CommanderBond.net
  1. Bond's New Car?

    By daniel on 2000-10-12

    It seems that Bond has left BMW and is moving back to the Aston Martin’s. Sadly it seems that few fans will be able to get behind the wheel of Bond’s new car which will apparently come with a price tag of US$270,000.


    Ever since he drove the DB5 with its ejector seat and machineguns in the battle against Goldfinger, the Aston Martin has been James Bond’s favourite car.

    Now, after a brief flirtation with BMWs, 007 is roaring back in the British firm’s latest model – the $540,000 Vanquish.

    Bond star Pierce Brosnan will take the wheel of the 320kmh super-car in the next 007 film.

    Built of carbon fibre and aluminium with a six-litre V12 engine, the Aston Martin Vanquish can accelerate to 100kmh in under 4.5 seconds.

    Bond’s BMW era ended with the conclusion of the German firm’s $215 million three-movie product placement deal that put Brosnan at the wheel of the BMW Z3 in GoldenEye, a 7-series saloon in Tomorrow Never Dies, and a Z8 sports car in The World Is Not Enough.

    Ford, Aston Martin’s owner is stepping into the breach with a deal worth about $270 million.

    “James Bond is going back to his roots and will be again driving one of the world’s most exclusive cars,” a Ford boss said.

    Though Bond’s trusty DB5 still makes the occasional guest appearance in 007 movies the Vanquish is likely to steal the roadshow in the next big-screen blockbuster.

    An Aston Martin insider said Eon Productions has been sent details of the Vanquish and designers have shown how one could be fitted with a host of 007 gadgets.

    The car will make is world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The first batch of 300 has been sold in advance and there is already a year long waiting list. About 30 percent will got to UK customers, 30 percent to the US and 30 percent to mainland Europe.

    The two-door Vanquish can be bought as a foor-seta or a two-seat with extra rear space for matching designer luggage. Half the owners will have their cars customised, pushing the final price well beyond $540,000.

    The Vanquish started life as a prototype “Project Vantage” nearly three years ago. But such as the public response when it was shown at the Detroit Motor Show in January 1998 the company decided to put in into production.

    Aston Martin has invested more than $5.4 million in its plant at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghampshire, to develop the new model which replaces the V8 Vantage.

    The Vanquish was designed by Dumfries-born Ian Callum, creator of the Aston Martin DB7. “I’m very pleased with the final product,” he said. “It has remained true to the spirit of the original prototype. It’s been three years’ hard work but well worth it.”

    Aston Martin chieft executive Dr Ulrich Bez said “This will be the most dynamic, technically advanced and sophisticated new model ever introduced by Aston Martin.”

    “It will provide exhilarating performance with impeccable handling. It’s a true driver’s car.”