Audi Sells Cosworth Engine Group to Mahle

Its sales numbers should translate into a reasonable profit for Audi, since it purchased the engine builder from British

Although no price has been reported, the sale of the $265 million a year company no doubt meant a reasonable profit for Audi. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

conglomerate Vickers for 117 million pounds ($277 million CAD; $225 million USD) in 1998, when the company was divesting its Rolls-Royce and Bentley divisions.

Volkswagen also purchased the two automakers, or so it thought, until BMW showed up with the rights to the Rolls-Royce name. The two cordially separated the two brands, which has been proven especially beneficial to Bentley, long under the stifling control of Rolls-Royce.

None of Cosworth's 970 employees in its three British facilities and single U.S. plant should be affected by the takeover when it goes into effect at the close of 2004, pending regulatory approval.

If you follow the world's premier motorsport series, Formula One, you may remember reading about Ford putting Cosworth up for sale when it also put its F1 interests, namely Jaguar Racing, on the block. Confused? Well, this

The good news for automotive enthusiasts is that the famed Cosworth name will live on. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

is also true. Volkswagen chose not to purchase the Formula One portion of Cosworth from Vickers, which also builds racing engines for other series such as North America's Champ Car, and therefore it was sold to Ford Motor Co.

Ford sold Cosworth Formula One to Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe last month, owners of the PKV and Forsythe racing teams plus co-owners of Champ Car.

The good news to automotive enthusiasts is that Cosworth, the racing engine builder and the performance street car engine developer live on, totally separate but still heralding from England.