Audi looking to buy..... Ducati

[rj_astra]

German car maker believes Italian bike brand can help it produce smaller, lighter engines.

German carmaker Audi is in talks to buy Ducati for its lightweight engine know-how, its racetrack pedigree and the distinctive sound and styling of its motorcycles.

http://smh.drive.com.au/bike-news/au...314-1uz58.html

[piss98]

Noice - heard it was going for $1.5bn or something in one of the latest bike mags!

Anyone want to lend me some money as I could see myself running Ducati as my day job.

[St00ge]

but then Ducati won't be able to make all its money off spare parts if Audi start building the bikes, they will be to reliable..

[Captain_Slow]

Coming soon, a range of motorcycles that all look identical and predictable?

[rj_astra]

Coming soon, a range of motorcycles that all look identical and predictable?

Something Audi help whip up earlier

[Babalouie]

Coming soon, a range of motorcycles that all look identical and predictable?

The diesel bikes with DSG should be a cracker

[piss98]

Diesel bikes I think are a bit of an untapped market so far due only to the tech etc, DSG not so much....a lot of bike riders want to do it themselves (look at how few Aprilia Mana's they sold for an example of the fail of pushbutton auto's in the bike market) Maybe an option in the Strada range perhaps with diesel and auto as fuck me that would make a good tourer if it was comfy enough etc. Who knows maybe even a Harley tourer competitor given they made the Diavel!

[rj_astra]

Diesel bikes I think are a bit of an untapped market so far due only to the tech etc, DSG not so much....

Honda has a tourer bike with a DSG geabox. Allows them to provide an auto option on the VFR1200.

[piss98]

Yeh and how many VFR1200's do you see on the road? Not farking many or none in my town - too expensive and motorbike riders are the worst when it comes to adopting any new tech that takes any control away from them. Given ABS is just starting to get it's foot firmly in the door of bike manufacture I reckon it will be a while before anything mainstream happens with DSG boxes for them. Also consider the extra weight, complexity etc and it's just not worth it. (especially if you only sell a few).

[tremolo]

Coming soon, a range of motorcycles that all look identical and predictable?

Yep the Germans really fucked up the Murcielago, Aventador, RR Phantom, Bentley Mulsanne, etc etc

The Germans have a habit of making pretty boring cars, but they DO know exactly what makes other cars/bikes interesting.

[Captain_Slow]

Touche

[rj_astra]

Yeh and how many VFR1200's do you see on the road? Not farking many or none in my town - too expensive and motorbike riders are the worst when it comes to adopting any new tech that takes any control away from them. Given ABS is just starting to get it's foot firmly in the door of bike manufacture I reckon it will be a while before anything mainstream happens with DSG boxes for them. Also consider the extra weight, complexity etc and it's just not worth it. (especially if you only sell a few).

Totally agree.

Would like to see one of the bike manufacturers produce a bike with those fancy electro/magnetic shocks seen on GM and Ferrari products.

[omac]

fuck yeah. can't wait for a desmo dry clutch v10 lambo

[Rorz de Puniet]

Aren't diesels quite heavy? Would probably need a turbo to rev also which means more weight. I'm sure if it was viable someone would have given it a crack. Hell, there's been rotary motorbikes.

Never really understood the dry clutch thing. Just like a normal clutch except heavier and sounds someone threw a handful of marbles in when you changed the oil.

[TonyJZX]

Ducati would be the most valuable motorcycle IP... and it'd be cheap for cash rich VAG... esp. given the potential merchanising rights

i would think Fiat would be into this as well but given they don't have much money...