strict average corporate emissions legislation.

Lexus steers clear of China but sets sights on US market

Japanese luxury brand Lexus has poured cold water on speculation that it may start building cars in the burgeoning Chinese market. Brand chief Tokuo Fukuichi told Reuters that making cars in China is incompatible with Lexus’s reputation for quality. “The German Three have a brand image that they have cultivated over the past century in their long history, but Lexus is not in people’s minds like that yet,” he said. “Customers would leave us if we have any problems with quality because that is what they are seeking in a Lexus.”

Speculation had been rife that Lexus would follow rival Infiniti in setting up a major headquarters in Hong Kong, but Lexus is saying that it's looking to build a manufacturing base in North America. The company already makes the RX SUV in Canada.

Speculators cash in on supercar prices
Remember the 1980s and the fortunes that were made by speculating on the value of new supercars? Well, welcome back to the eighties as its seems that early-adoptiing Lamborghini Huracan owners are looking to cash in on a long waiting-list for the new Italian Stallion and trouser a healthy €35,000. Speaking to MSN Cars, director of Magnitude Finance Tim Marlow said: "Two of our clients were among those invited to a private VIP viewing held before the car was officially unveiled in Geneva, and they contacted me to create finance packages.They are expecting to sell immediately and believe they will get in the region of £20,000 to £30,000 over the list price depending on when the car arrives. One has already agreed a £27,000 premium to sell to a speculator and won't even drive it before selling it on."