Aston Martin Cut Loose

Updated from 8:16 a.m. EDT

Ford (F) may move its international brand of mystery into the ejector seat.

The No. 2 U.S. automaker said Thursday that it is looking to sell its Aston Martin unit, a high-end auto brand famous for providing wheels for James Bond in the 1964 film "Goldfinger."

In real life, Aston Martin sports cars don't come with smoke-screen capabilities, machine guns and an ejector seat, but the brand still holds appeal for drivers who can spend money like 007. Ford, which has been struggling amid high costs and competition from abroad, is betting it can sell the unit for a high price in order to fund its turnaround efforts.

"As part of our ongoing strategic review, we have determined that Aston Martin may be an attractive opportunity to raise capital and generate value," said Chairman and Chief Executive Bill Ford in a press release. He said it is the most logical choice for a divestiture since Aston Martin's dealer network, product architecture and size are distinctly different from other Ford brands.

Ford bought a 75% stake in Aston Martin in 1987 and then acquired the rest of the company six years later. The remainder of Ford's "premier" brands -- Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo -- are rumored to be next on the block. Ford said Thursday, however, that it hasn't made any decisions yet, though it "continues to be encouraged" by Jaguar's progress and the strength of the product lineups.