Should VW bring one of the brands to F1?

VW owns the Lamborghini and Bugatti brands. Lambo had a less then impressive run in F1 a decade ago.

Do you think VW should get into F1 using the Lamborghini or Bugatti brand?

definately. i say use all 3, everycompany should join f1 give mclaren and ferrari a run for their money. it is a high cost though and is probably why they dont mess with it. id love to see all of VAG in F1

-GTi-VR6_A3

Using the Lamborghini brand would be interesting, but probably pointless for the VW group. They'd be most likely to use the Audi brand if they were to enter F1.

It would make more sense for VW to use the Audi brand since it is what is recognised in motorsports from their stable as being the top stuff.

The argument that VW should utilise Lambo or Bugatti is as absurd as saying Toyota should use Lexus and Honda should use Acura in my opinion.

Look at it this way, Bernd Pitschreider, or however you spell his name, has said that Audi needs to acquire a new, sportier image. Audi is the only possibility

Audi already has a great image from Le Mans and other events they are in. Bugatti is supposed to the ultimate barnd, so seeing them in F1 would make sense, but considering how few they will sell, it may not be worth it. Lamborghini sels more units and a Ferrari versus Lamborghini battle is a classic.

Isn't Audi already in F1? That is, in the sense that they supply engines to one or some teams, as Cosworth actually makes and supplies the engines, and Cosworth is a subsidiary of Audi.

Originally posted by LSR
Isn't Audi already in F1? That is, in the sense that they supply engines to one or some teams, as Cosworth actually makes and supplies the engines, and Cosworth is a subsidiary of Audi.

Cosworth supplied engines are under the Ford name, so I would say that is Ford not Audi.

LSR is right, here is a press release...

Following their acquisition by AUDI AG, the various areas of Cosworth were brought together under the name Cosworth Technology Ltd. Cosworth Technology Ltd. operates from four locations: in Northampton (UK) the company develops all-in solutions for drivelines – from the initial draft design of the engine to the testing of control systems. Aluminium cylinder heads and engine blocks of very high purity are cast at Worcester (UK). The Cosworth Technology process is patented. The ultra-modern plant at Wellingborough (UK) produces and assembles engines. This plant supplies the engines and machined cylinder heads and engine blocks for the Audi RS 6, for example. The development of innovative information and diagnostic systems at Novi (Michigan, USA) completes the line-up. Audi consequently has technologies at its disposal that will continue to corroborate its Vorsprung durch Technik in the future
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Ford may have contracts with Cosworth to make the engines. It is kind of like BMW still suppling motors to the new Range Rover which Ford bought from BMW.

Indeed. Bizarrely, Cosworth is controlled (?) by Audi.

Doesnt mean they're in F1 though ;)

Well, if that is the argument, that Audi is in F1 because they own Cosworth, then Audi is in the WRC too because Ford utilise a Cosworth tuned Zetec engine in the Focus.

Wait there it was, a Cosworth tuned Ford engine?

So that is a Ford engine right?
Correct me if I am wrong, but Jordan and Jaguar are using a Cosworth prepared Ford engine?

So where is the Audi in that? The engine is not an Audi engine, although Audi own Cosworth who prepare the engines for the Ford supplied F1 teams and for Ford Rallye Sport.

I am with Jay on this one, owning Cosworth doesn't mean Audi are in F1 (nor the WRC for that matter).

Originally posted by vectorclub
Audi already has a great image from Le Mans and other events they are in. Bugatti is supposed to the ultimate barnd, so seeing them in F1 would make sense, but considering how few they will sell, it may not be worth it. Lamborghini sels more units and a Ferrari versus Lamborghini battle is a classic.

First of all, explain to me how Jaguar is benefitting from being in F1 instead of road racing, then based on that, tell me why Audi, VW or Lambo should be there? :confused:

First of all, explain to me how Jaguar is benefitting from being in F1 instead of road racing, then based on that, tell me why Audi, VW or Lambo should be there?

In my own opinion, Jaguar is benefiting from being in F1 because it is a high tech race series. Jaguar is trying to regain the image of being a high tech performance car builder. If Jaguar had been successful, I think few would question them being there.

Jaguar had great success at Le Mans and their road racing efforts did well over the years. For the moment, F1 holds that top technology series image. That is why Jaguar is there.

Audi does not need to be in F1 because they are having such great success outside of F1 and have a good reputation. Lamborghini or Bugatti could both use an image improvement. Lambo does not have bad image, but if they were able to beat Ferrari in F1 it would great image boost for Lambo.

I am not sure if the VW brand would benefit as much. I just put that in there to see what people would say.

Getting back to the Audi in F1 thing, Cosworth is making engines for Ford teams. You might argue that some of the Audi engieers maybe involved since Audi may share engineers with Cosworth. I doubt there is much exchange between Audi and Cosworth engineers on Ford contracted projects.

Lambo was alreay in F1 - pretty unsuccesfull :spit:

Bugatti F1 sounds pretty cool to me, but other then that :gives:

:2cents:

Audi bought Cosworth Technology in 1998, but at the same time Ford, bought Cosworth Racing.

Audi bought Cosworth Technology in 1998, but at the same time Ford, bought Cosworth Racing.

It is amazing how parts of companies are bought and sold.

Look at the mess with Roll Royce Aerospace and the Rolls Royce cars mess.

I think over the years people will be confused by Ford buying Volvo cars and not their commercial truck division. If I was Ford, I would have bought everything or had a clause saying the truck division should be renamed after Ford pays for Volvo cars division.

I am sure the Cosworth racing versus technology thing will confuse people for decades to come

okay, this is without reading any of the other posts but I think if they were to, which I think they should...it would probally be the Audi name. I can see it happenning, they are no longer involved in the ALMS champioship so I dont know were they are going.

They should use the VW name. It's one of the most popular brands in the world. A lot of people could relate to it.

VW is not a prestige brand. Regardless of its popularity it is far from the best choice among the group’s brands to use in F1. Audi needs the image makeover. The last think you want is Audi staying where it is and VW crawling up and stealing sales from its sister company.

Originally posted by crayzayjay
VW is not a prestige brand. Regardless of its popularity it is far from the best choice among the group’s brands to use in F1. Audi needs the image makeover. The last think you want is Audi staying where it is and VW crawling up and stealing sales from its sister company.

The head of VW has said that he intends to take VW upscale, which means on a level of Audi, and being in F1 would be an effective way to make that statement. If you look at some of the prices of VW's these days, you'll see he is moving in that direction, but I recently drove a New Beetle and it was like stepping back in time ten years as far as car technology is concerned, my '94 mazda 626 felt like it was still ahead of it, very disappointing. :smile:

Where would be the sense in taking VW to the same level as Audi? That isn’t going to happen. Pitschreider wants to take both VW and Audi up-market, so while Audi will be more prestigious and sporty, VW is unlikely to become even what Audi is today, it will remain below that. Audi really is the only possibility, it has to be seen to be taking on Mercedes and BMW, the public would be confused if VW was in there