Ferrari 355 GTS

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.

BMW Z8

The BMW 507 was launched in 1956, a total of only 254 cars were ever built. With an optional 3:42 gear ratio, the 507 Albrecht Goertz designed vehicle could achieve a top speed of 138mph. The 507 is still regarded today one of the most beautiful cars ever to be crafted. It’s smooth lines oozed elegance, style, and prestige.

• Manufacturer: BMW
• Model: Z8
• Top Speed: 155 mph
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds
• Engine Capacity: 4941cc

When the BMW design team were asked to design the Z8 the brief was simple; ‘to create the most desirable car that they had ever built’. The designers used the brief as a reason to draw inspiration from the classic 507, a car which was still regarded as highly desirable in the current market. Taking ideas from the cars shape, and posture the designers tried to capture the spirit of the existing 507, and transform it into a modern day sports car. Once completed, the two cars were very similar in appearance, it was clear that the 507 was dated at over 40 years old, but the revamped version matched up to everything in the brief, and the V-8 powered highway cruiser was given the name “Z07” as a tribute to its heritage.

It was in 1997 that BMW premiered the front-engined Z07 as a concept car to its audience at the Tokyo Auto Show. The automotive world fell in love with its looks, the announced specifications were nothing short of breathtaking, and it appeared that the team had created a success.

With public interest at a high, BMW bosses took the decision to take the Z07 into production. To maintain exclusivity the car was to be built in limited numbers only. Whilst a few changes were made, the spirit of the 507 were at the forefront of the designers minds, the original car had been built from aluminium, so with the exception of the bumpers and a minor amount of stylised details, the Z07’s bodywork was to keep this traditional aspect of its build.

The rigid monocoque frame was to be built at BMW’s Dingolfing plant, where the current 3 Series convertible hardtop, M3 hood, and 7 Series hood and front fender were already being produced at the plants aluminium treating facility. This aluminium bodywork allowed the car 30% less weight that if it were to be built using steel., this contributed to the ease of suspension tuning, which BMW believed would add to positive driver feedback for it’s new 394bhp flagship car, which had now been re-named the “Z8”.

Months before the Z8 was ready to go on sale, the producers of the Bond films, Eon, and members of the 19th Bond’s production design team were faced with the prospect of choosing a final vehicle for James Bond to get behind the wheel of, before the 3 picture contract with BMW expired.

Together with the producers, and director, production designer; Peter Lamont, a veteran of the franchise selected the Z8 for the “Q-Branch” treatment. However, a problem arose, the limited edition Z8 was not available for filming, and a solution had to be found.

Special-effects experts requested the Z8’s body panels from the BMW-AG group. Utilising replica AC Cobra kit-cars by Dax, technicians transformed the Cobra into what passed on-screen for the flagship BMW.

To set-up a sort of in-joke, as part of the car battle sequence, Bond is shown using his keys to remotely drive the Z8, leading the audience to believe they are going to be treated to another chase in the same style as Tomorrow Never Dies, however James Bond jumps into the car early on, and disposes of pursuing enemy helicopter using a surface-to-air missile system introduced by John Cleese, and the late Desmond Lleweyln earlier in the film.

Cleese’s character also brags of multi-tasking heads-up display, titanium armour… and six beverage cup holders (yet, why you would need six drinks in a two seated car still eludes me).

Living on in James Bond, the Z8 stopped production in November 2002. Tuning brand Alpina bought the rites to the Z8 and developed a more elusive model under their own brand-name.

The £80,000 left-hand-drive only Z8, was by far the most glamorous set of wheels James Bond had drive to date. Like the 507 before it, the Z8 oozes charisma, and style with a multitude of chrome highlights and leather upholstery, the BMW design team achieved their brief by getting the world’s greatest action hero behind the wheel, instantly attaining desirability, and immortalising the Z8 with a place in cinematic history.

Spyker Spyder Car For Bond 20?

Forum user "James Bond" aka Daniel, has posted a topic that says a magazine has published an article claiming the Chairman of Spyker Cars to be negotiating with EON Producers to let Bond drive the Spyker Spyder in Bond 20. This is only a rumour, but I've just been looking for some pictures of the Spyker Spyder C8 and love it to bits now! However, I must agree with Daniel that Bond should be driving an Aston Martin again.

Here's some info on the car:

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Technical Specifications – Spyker Spyder C8

Bodywork
Full aluminium hand built, mid-engined open sports car with aerodynamic ground effect and electrically operated single hinge tilting doors. Interior trimmed in Connolly leather. Luggage compartment in front and rear, including two made-to-measure Connolly leather suitcases. F1 approved safety fuel bags integrated in left and right inner chassis members.

————————————————-

Engine design
Full aluminium Audi V8 engine (type S8) with 90-degree block angle. Natural aspiration through eight injection throttle bodies. Four overhead camshafts and five valves per cylinder. Stainless steel 4-into-1 high performance exhausts on either side of the engine.

————————————————-

Capacity 4172 cc
Power 298 kW (400 bhp) (Stage I)
Torque 480 Nm
Maximum revolutions 7500 rpm

————————————————-

Transmission
Sequential or manual six-speed gearbox without electronic intervention. Rear wheel drive, with optional limited slip differential. Switchable traction control and ABS.

————————————————-

Chassis and suspension
Aluminium space frame clad with aluminium panels carries fully adjustable F1-style independent suspension, with Koni in board shock absorbers. Uprights CNC machined from solid billets of aluminium.

————————————————-

Electrical system
Decentralised wiring system(Spyker patented)

————————————————-

Brake system
Twin-circuit brake system with adjustable brake balance. 6-piston aluminium brake callipers at the front, 4-piston aluminium brake callipers at the rear with ventilated brake discs. Brake disc diameter, front and rear, 356/330 mm.

————————————————-

Wheels and tyres
Forged O.Z. alloy rims, (Spyker Aeroblade ™ design) with central locknuts
Front tyres, 225/40ZR 18 (Bridgestone Potenza)
Rear tyres, 255/35ZR 18 (Bridgestone Potenza)

————————————————-

Sizes and weights
Kerb weight 1000 kg
Wheelbase 2550 mm
Front track 1400 mm
Rear track 1580 mm
Length 4050 mm
Width (ex mirrors) 1880 mm
Height 1080 mm
Fuel tank capacity 100 litres

————————————————-

Performance
Top speed 300 km/h
Acceleration 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds

---

Sounds good doesn't it!

Here's some pictures:

Another picture here

And another one here

If you like these Spyker cars as much as me, you can also check out their web site here.

There's a post already on the forums here.

Thanks to Daniel for the news!

Is This The Bond 20 Plot?

This article has been updated! The update is included at the bottom of the article.

Bond20.Com have posted what they’ve called the “Bond 20 Plot”. The first time this rumour popped up was a few days ago in the Bond 20 Forums, posted by Mr Trump. But it’s been completely expanded since then. According to Bond20.Com this is the Bond 20 Story Line:

“Bond 20 will finally reveal the origins of the 00 agents. We will discover
that Bond’s father, Andrew Bond, was a 00 agent who worked with Q in the
early days. We will discover that Bond’s father did not die with his mother
in a climbing accident. Seeing as Bond’s father was scottish it was thought
by the writer that this would be an ideal way of having Sean Connery back in
some shape or form to play against Pierce Brosnan as Bond’s father. However,
this is highly unlikely considering his relationship with the Brocolli family
– so another actor may get the part. It would of been though a fantastic
opportunity as Bond 20 will be the 40th anniversary film and what better than
having the original Bond and the latest Bond on screen together. On the rest
of the casting front – Nigel Havers is correct in what he has said on GMTV in
England. He does have a part as a villian in Bond 20 as the son to the man
that killed Bond’s mother on an ice mountain in Chamonix, France. Bond will
visit the scene of where his mother was killed and there will be a fantastic
action scene on the ice mountain Mont Blanc which involves Bond and pitons
and ice axes. One villian is killed inside the ice. Hence why the press have
been under the impression the film will be called – Beyond the Ice. In fact –
the script where all if this information comes from was called Final
Assignment. The rest of the action takes place in 3 main locations – Sydney,
Australia – Tokyo & New York where there is a fantastic helicopter chase
through the skyscrapers and a fight to the death on the crown of The Statue
of Liberty. The main plot revolves around Bond finding out about his fathers
involvement in the British Secret Service. We learn Q had kept this info from
Bond for years and we discover that a man by the name of Saten is using mind
control as a way of controlling peoples actions. It is discovered that Bond’s
father could still be alive but the main villian was involved in some way
with Bond’s parents – be it in their respective deaths. There is a scene
involving England and the World Cup ( you will see what I mean – it involves
a parachute and Bond!!! ) and there is a car that becomes a boat but
extremely different to the Lotus in The Spy Who Loved Me. The opening
sequence involves a jet black motorbike with amazing gadgets, two cars, two
speedboats and a cruise ship in St.Lucia.”

It’s very extensive isn’t it? And I believe that’s the problem. With well over a year till Bond 20 premieres MGM and EON Productions would not let such major plot details about the film slip out into the public. Very few people would have access to such an extensive resource.

All in all I believe it’s fan created. Firstly, as I pointed out in the forums, it sounds like a plot that a Bond fan would love. Secondly, it’s far too fantastic. Bond’s father not really killed? That’s very similair to the Bond 19 rumour that told us James Bond’s son would feature as the villain! Did he? Of course not. Secondly, a villain named Saten who uses mind control? This is a James Bond movie not The Matrix.

Other problems are of course invovled in the plot description. Three confirmed locations. Sydney, Tokyo and New York. Sydney featured heavily in Mission Impossible 2 so it’s unlikely that EON and MGM would follow suit directly after. And to top that off a very high ranking source of mine informs me that while locations are being scouted a director would have to be signed on to assist with the scouting.

My final proof that this is wrong information lies with this fact. Bond20.Com informs us that this news is categorised as – meaning a Rumour!

Of course all up I could be wrong. You’ll find more comments from me in this thread in the Bond 20 Forums! You’ll also find plenty of discussion from other people.

Perhaps finally, thank you to David Winter, Dave Ebersole, ‘LivingDaylights’, Trevelyan and Tim Roth who all sent in this article or contributed to it!

Update:

I have been contacted by Bond20.Com’s tipster with the scenes featured at Bond20.Com and some further exclusive ones. I will post these exclusive scenes in this thread in the forums where just one part of the discussion over these scenes is ongoing.

Eventually they will appear on the main site (where you are), however, I’m seeking further advice before writing a full article. If you’d like to send me any personal comments please do through [email protected].

Lee Tamahori Will Direct Bond 20

New Zealand director Lee Tamahori is tipped direct the 20th Bond film according to both Variety and myself. I had been informed that Tamahori quite some time ago would contest for the directors chair. And now today, low and behold, Variety have reported that contractual negotiations will begin next week.

Tamahori has previously directed the much acclaimed urban drama “Once Were Warriors,” and he has proved himself adept at directing drama through such films as the Alec Baldwin/Anthony Hopkins starrer “The Edge” and, most recently, “Along Came a Spider.”

My money says back Tamahori! I’ve heard his name secretly for the past few months and it’s now in print. Variety of course were the first to announce that Michael Apted would direct The World Is Not Enough and are still to date an extremely reliable source of information.

You’ll find a mounting discussion in the Bond 20 Forums where I just began this thread about Lee Tamahori directing Bond 20! See you there!

More On Ingrid's Screentest

Tipster ‘SaintTemplar’ tells us today that there may be some truth in the reported screentesting of UK based model Ingrid.

She has auditioned for a role in Bond 20…

Two other girls who auditioned were Kirsty [Gallacher] and Rachel Grant. Rachel is Angelina Jolie’s body double in the Tomb Raider movie.

So there may be some truth in the age old Kirsty Gallacher rumour, and of course Rachel Grant is a brand spanking new name.

So what do all these girls have in common (I’m not sure about Grant but I’m sure she would). Apart from Daisy Lang they’re all brunettes and they’ve all been rumoured as trying out for the role of a kick-boxing Bond girl. Some reports have indicated this to be a ‘bad girl’ role.

So is there some truth? Are EON Productions looking for a ‘model-esque’ woman? The media would have us believe so. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Until then I guess the best we can do is discuss all this in the Bond 20 Forums. Take your pick when choosing a topic, there are tonnes of them!

Pierce Brosnan Demands Massive Pay Rise

Actor Pierce Brosnan (aka. James Bond) has reportedly demanded a massive pay rise for James Bond 20 according to ‘News of the World’.

A major thanks to ‘007_Fanatic’ for tipping us off about this in the Bond 20 Forums and I’ve been unable to find the original article at the NotW website so here’s what 007_Fanatic told us in the forums;

I was reading through the paper ‘News of the World’ this morning (Sunday 22nd) and what I saw was a small article on Pierce Brosnan. It said that Brosnan has demanded a massive pay rise from movie bosses to carry on playing Bond. It said that Brosnan has a contract to make one more film (Bond 20) but is in talks of extending his contract.

What should happen if those talks fail?

But note this, it also said if negotiations fail then Aussie actor Hugh Jackman is tipped to play the next Bond.

What do you think of that?

What do I think? Lord help us!

But more on the topic. I have heard before that Brosnan had asked for a pay rise, he’s making the cash sure enough and it’s likely that EON Productions will pay the increase. A figure thrown around at the time of GoldenEye was that Brosnan was being payed $4 million, I expect that would have been raised to about $12 million for The World Is Not Enough. For Bond 20, heaven knows! But we’ll sure find out. So stay tuned!

And don’t forget to check out this thread in the Bond 20 Forums where ‘007_Fanatic’ first tipped us off, and again a big thank you! I’ll see you in the forums!

Update:

Thanks again to ‘007_Fanatic’ who has posted the full article in the Bond 20 Forums. It goes a little like this:

‘PAY RISE BID BOND’

“007 star Pierce Brosnan has shocked movie bosses by demanding a massive pay rise to carry on playing James Bond.

Brosnan earns 3 million a film but wants 15 million.

He is contracted to make one more Bond films but is in talks about extending his contract.

If negotiations break down, Aussie heart-throb Hugh Jackman is tipped to replace him.”

It’s that damn Hugh Jackman again! And as forum user Zencat says quite well, “Hugh Jackman is not “tipped” to replace PB. No one is.” Which is the truth!

Another Boxing Bond Girl Screentested

I can’t trace the roots of this rumour, but I have traced it as far back as Dark Horizons. If anyone can find any further articles could you please send them to [email protected] and you’ll get credit for it as well!

Dark Horizons reported that,

Model Ingrid is one of several girls who’ve auditioned for the role of a female boxer in the next 007 adventure.

And there is that tie again, a female boxer! What is this common thread in a lot of rumoured Bond girl? Is Bond 20 going to feature a boxing bad girl? I can’t tell you… yet! But read on to find out more about Ingrid.

First of all let’s check our her biography, in her own words.

I’m a 25 years old Model based in London, UK. Maybe my name is a bit misleading. I’m neither Swedish nor English. I come from Slovakia (formerly Czechoslovakia) and am half Hungarian. I moved to England in 1995, where I’ve been living ever since…

My interest in modeling began 2 years ago. It took me some time to get into shape after having been a fairly curvy girl since my teenage years. In 1999 I decided to try my luck and go for it…

Recently I also took up acting, where I could use my sexy East European accent, and professional dancing.

My best features are my freckled face, full sensual lips and long legs.

Sounds like a hell of a babe doesn’t she! So perhaps you want some statistic?

Height – 5’8″ /173 cm

Bust – 34dd /95 cm

Waist – 26″ /66 cm

Hips -36″ /94 cm

Dress – UK10-12/USA6/EUR38

Shoes – UK7/USA8/EUR40

I.Leg – 33 /84 cm

O.Leg – 45 /114 cm

Hair – Brown

Eyes – Hazel

But did she really screentest for Bond 20? I’m attempting to contact her as I write this so if things turn out right I may have some answers in a few days.

And be sure to check out the Bond 20 Forums. There’s a discussion already started about the common thread between all these girls, they all reported as audition for a boxing role. Perhaps there is some truth in it? And of course you can check out Ingrid’s official website at http://www.gorgeousmodel.com/.

Stay tuned!

Aston Martin Hits Headlines Again

Ananova has published an article that indicates that car company Aston Martin are eager to place James Bond behind the wheel of on of their new model cars in the upcoming Bond 20.

This will come as nothing new to readers of this site. Back in January 2001 ‘Film Unlimited’ reported that Aston Martin’s owners Ford had signed a £1,000,000 deal with EON Productions, this story was later denied. Since then the car rumour popped back and forth and we even managed the get our hands on this spy picture of what could be the new Aston Martin Bond will drive:

These pictures were taken on the M25 Freeway in London not far from the Aston Martin Building and it was reported that 10 of these cars already exist and they have been specially built for Bond 20, they all feature small little extras that we’ll see as Q-Branch Extras.

Not much later Australia’s ‘Herald Sun’ newspaper confirmed that Bond would drive the Aston Martin Vanquish, again this report was denied.

Which leads us to todays new.

Aston Martin hopes Bond will drive the new £158,000 Aston Martin
Vanquish, which goes on sale in the UK in August.

But the film’s producers, Eon Productions, said no decision had been
made about which car would feature. Filming starts next year.

There’s nothing there that we haven’t already reported. So will Bond drive an Aston Martin in Bond 20?

The Aston Martin Vanquish

Before reading my commentry below you should stop off in the Bond 20 Forums. Included in the usual brilliant discussion is the thread Bond 20 Cars which has some fantastic ideas and pictures on the car Bond should drive in the next film, see you there! Now onto my commentry.

Those tho wish to read no spoilers of Bond 20 should stop reading now, what follows is solely my commentry.

Will Bond drive an Aston Martin? I suspect so. EON Productions are in a position where the can only confirm facts and deny everything else. They have confirmed that BMW’s contract has expired, that’s a fact, and that a new car will be saught, another fact. Will it be an Aston Martin? Well a lot of car company’s will enter a bidding war to include their car and until such a company signs on the dotted line EON Productions will issue no press releases.

Keeping in mind that Bond 20 is the 20th Bond film in Bond’s 40th cinematic year I’d say it’s extremely likely that Bond will go back to his first gadget laiden car, the Aston Martin!

Update:

‘Melv’ very kindly sent in this article from the BBC who have also reported the Aston Martin news.

Of major interest is this sentence,

Aston Martin have revealed that they are in talks with film-makers to reunite 007 with their car in the next film, to be shot next year.

It’s something we presumed, but obviously both Ananova and BBC have been in contact with an Aston Martin representative.

Ratner Considered by MGM & Brosnan

Of all the rumours currently floating around it seems there may be only one that holds any truth, that is that director Brett Ratner, of Rush Hour fame, is being considered to direct the film. However, it is now confirmed that Ratner was only being considered by MGM and not EON Productions.

Ratner was speaking with Zap2it.com recently to drum up publicity for his new film, Rush Hour 2. Of course the conversation turned to the recent rumours. Here’s what Ratner had to say;

“(Brosnan) called me and said I want you to direct the movie,” Ratner told Zap2it while promoting “Rush Hour 2.” “He said he was a huge fan. Unfortunately, he has nothing to do with it.”

Summing up the situation, Ratner said “The studio (MGM) wants me, and Pierce Brosnan wants me, but the Broccoli’s don’t want me.” The Broccoli family runs Eon, the company that has produced Bond since the beginning, 1962’s “Dr. No.” “But I begged them. I call them everyday and send them cookies.”

“It’s ’cause I’m American really,” Ratner said, explaining the Broccoli reasoning. “I’d be the only American director ever to direct a Bond. Also, I’m not 50 years old, and I have a mind of my own, and I’m a strong personality.”

So what does that mean? Well I’d say we can rule Ratner out of the race completely. Despite MGM wanting him the Broccoli’s, who produce the films, undoubtedly have the final say on who will direct the film; MGM could only hope to influence the decision.

The article comments that The Hollywood Reporter reports that the current frontrunners to direct are Stuart Baird (“U.S. Marshals”) and Stephen Hopkins (“Lost in Space”). You’ll find more rumours and mentions of the director throughout our news archive. Expect the decision about who will direct to be made within the next few months.

Till then I personally suggest you personally read the Bond 20 Forums where there are a lot of fantastic comments made about who should direct and who is really tipped to direct.