12 Dec 06
A deal has been done to sell the pair via a major UK dealer group. 'We have an agreement with an organisation that will represent us in the UK and also help us in Europe,' said the spokesman. Predicted volumes are initially around 7,000 cars in the first 12 months and more in subsequent years. The team has ambitious plans to go global, with the cars scheduled for a debut in America in 2009 - a year after Smart arrives there with the Fortwo - and plans for various Asian markets too, including Japan.
While Project Kimber is solely focused on getting the Ace Roadster and Coupe off the ground now, there's every chance there will be more vehicles to follow. The spokesman told us: 'It's too early to talk about the longer term, but this is not going to be a one-model strategy. The plan is to develop the brand. Under the licensing agreement reached with AC other iconic names from the company's archives can be made available.' That could leave the way open for names such as Cobra, Aceca or even Greyhound to return.
It's not yet clear where the ACs will be produced, although the Welsh Assembly has offered grant aid of around £5 million for redevelopment of a site in the principality, and Project Kimber bosses are in discussions with the current owners. But other locations have not been ruled out, and everything is subject to the investment plans being finalised. Project Kimber has announced it's in 'the final stages' of assembling £65 million from a consortium of backers based in Hong Kong and Europe. It's the people who are putting their hands in their pockets who will ultimately decide where the cars are to be built.
The other potential spanner in the works is that Project Kimber doesn't yet own the rights and tooling to the Smarts. However, even DaimlerChrysler acknowledges that the deal is close. A memorandum of understanding between the two parties was signed in February 2006, and the contracts for the sale have been drawn up.
