Audi to buy Ducati

Zascar

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-12/audi-is-said-to-be-in-talks-to-buy-italian-luxury-motorcycle-maker-ducati
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/12/audi-to-buy-ducati/

Hmmm I wonder what will happen if this goes ahead?

bladespin

More reliable but fugly bikes I guess.

rock22

Audi, in its long and convoluted history could include NSU( Rennmax) , DKW ( rt125 later copied by BSA to create Bantam) and are surely cousins to MZ, who gave us the efficient 2 stroke.

If Audi ever had ambitions to recreate any of their motorcycling history( and sadly I imagiine they don't ) they could resurect some interesting machines.

Zascar

They've done a pretty good job with Lambo under their wing so hopefully the bikes will become a bit more refined and reliable too

galwaytt

Zascar wrote: »

They've done a pretty good job with Lambo under their wing so hopefully the bikes will become a bit more refined and reliable too

In fairness, it's actually VW that are doing the buying......as for an improvement in quality...lol......you should type the word 'passat' into Motors on here......they have enough troubles if their own...!

Indeed, Ducati could probably teach them a thing or two.....

amacca

Zascar wrote: »

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-12/audi-is-said-to-be-in-talks-to-buy-italian-luxury-motorcycle-maker-ducati
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/12/audi-to-buy-ducati/

Hmmm I wonder what will happen if this goes ahead?

I expect lots of moody shots of ducatis obscuring monuments and natural beauty spots around the globe.

poorsprung duke technik


( love ducatis but couldn't resist )

spankmaster2000

The deal is done apparently!

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2012/April/apr1712-audi-buy-ducati/

positron

.. and that the purchase will be presented as being a 75th birthday present to VW chairman Ferdinand Piech.

I've heard of rich celebs etc who get motorbikes as birthday presents, but an entire company?

tinyjiney

amacca wrote: »

poorsprung duke technik


( love ducatis but couldn't resist )

I thought they said "Foreskin duck technique"...............:p

Where they gonna put those "Skanger's ear-rings" on a bike............:p

amacca

tinyjiney wrote: »

I thought they said "Foreskin duck technique"...............:p

Where they gonna put those "Skanger's ear-rings" on a bike............:p

I'd hang them out of the bikes ears/mirrors

Owen

I hope they let Ducati continue with design, as the last thing I'd want to happen to my favourite manufacturer is have an Audi designer festoon a Duke with LEDs and OTT body contours in an attempt to lure your normal Audi chav buyer into the market.

For everyone saying they're doing alright with Lambo, did you see Lambo releasing a pointless SUV that's more Audi than Lamborghini? Lamborghini would never have let that happen on their own watch.

How long though before we see a TDi Ducati?

bladespin

Owen wrote: »

I hope they let Ducati continue with design, as the last thing I'd want to happen to my favourite manufacturer is have an Audi designer festoon a Duke with LEDs and OTT body contours in an attempt to lure your normal Audi chav buyer into the market.

For everyone saying they're doing alright with Lambo, did you see Lambo releasing a pointless SUV that's more Audi than Lamborghini? Lamborghini would never have let that happen on their own watch.

How long though before we see a TDi Ducati?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Lambo_LM_002_1.jpg/800px-Lambo_LM_002_1.jpg
Nothing new there, they also build tractors

spankmaster2000

That is one ugly car!

That's not new, is it? It looks like it was designed 20 years ago!
(By a designer whose only tools were a ruler and a pencil.)

Owen

I knew someone'd bring up the older SUV/Tractor, but I meant in their current portfolio they had focused brilliantly on the Hypercar market. Now with Audi at the helm, we have an SUV. Next up we'll have an urban city car, followed by some sort of 4 seater coupé that no one needs or wants.

Ducati did play with bikes running on Diesel before, but I genuinely think there'll be a Ducati TDI sooner than later.

spankmaster2000

Owen wrote: »

Next up we'll have an urban city car, followed by some sort of 4 seater coupé that no one needs or wants.

Hold your horses there for a second. The Hypermotard and Multistrada from Ducati themselves weren't really considered "traditional" or what people wanted, but they actually came off relatively well, no?

I wouldn't suspect that Audi will do much in with Ducati in the short term, but I'd be open and curious to what they come out with.

That said though though, would a TDI Ducati really be such a bad thing?

Zascar

It would be cool if suddenly Ducati's were in every big Audi dealership a bit like the way you'll see BMW bikes in BMW dealerships etc. I'd guess that is what they will do to push sales.

spankmaster2000

Zascar wrote: »

It would be cool if suddenly Ducati's were in every big Audi dealership a bit like the way you'll see BMW bikes in BMW dealerships etc. I'd guess that is what they will do to push sales.

Yeah, that'd be nice.

As opposed to a TDI Ducati, I would bet that the scooter area is one that will be developed. (Like BMW are doing...)