MV and Proton???

[wkid_one]

Claudio Castiglioni, sole shareholder of the MV Agusta Group, has been visiting Malaysia to explore business opportunities. On this trip a meeting was set up with representatives of the government and industries of Malaysia. During the meetings the Malaysians showed an interest in the technical, productive and heritage of the MV Agusta Group and what has happened in regards to the relaunch of activities.

The Proton Group is the Malaysian leader in vehicle production and is interested in also producing vehicles in Europe, where it already retains the 'Lotus' trademark. During the meetings agreements were reached in regards to possible cooperation between the groups.

A letter of intent has been undersigned by Claudio Castiglioni and Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Ariff, CEO of Proton Group, as the presence of Menteri Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathire Mohamad, Malaysian Prime Minister, in order to examine closely a wide cooperation between the two bodies. It is well known that MV Agusta is currently under 'Controlled Administration', and with the supervision of the Court of Varese and with the support of Banca Intesa, its production activities are completely recovering and gaining a remarkable success internationally for the models currently on the market.

During the conversations the idea of the participation of Proton has been preliminarily examined, through an increase in the share capital reserved for a consistent portion.

An agreement has been reached on the opportunity to accomplish in the shortest possible time all necessary close examinations: should these give positive results for both parties, the possible agreement will be screened and approved by the institutional and controlling bodies.

Claudio Castiglioni has declared: "I am really satisfied of the interest I have noticed for the effort we are making, also thanks to the help of Banca Intesa, to finally get out of the current situation and for a further relaunch of our activities. We are cheered by the recovery at full capacity of our activities and by the exceptional popularity shown on the markets with regard to our products and particularly with reference to the new Brutale model, MV F4 1000S and the new Husqvarna models. I wish to be able to reach and industrial and stock agreement giving more strength to our projects."

 

From www.mcnews.com.au

[matthewt]

While I can understand the need for the Cagiva group get some cash pumped in, since the bank bailed them out it seems they had got their act together. For once MV were releasing new models which had been promised for years and the spares situation seems to be getting better as well.

I'd hate to see Italian bikes being made somewhere other than italy, I think it would cheapen the various marques.

It's possible that they may make some bikes for the local South East Asian market in Malaysia. Proton has for some time assembled Mitsubishi cars under it's own name.

I'd rather see Cagiva group battle its way out. I mean most of the various marques within the group have orders for more bikes than they can produce under the business plan approved by the bank.

I'm not worried about resale value for my bike but I'd hate to see the history of such a great marque be diminshed for the sake of a few $$$'s.

[jrandom]

Originally posted by wkid_one
with reference to the ... MV F4 1000S

I would mortgage the kids for one of these, I really would. But not if it wasn't made in Italy. I already *have* a bike made in Southeast Asia!

I hope they don't go all global and efficient on us... that's what the Japanese brands are for.

That eight-week wait for a new footpeg while a little old Italian man shuffles about in a dusty warehouse boxing up an order is integral to the mystique, I reckon :D

[matthewt]

Originally posted by jrandom
That eight-week wait for a new footpeg while a little old Italian man shuffles about in a dusty warehouse boxing up an order is integral to the mystique, I reckon :D

Yer, hopefully that guy moves his arse and gets my clutch lever out here. Luckily the lever is still usable because I know a guy who has been waiting for a small body panel for over a year.

Although at least if they shipped parts out of Asia it would throw my wife off the scent, she starts getting worried when the Fedex man has boxes from Italy for me.

[bikerboy]

I like getting fedex boxes from Italy or the US. :D

[matthewt]

Hi Bikerboy,

is your mv the full silver one ?? I think it got sold 2nd hand with only 200 k's on it ??

Matt.

[bikerboy]

That's mine mate!

[SPman]

Couldn't resist this....

SCHIRANNA, Italy (Reuters) Officials at MV Agusta, Italy's renowned manufacturer of high-end, limited production motorcycles announced today they would begin production of an extremely high-end ATV aimed at the lucrative US market.

"This will be a product the likes of which, the world has never seen, especially duck hunters" said Claudio Castalooney, Director of Special Projects and Expensive Lunches at MV announced in a press conference.

The prototype machine is made of carved billet aluminum, carbon fibre and costs over $75,000. Features include a carbon fibre gun rack, billet beer can holder, and an exquisitely crafted 6 into 2 into 4 into 5 into 6 back to 2 into 834-5789, you can call me up and have a date, any old time into 7 into 1 into 6 exhaust system. The exhaust tips end in a rollcage protruding 2 feet over the riders head and play "Camptown Races" on downshifts.


The engine uses a special "cashodesmo" valve adjustment system which uses the direct action of the rider's credit card. This is said to be much more efficent than the older method of valve adjustments where the rider had to drop his machine off at a dealer, wait 6 weeks, and then use his credit card. More performance can be obtained by running the card through the reader at a faster pace. Liquid cooling keeps the card from melting.

Suspension is a ground-breaking double cradle wingbat ground hoogie afro-sheen mind bender overlink full floating with independent risers and a deer whistle.

Available colors will include titanium, matte black, flat black, velvet matte black, Matt Damon Black, Senna Racing, Rossi Red, or camouflage.

The vehicle will be available at dealers in the spring or summer or maybe winter of 2005 or 2007 or something, but will be preceded by thousands of pages of endless hype from motorcycle magazines before 110 of them are permanently stored in rich guy's garages, only to be seen at Pebble beach every 3 years. The vehicle will probably be a let down, although some industry insiders say it will merely be a disapointment.

- courtesy Gabe from M.O.