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  1. Ferrari 355 GTS

    By jason on 2001-08-02

    One of the many nemesis’ James Bond encounters in GoldenEye, the larger than life Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) is one of many who knows how to travel across the French Riviera in style. We are first introduced to Janssen’s character as she races her “Rosso Red” 355 GTS along the rocky system of roads surrounding the playboy and jet-set locale favourite, Monaco.

    • Manufacturer: Ferrari
    • Model: 355 GTS
    • Top Speed: 183 mph
    • Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds
    • Engine Capacity: 3496cc

    Nicknamed “The Baby Ferrari”, this mid-engined Italian super-car is a monster in it’s own rite. Capable of turning out just over 380bhp, the light-weight aluminium V-8 engine propels the sexy lines of the car sitting upon its unitary steel chassis from 0-60mph in a mere 4.7 seconds.

    Perhaps one of the smallest in size, and by no-means the fastest, the 355 series is the regarded by many to have some of the finest handling of any vehicle in the distinguished history of Ferrari. It’s small dimensions allows for a unique agility that is not as apparent in many of the larger cars to role out of the manufacturer’s Maranello plant.

    Whilst taking his evaluation period in the South Of France, James Bond drives the vulnerable ‘Caroline’ at high speed en-route to Monte Carlo. Boasting both his self-esteem, and engine size, 007 manoeuvres his classic DB5 with precision around the sharps turns and bends overlooking the province of Monaco.

    Adding both a taste of humour, and an injection of excitement to the situation, Xenia “the next girl” Onatopp arrives on the scene with the rear-wheel-drive 355 GTS. A hazardous and transfixing racing sequence begins, the best of British engineering takes on the finest ‘the prancing horse’ has to offer. During the chase the Ferrari spins-out, and there are a multitude of near misses between the two cars.

    The script called for Bond to be seen winning the race, however a fluke accident which involved the two cars colliding during a stunt resulted in an event which caused damage to the 355 which was only on-loan from Ferrari. A deal was later struck, in which the producers agreed not to show Bond victorious in the race, on the condition that Ferrari would front the money for the damages caused to the car.