ASTON ON THE BLOCK; Ambitious growth plans are backdrop to billions in bids.(News)

Byline: JULIAN RENDELL

Even as Ford sorts through bidders interested in buying its Aston Martin subsidiary, those close to the action say the luxury-car company is eyeing an ambitious hike in production to 10,000 cars, possibly as soon as a year after it completes its spinoff from Ford this spring.

At least four bidders are believed to have presented offers for the Ford-owned British sports car company by the deadline of Jan. 30, valuing Aston at between [pounds sterling]500 million and [pounds sterling]550 million (between $981 million and $1.08 billion), according to sources familiar with the bid process. The winning bidder isn't expected to be announced for at least a month, if then.

Bidders include Canadian parts supplier Magna International, British buyout specialists Doughty Hanson, London-based Syrian property millionaire Simon Halabi, and a consortium including the Australian media tycoon James Packer. LVMH, a French luxury-goods maker with brands such as Moet & Chandon champagne, Glenmorangie scotch, TAG Heuer watches and Louis Vuitton fashions under its umbrella, has denied reports it plans to buy Aston Martin.

Sources say the goal of selling 10,000 cars annually is a personal target for Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez, who has led the company upward from 1500 sales in 2001 to 7000 in 2006.

If the 10,000 figure is achieved, it would give Aston's new owners a handsome return on investment, as high as 30 percent by 2010.

Company officials refuse to discuss the new production plan while Ford mulls bids for the company, but industry sources confirm the figure as Aston's next corporate goal.