Are BMW really trying to buy De Tomaso?

Reports from Italy say that BMW is in talks to buy De Tomaso, the perpetually failed maker of supercars.

It’s long been rumoured that BMW has an interest in acquiring De Tomaso to give it a proper supercar brand to rival the offerings from the VW group. But, despite many opportunities to do so, BMW has never made the move.

They didn’t make the move after we reported back in 2009 that the De Tomaso assets were being brokeredquietly round the car world, and they didn’t bite when former Fiat man Gian Mario Rossignolo – who bought De Tomaso at the end of 2009 – made an offer for De Tomaso.

Now, with De Tomaso once again in the hands of the receiver, it seems BMW are seriously back in the frame to snap up what is probably the only Italian Supercar brand not in the hands of a big car maker.

According to an Italian Union spokesperson, Italy’s Industry Minister has confirmed that they are in talks with BMW about acquiring the De Tomaso brand, as well as with Italian partners interested in its structural assets.

As recently as this May BMW denied it had any interest in acquiring De Tomaso, but that seems now to have been forgotten.

But it’s an appealing prospect; a De Tomaso built by BMW. What better way to compete in the supercar league than with an iconic (well, perhaps not iconic, but certainly an interesting Italian supercar name)? But then, that was always the imperative behind the rumours of a BMW interest in De Tomaso.

Let’s hope it’s real this time.