Mercedes-Benz AMG and Ducati Partnership?

[cawimmer430]

Mercedes-Benz AMG and Ducati Partnership?



While Mercedes unveiled its new CLS63 AMG  don?t-call-me-a-four-door at the LA Motor Show last night, a hayseed from Kentucky snuck onstage with one of them new-fangled motor sickles and prompted a surprise announcement. Mercedes and Ducati are apparently going to be partners.

?Both companies share the same values,? said Ola Kallenius, the unhelpful CEO of AMG, Mercedes? performance division. ?Racing as the driving passion, and high performance plus exclusivity as the central brand messages of both AMG and Ducati.?

Nicky Hayden followed up with a quote that sadly didn?t included the word ?shucks?, ?Well, if this is my company bike and this is my company car, I?d say I?m doing pretty well.?

What?s not clear is, aside from being partners, what being partners means for Ducati and Mercedes, they didn?t go into details. The deal definitely isn?t a parternship-of-equals style purchase, but rather some sort of marketing link up. Conventional wisdom leads towards some sort of FIAT/Yamaha like MotoGP sponsorship, but it could equally amount to some sort of lifestyle marketing project. Both Ducati and AMG pursue an identical demographic: middle-age or older wealthy men who want to advertise their success with an image of performance.


Link: http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/11/mercedes-and-ducati-partners-in/#more-12322

[Mustangfan2003]

How about a Ducati with a Mercedes V12?

[BimmerM3]

Wow, it turns out they did manage to make the CLS uglier (yes, I know I'm the only person in the world who doesn't like the first CLS...). I really hope those crazy LEDs or whatever they in the headlight are production. Those are so... tacky.

Do you have pictures of the side, rear 3/4 and rear?

[sportyaccordy]

?Both companies share the same values,? said Ola Kallenius, the unhelpful CEO of AMG, Mercedes? performance division. ?Racing as the driving passion, and high performance plus exclusivity as the central brand messages of both AMG and Ducati.?

I haven't heard such a boldfaced lie in quite some time. Racing as the driving passion? Has MB sponsored any factory racing programs since the CLK-GTR back in 98? Do they have any performance cars with stickshift trannys? Augh this kills me

[giant_mtb]

I haven't heard such a boldfaced lie in quite some time. Racing as the driving passion? Has MB sponsored any factory racing programs since the CLK-GTR back in 98? Do they have any performance cars with stickshift trannys? Augh this kills me

Dude, chill out.  They have History & Heritage.

[cawimmer430]

I haven't heard such a boldfaced lie in quite some time. Racing as the driving passion? Has MB sponsored any factory racing programs since the CLK-GTR back in 98? Do they have any performance cars with stickshift trannys? Augh this kills me

So the fact that AMG has no manual transmission cars means they can't be taken seriously as a manufacturer of racing cars? Oh please... 

Most people buying M3s these days go for the SMG. Not every driving enthusiast cares about rowing their own gears. Nowhere is there a written rule that states: "Purist driver = someone who will only drive manual and would rather commit suicide then drive automatic...". Hell, you can't even get a Ferrari with a manual transmission anymore. I guess a Corolla 4-cylinder with a 5-speed M/T is a real performance car then...

Also, read the article again. This partnership is between Ducati and Mercedes-Benz AMG and not Mercedes-Benz. Even though MB owns AMG, it's still treated as a separate division inside the firm - just like BMW M is inside the BMW AG.

[sportyaccordy]

So the fact that AMG has no manual transmission cars means they can't be taken seriously as a manufacturer of racing cars? Oh please...  

Most people buying M3s these days go for the SMG. Not every driving enthusiast cares about rowing their own gears. Nowhere is there a written rule that states: "Purist driver = someone who will only drive manual and would rather commit suicide then drive automatic...". Hell, you can't even get a Ferrari with a manual transmission anymore. I guess a Corolla 4-cylinder with a 5-speed M/T is a real performance car then...

Also, read the article again. This partnership is between Ducati and Mercedes-Benz AMG and not Mercedes-Benz. Even though MB owns AMG, it's still treated as a separate division inside the firm - just like BMW M is inside the BMW AG.

What race cars has AMG built in the last 10 years?

BMW has built various M3 GTRs, and that E90 BTCC or w/e touring car. I think they might have still been in F1 earlier this decade.

MB/AMG, to my knowledge, hasn't built a race car since the CLK-GTR, 13 years ago. AMG's philosophy has absolutely nothing to do with racing. All AMG cars outside of those in the Black Series and the SLS are hopped up Benzes. Nobody is taking a C/E/S/R/SL63 to track days like they do M3s or Ducatis.

[AltinD]

I guess a Corolla 4-cylinder with a 5-speed M/T is a real performance car then.

No, that's one of the top 3 most boring cars I've ever driven ... it was so boring to drive that me, the learning student noticed it.

[Payman]

So the fact that AMG has no manual transmission cars means they can't be taken seriously as a manufacturer of racing cars? Oh please... 

Most people buying M3s these days go for the SMG. Not every driving enthusiast cares about rowing their own gears. Nowhere is there a written rule that states: "Purist driver = someone who will only drive manual and would rather commit suicide then drive automatic...". Hell, you can't even get a Ferrari with a manual transmission anymore. I guess a Corolla 4-cylinder with a 5-speed M/T is a real performance car then...

Also, read the article again. This partnership is between Ducati and Mercedes-Benz AMG and not Mercedes-Benz. Even though MB owns AMG, it's still treated as a separate division inside the firm - just like BMW M is inside the BMW AG.

At least Toyota was in Formula One and is in Nascar.

[Madman]

Has MB sponsored any factory racing programs since the CLK-GTR back in 98?

Errrm......

http://www.mercedes-gp.com/en/#/category/factory/

[Mustangfan2003]

MB also races in DTM also. 

[cawimmer430]

What race cars has AMG built in the last 10 years?

AMG has been active in DTM racing and tuning engines for Pagani and a handful of other exotic car manufacturers (Isdera etc.). DTM involves a lot of technical racing know-how. In fact the specs of the 4.0-l V8 engine found in the C-Class AMG DTM are so top secret no site will be able to give you exact hp-output and torque etc. figures.

The fact that AMG hasn't built many race cars for the road in the last ten years means shit, especially since BMW has only been coming out with tons of M3 variants in the last months or so.

BMW has built various M3 GTRs, and that E90 BTCC or w/e touring car. I think they might have still been in F1 earlier this decade.

So?

AMG's philosophy has absolutely nothing to do with racing.

Really? 

All AMG cars outside of those in the Black Series and the SLS are hopped up Benzes.

AMGs are hopped up Benzes? Like a Lexus is a rebadged Toyota? Gotcha. 

Nobody is taking a C/E/S/R/SL63 to track days like they do M3s or Ducatis.

Um, I got news for you. Most people who buy M3s don't take them unto the track. They're bought as status symbols or because of the name. Only a small percentage of M3 owners actually races. Besides, this whole "AMGs suck on the track" myth is nothing but a myth. A stupid one at that made popular by BMW cocksuckers like BMW and Driver. Go on an AMG forum (there are many) and read about the exploits of AMGs on the tracks. They're not the best cars for the track, that's no secret, but they can perform well, especially in the hands of a capable driver. Over on GCZ we have a W203 MB C55 AMG owner who regularly takes his car to the track - and has killed M3s on the track with his C55 AMG. Driver skill is all, and this guy is really good.

Hell, most Ferrari owners don't even take their cars unto a track. Most Ferrari's, unless we're talking about the 458 Italia or F430 Scuderia, are GRAND TOURERS with extreme sports biased. They're not track cars.

[Mustangfan2003]

Oh Snap

[r0tor]

I saw a black cls63amg with black rims at a restaurant near my house.... I believe its Mario andrettis (or sometimes Marco uses it) but neither were inside that I saw

Badass car...