If you often use Google, you can try it. Input is the most expensive. Don't press Enter for the time being. You will see that the first two search suggestions that pop up under the input field are "cars" and "watches". There has always been an incredible synergy between express trains and timing devices. Both of them basically have a boring purpose, but the money they take from the world's super-rich and even their exquisiteness are amazing. Among all kinds of cars, speedster seems to be a new type of turntable chronograph, which is unlikely to be waterproof to 500 feet.
There will only be 12 Bentley Moulinas bacalar in the world, and now they have all been robbed. In order to get this privilege, each buyer has to pay 6.5438+0.5 million pounds, plus tax. Aston Martin will produce 88 V 12 Speedster, 35 of which have been recognized by buyers as early as the manufacturer disclosed a very abstract design sketch. Although the price of each fighter is 765,000 pounds, and the specifications inspired by the F/A- 18 fighter you see here will inevitably be greatly revised in the future, aston martin is still confident that when you read this article, Speedster will be sold out on March 4, 2020.
In other words, Bentley earned a revenue of1800,000 only by virtue of a slightly modified work from GTC mainland with a retail price of176,000, but its performance was slightly inferior to GTC. At the same time, once aston martin closes what Marek reichman, the company's vice president and chief designer, calls "the secret door for collectors only", the company can earn at least 67 million pounds with this special plan before deducting the cost.
It is unfair to compare this rocket-powered bathtub with Slimming Vantage. It actually combines Vantage's basic hardware, DB 1 1 and DBS, and uses some special equipment under the weapon-grade car body. However, marek happily admitted: "It is just like a Lego. In the future, a new model with the largest engine matching the shortest wheel wheelbase may be derived as a pioneer. You might as well imagine the future use of this collocation. " How about the new V 12 Vantage?
Because both works use the factory's existing 12-cylinder twin-turbo engine and the upgraded version of the standard automatic gearbox, the interior is only repainted, and the body is made of carbon fiber with lower production cost than the low-yield steel plate with sharper appearance. This is a good business with small profits but quick turnover, but both of them are also of great significance in business planning.
Aston martin plans to produce two such special editions every year, and delivered four special editions of 99 Zagato V 12 last year. Bacalar is the starting point for Bentley to revive Mulliner, the body production department, which will spare no effort to test the buyer's wallet depth with its engineering experience.
As usual, I greet you with amazing data first, especially considering that Bacalar's top speed in Bentley convertible is enough to make Aston without windshield suffer a big loss. However, knowing that its seven-speed manual transmission can't cope, Aston has installed an engine with a torque of 753.2 Nm on this "truly fascinating driving weapon designed for our company's most enthusiastic customers". Isn't this a very debatable move? Therefore, it is not surprising that this super Aston, which is most suitable for driving on auspicious days, uses an eight-speed shift paddle and paddle gearbox in order to adapt to the engine.
Why do they have a crush on speedster? Why this year's must-buy is not only a further upgrade of power, but also the design of the cockpit is inspired by single-seat racing cars, just like picking a number from the phone book as a pricing convertible? Why do all super-running manufacturers fall into this dead end of evolution, but the body is crisp and thin instead of wafer? First of all, please listen to the official explanation of Bacalar body designer JPGregory.
"These are collectors' search objects. I like to show off my collection. Every kind of baby wants to have one. "However, he agrees that this does not mean that buyers will be loyal to a brand." It reflects the zeitgeist of today's super-rich. "Reactions and practical actions to the trend that super-running must become safer, more environmentally friendly and easier to drive.
Reichman of Aston Martin is very optimistic about his work and thinks that this unconventional sports car proves that those who laugh at the One-77 and Zagato special editions are wrong. "(The new speed school) is really unusual." He said, "But we are satisfying the appetite of collectors, because they are increasingly eager for a higher level of personalized cars. This sports car is the kind of collection that only opens once or twice a year. "
Mulliner summed up Bacalar's development purpose with "the ultimate GT for creating cockpit open air", but this seems to be self-contradictory. I'd appreciate it if you asked me what kind of car Nice would drive with a roof over his head. However, Bacalar has at least a windshield. Although it is clear in the car that there is not even an umbrella to shelter from the rain, there are suitcases with tailor-made sizes. So does Aston, which doesn't even have a windshield, face the risk of high and low curvature? Marek defended his position like this: "This kind of sports car is even more impractical than motorcycles, but it has an incredible sense of openness and excitement."
But let's face it, will anyone really dominate the world with V 12 Speedster except Goodwood's manicured lawn? "Our collectors like to collect the most exquisite works. The last thing they want is a car that is eye-catching in appearance and not practical enough to bring them wonderful feedback and performance. "
At first glance, it seems to be the easiest task on earth to leak one or two design sketches to the richest man in a million, and then wait for the helicopter full of gold bars to arrive. Mulliner boss Tim Hannig strongly retorted that it was a nightmare balance beam, and the person who bargained with you was definitely the object you didn't want to lose.
"Whenever our customers say no, we start to arrange other alternatives." He told me at the Bacalar meeting, "I hate to disappoint people."
This brings another question: whether Mulliner or Aston Martin's Q department, what are the quotas allocated by these departments that tailor cars for customers? Do they tend to choose people who love cars and don't put their new favorites in the treasure house? After all, Valkyrie, which has limited Aston 150 cars, has received more than 600 orders, and these prospective buyers are not used to hearing the word "no".
Marek said that at the beginning of the sale, they would not have a choice, and deliberately distinguished which buyers would actually use these cars until the quota was running out. "Let's face it, 80% of these cars will become dark collections, but the remaining 20% will be ordered, which must bring users a refreshing experience and must do what is listed on the product packaging."
Tim Hannig of Mulliner naturally knows how to quote ig Chaozhou dialect. "I am engaged in an industry that realizes my dreams and will not judge other people's dreams. The sky is boundless. " This is not the prologue of his TED talk, but the answer I got from him when I asked him under what circumstances he would resolutely pull away from a particularly boring project.
Bakalar was the first shot in the Mulina Rally, but if Bentley wants to turn the company's accounts from red to black, it will definitely need more such rarities. It should be noted that Bentley suffered losses in 20 17 and 18 years, because of the obvious economic slowdown in China and its failure to prepare for the latest waste disposal legislation. The head of the parent company Volkswagen Group even issued a military order requiring Bentley to turn losses into profits within two years. Therefore, Clumingmen learned from the common secrets of Ferrari and Lamborghini, and set out to create a special masterpiece, creating a B-shaped chapter for billionaires. Price, in short, welcome to inquire. As for Aston, who has just been rescued from financial difficulties by F 1 team owner Lawrence Stroll, he certainly has the same abacus.
Then why do you just do12 baccalar? Although this work widened the left and right wheel tracks, it also used new wheels, carbon fiber head and tail fins, new head and tail lights and overhead center console. In fact, the power output of W 12 is slightly improved, reaching 650 horsepower. "If the output is less than this, it will be more difficult to get the approval from above." Tim explained, "So we recommend it to enthusiastic customers and distribute it on a first-come-first-served basis." If you still remember that Ferrari is making 500 SP Monza and using this limited edition as a ticket to buy the next generation of LaFerrari, you will understand that this is a very important development secret. It is not difficult to predict that Bentley and Aston will definitely make this way of making money incisively and vividly.
Therefore, the customers of these works will inevitably overlap. Imagine that Speedster is in the ascendant. Wouldn't it be awkward to get in and out of Monte Carlo without wearing this outfit? "Our customers are more extensive than Bentley, because the number of special editions of Bentley is much less." Marek said, "If there are twelve Bentley guests, there is no doubt that some of them will plan to buy Speedster."
Instead of just buying a deliberately impractical car, buy three or four cars and spend a lot of money every time. This mentality really fascinates me. "We have a group of core customers who want to buy one or two or everything." Marek said, "If you have spent 35 years collecting Aston, you naturally don't want to miss the rarest models. Some people will say no, because it rains everywhere where they live. As far as this Speedster is concerned, we have a younger customer base and a group of guests who will be among the collectors in the future. The price below 654.38+00000 pounds is actually more valuable than some competitors. "
This is tantamount to a challenge. Assuming Aston launches V 12 Vantage Roadster in the next decade, how valuable Speedster is can only be said to be a matter of opinion. Bentley's unique selling point lies in the meticulous use of materials, and the decoration used will not be seen in the worn-out chariots that Premier League first-team stars drive to the training ground.
Bentley created a unique button knurling texture for twelve Bacalar works. The unique quilting requires craftsmen to sew 65,438+044,65,438+099 stitches on each seat. The wood used for the decorative board around the carriage comes from the submerged wood unearthed in the peat swamp of East Anglia, England, 5,500 years ago.
Aston martin will never decorate your Speedster with mummy trees, but he will also use some special materials, such as "3D printed rubber" (which will certainly help the family planning reform). The carbon fiber truss beam separating the seats on both sides will make the communication atmosphere in the carriage look like a Davos reception that values social distance. Perhaps luxury enjoyment is very private, provided that this privacy must attract everyone's attention.
Bentley kept his mouth shut about Moulinas's next plan, and it's not hard to imagine why. Although Bacalar is very successful, Bentley's water temperature test is only the first step. Reichmann prefers to talk about what Bezos and Zuckerberg want next time.
"Tradition always goes round and round." He said, "when you put a roof on a car, someone will always ask you if you can take the roof;" After the roof is removed, someone will always ask you if you can take the windshield away. With the increasing digitalization of driving, our customers may be interested in reliving the taste of analogy. "
I think this opinion is not unreasonable. After all, the same thing happened to watches.