Ford to sell Aston Martin

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 31 August 2006 02:39 The world’s two biggest luxury goods firms – including the conglomerate behind brands like Moet and Louis Vuitton – are locked in a battle to buy Aston Martin from cash-starved Ford. Ford announced today that the British sports car manufacturer would be sold and CAR has learned that Swiss-based Richemont and the French holding company LVMH have emerged as most likely to take on Aston despite having no previous experience in the car industry. Ford desperately needs to tap into the potential $700m-$1bn the sale of Aston could generate and hopes to finalise a deal by the end of the year.

Call for Entries: Nissan Design Europe 'East meets West' exhibition

Nissan Design Europe has announced that it will be participating to the 2009 London Design Festival, but the Japanese automaker will not be showing a new vehicle. From September 23rd to the 25th, Nissan Design Europe will open its doors and become a creative hub hosting arts and design displays and seminars as well as leading a series of tours of the facility. Under the theme of 'East meets West: the cultural crossroads of creativity', the exhibition aims to celebrate the cross-pollination of creative industries in London, and the Japanese automaker will open some areas of its Paddington-based design studio for installations from other artists and designers.

Tough new sentences for banned drivers

Newspress Disqualified drivers who cause death on the roads face lengthier sentences, under tough new measures introduced by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling. The changes - which are expected to come into force in early 2015 - include a new offence of causing serious injury while disqualified. Drivers convicted of this new offence can expect a four-year prison term.