[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by Autoblog

De Tomaso has had a rough go of it in the last year, between struggling to bring a car to market, going under, and then having its chairman arrested for shady financial activity.

Things might finally be looking up for De Tomaso, however, according to Automotive News Europe. The Italian Industry Ministry is reportedly in continuing discussions with different potential buyers, and BMW is reportedly among the suitors.

De Tomaso filed for bankruptcy earlier this year after selling the rights to build the grotesque Deauville sedan to a Chinese company in order to fund the next Pantera.

BMW previously denied having any interest in the bankrupt automaker. Automotive News says the Italian Industry Ministry hopes to find a buyer and get the sale process kicked off sometime next month.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/16/b...buy-de-tomaso/

Originally Posted by motorauthority.com

Once proud Italian sports car manufacturer De Tomaso has had a rough year. In February, it looked like the firm had attracted a Chinese buyer, and that construction of the De Tomaso SLS would soon begin at a former Pininfarina plant outside of Turin.

Then came word that the deal with Car Luxury Investment, backed by Chinese investment group Hotyork, had fallen through. In July, De Tomaso was forced to file bankruptcy, which was quickly followed by the arrest of De Tomaso chairman Gian Mario Rossignolo on charges of improper use of funding.

Since then, the courts have been trying to find a buyer for De Tomaso, and while several companies have expressed interest, no deal has been finalized. Prior to De Tomaso’s bankruptcy, BMW was said to be in dialogue with the ailing Italian automaker, a rumor the German company quickly shot down.

Now comes word from Automotive News Europe (subscription required) that BMW is in talks to buy the De Tomaso brand, while Italian companies are in dialogue to buy its structural assets. As expected, BMW has issued no commentary on the report.

BMW is among several finalists reportedly vying for the brand, and if all goes as planned a sale process could begin next month. We're not exactly sure why BMW is bidding for the boutique brand, but perhaps it finds De Tomaso’s post-bankruptcy price to be too good to pass up.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...ying-de-tomaso

Honestly, I don't see any reason for BMW to buy them. I mean outside of car enthusiasts no one really knows about them, and I doubt BMW needs them to make any future sports-cars. That being said a new Pantera with a S65 (or even maybe an S85) would be pretty sweet. Anyway, what are your thoughts?

[SCOTT26]

No. BMW are not interested in the brand ,there is more interest in the production facilities especially for Europe based models.
However the recent partnership with Toyota has allowed the doors to open with Toyota's partnership with Aston Martin not to say an acquirement of the brand is going to happen.
BMW previously looked at Aston Martin when Ford where off loading the company but backed off when Ford retains a stake in the company.
But the Aston Martin Vanquish was brought to Munich a week ago in a truck for BMW executives to have a look at since the Aston Martin boss is exBMW.

But BMW are open to partnerships with other manufacturers providing the requirements are there.
BMW have also looked at Lotus , Saab and even Volvo over the last two years also re-acquiring Land Rover was an objective but turned out to be unfeasable because Jaguar had been integrated into Land Rover that you could not have one without the other.
However Land Rover have followed through on the Original BMW strategy by launching a mini-Range Rover (Evoque) and moving the Range Rover further upmarket than before. Had Land Rover not been sold by BMW the Range Rover would feature a LWB model (in development at the current time) and the inclusion of a V12 model (not considered at the current time).

BMW are now moving forward on their own "Range-Rover" in the guise of the X7 aimed at the broadening market for super-SUVs to combat declining luxury sedans in the global market. The super-luxury BMW SAV will take advantage of the next generation 7er with an exotic mix of Aluminium.Pressed steel and CFRP to bring a significant weight reduction and use a reconfigured drivetrain from the next generation BMW X5. Having previously trialled a V12 in the previous E53 X5. The X7 will feature a further advantage by being equipped with the next generation of V12 engine. As well as the option of a plug-in hybrid model amongst other engine choices.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

No. BMW are not interested in the brand ,there is more interest in the production facilities especially for Europe based models.
However the recent partnership with Toyota has allowed the doors to open with Toyota's partnership with Aston Martin not to say an acquirement of the brand is going to happen.
BMW previously looked at Aston Martin when Ford where off loading the company but backed off when Ford retains a stake in the company.
But the Aston Martin Vanquish was brought to Munich a week ago in a truck for BMW executives to have a look at since the Aston Martin boss is exBMW.

But BMW are open to partnerships with other manufacturers providing the requirements are there.
BMW have also looked at Lotus , Saab and even Volvo over the last two years also re-acquiring Land Rover was an objective but turned out to be unfeasable because Jaguar had been integrated into Land Rover that you could not have one without the other.
However Land Rover have followed through on the Original BMW strategy by launching a mini-Range Rover (Evoque) and moving the Range Rover further upmarket than before. Had Land Rover not been sold by BMW the Range Rover would feature a LWB model (in development at the current time) and the inclusion of a V12 model (not considered at the current time).

BMW are now moving forward on their own "Range-Rover" in the guise of the X7 aimed at the broadening market for super-SUVs to combat declining luxury sedans in the global market. The super-luxury BMW SAV will take advantage of the next generation 7er with an exotic mix of Aluminium.Pressed steel and CFRP to bring a significant weight reduction and use a reconfigured drivetrain from the next generation BMW X5. Having previously trialled a V12 in the previous E53 X5. The X7 will feature a further advantage by being equipped with the next generation of V12 engine. As well as the option of a plug-in hybrid model amongst other engine choices.

Very interesting. I wish they had made some sort of deal with Lotus, because an Elise with the N20 or the new inline-3 would have been epic. It is also good to hear that the V-12 is going to continue production in the next generation of BMWs. Speaking of Toyota are there any new developments on the sports-car they are creating together?

[US///M3]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

No. BMW are not interested in the brand ,there is more interest in the production facilities especially for Europe based models.
However the recent partnership with Toyota has allowed the doors to open with Toyota's partnership with Aston Martin not to say an acquirement of the brand is going to happen.
BMW previously looked at Aston Martin when Ford where off loading the company but backed off when Ford retains a stake in the company.
But the Aston Martin Vanquish was brought to Munich a week ago in a truck for BMW executives to have a look at since the Aston Martin boss is exBMW.

But BMW are open to partnerships with other manufacturers providing the requirements are there.
BMW have also looked at Lotus , Saab and even Volvo over the last two years also re-acquiring Land Rover was an objective but turned out to be unfeasable because Jaguar had been integrated into Land Rover that you could not have one without the other.
However Land Rover have followed through on the Original BMW strategy by launching a mini-Range Rover (Evoque) and moving the Range Rover further upmarket than before. Had Land Rover not been sold by BMW the Range Rover would feature a LWB model (in development at the current time) and the inclusion of a V12 model (not considered at the current time).

BMW are now moving forward on their own "Range-Rover" in the guise of the X7 aimed at the broadening market for super-SUVs to combat declining luxury sedans in the global market. The super-luxury BMW SAV will take advantage of the next generation 7er with an exotic mix of Aluminium.Pressed steel and CFRP to bring a significant weight reduction and use a reconfigured drivetrain from the next generation BMW X5. Having previously trialled a V12 in the previous E53 X5. The X7 will feature a further advantage by being equipped with the next generation of V12 engine. As well as the option of a plug-in hybrid model amongst other engine choices.

The best Range Rover in my opinion was designed under BMW, right before they sold land-rover,maybe they didnt foresee the succes of the third gen Range Rover they developed.