The big news this week for Aston

The big news this week for Aston Martin fans is that the luxury sports car machine made famous by James Bond 007 is heading back into British fingers.

Ford announced that they have sold the corporation to a UK-led group fronted simply by Dave Richards - boss associated with respected motorsport specialist Prodrive instructions for 479 million.

The United states car giant has had a big stake in Aston Martin since 1987, buying the company outright in 1994 and overseeing a period of unprecedented sales success. Under Ford's ownership, the organization developed a number of respected new versions and reported record sales of seven, 000 cars in 2006.

But with the onset of Ford's financial troubles, the girls decided to sell the luxury marque. Kia lost more than $12bn in 2006, and even faces huge restructuring costs. Even so the group has still held to a 40 million slice with the company.

The sportscar specialist will stay at its purpose-built factory in Gaydon (Warwickshire), where 1, 800 people are employed.

Under the leadership of Sawzag Richards, Prodrive has built a strong reputation in motorsport, running typically the Aston Martin racing team in the sports car series around the world as well as the highly-successful Subaru rally team.

Dave Richards also managed the BAR Formula A single team from 2002 to 2004, taking cash rapide the team from eighth in order to second in the manufacturers world shining in that period, before Honda got a greater role and BAR staff was rebranded. Richards was also a top figure in the Benetton F1 staff in the late 90s.

Most interestingly pertaining to motorsport fans, Prodrive owns a slot to enter the 2008 F1 World Championship. But the consortium contains called 'unfounded' speculation that Prodrive may now brand its F1 cars Aston Martin.

Also within the consortium with Dave Richards is without a doubt finance and shipping banker Tom Sinders and two Kuwaiti purchase companies.

Mr Richards reassured Aston Martin fans that the new masters were committed to the company long term together with would not be seeking a quick turn-around like many private equity groups perform.

As well as the potential for an Aston Martin presence in F1 racing to excite fans, the new owners from the company have announced plans to be able to step up production by more than a 1 / 4 in the next three years.

Growth will be driven by the launch of two new models - the DBS, when seen in latest James Bond Casino Suprme, and the four-door Rapide - taking marque's range to seven cars.

At least 200 more workers are expected to be taken on at an expanded Warwickshire plant as a result.

But looking even more ahead, the biggest question facing the modern owners is, without the backing of the well-funded major car group appreciated by many of Aston Martin's primary rivals, whether they will have enough cash to spend on developing the brand's cars to keep them ahead of the competitors.

A further threat is looming EUROPEAN car emissions regulations. If these are generally implemented on a per-manufacturer basis, which would present a major problem for independent car makers like Aston Martin, unable to meet up with average emissions limits across their own range by balancing the often higher output of their powerful flashing models against low-emissions city automobiles, as large car groups should be able to.

For the company to survive under this imposed EU regime, huge investment would be needed to produce low-emissions powerplants that nevertheless maintain the required level of power and performance. Though it is unclear exactly how the EU will implement the lower emissions limits on auto makers that have been agreed.