Fiat Claims Panda Will Be Bond's Car in 'Casino Royale'
Last week an article in the International Herald-Tribune leaked the news that Fiat’s new 4×4 “Panda” will make an appearance in Casino Royale, the 21 James Bond adventure due out next year. Bond fans (and CBn) figured the car would get a “cameo” in the film, or perhaps be driven by Bond Girl Vesper Lynd. As recently as two months ago CBn reconfirmed that Bond’s main car in Casino Royale would be the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
However, according to the Italian website ANSA.it, Fiat has today made the surprising announcement that the Panda will be driven by James Bond himself, replacing the Aston Martin!
Fiat Panda 4×4
“The Turin automaker has confirmed the startling news that in his next film, Casino Royale, the legendary seducer and undercover agent will be driving one of its budget utility vehicles. By taking the wheel of one of Fiat’s bottom-of-the-range models, the original 007 will be breaking a tradition of flashy, high-performance autos that goes back to the Aston Martin DB5 in 1964’s Goldfinger. The Fiat Panda to be driven by the new James Bond – the actor to replace Brosnan has not yet been named – takes 20 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph and its top speed is not even half that of the Aston Martin.
Interestingly, the article goes on to quote “sources close to the production company” as saying Bond’s Panda “will be a fully armed miniature fortress, as indestructable as the other Bond cars. Details of the special gadgets have not yet been decided.”
Can this be true? What happened to Eon’s deal with Ford/Aston Martin? Or will both cars somehow be featured in the film?
As always, stay tuned.For more photos and information on the Panda, CLICK HERE.