The Best Bond Vehicles
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 1 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2556
Aston Martin DBS
Much like the man himself, the modern Bond car abandons gadgetry in
favor of focused, athletic performance. 007’s current car, the Aston
Martin DBS, is the mechanical machination of elegantly brutal
performance. With its gunmetal skin and carbon fiber trim, this ride
conveys both refinement and intelligent strength, and it does so without
the need to resort to laser-guided missiles.
While this DBS may lack the toys that made the old Bond cars fun, it
certainly is no slouch. This is a capable machine that can tackle a
twisty Alpine road just as confidently as it can tour grandly through
Europe. The car’s 510 horsepower V12 also gives it the ability to give
unwanted company the slip in less time than it takes for a glitchy
cloaking device to activate.
AMC Hornet
Though we associate the man with European rides, one of the greatest
Bond vehicles ever is the AMC Hornet from The Man With the Golden Gun.
No missiles, rocket boosters or ejector seats in this piece of American
iron, just 360 cubic inches of pure muscle.
Lotus Esprit
Should you point out an Aston Martin DB5 to the casual observer, you’ll
likely get a response along the lines of, “Oh, that’s nice.” Point out a
Lotus Esprit, on the other hand, and the first thing you’ll hear is,
“That’s the car that turned into a submarine!” So while the DB5 may be
quintessential classic Bond car, it’s the wedge-shaped Esprit from The
Spy Who Loved Me that is arguably one of the most famous and iconic of
all of James Bond’s rides.
Aston Martin Vanquish
“Vanish” might be a more accurate name for this Aston Martin. Seen in
Die Another Day, this British machine packs a cloaking device seemingly
ripped right off a Klingon Bird of Prey. And if that reference makes the
car seem too nerdy, the car’s V12 engine, grille-mounted missiles and
fender-mounted machine guns instantly remind all that this Aston Martin
is one dangerous ride.
Toyota 2000GT
Japan’s first true exotic car established itself on the world stage
thanks to its appearance in You Only Live Twice. Toyota’s 2000GT remains
a highly sought-after collectable thanks to its tactile lines,
technologically advanced powertrain and incredibly limited production
run. The 2000GT seen in the Bond film is even more of a collectable --
and not just because of its gadget list.
The 2000GT was only offered as a hardtop coupe, but Toyota created two
convertible versions of the 2000GT just for the film. While Bond didn’t
actually drive the car himself (he was chauffeured by Bond girl Aki),
this Toyota can be considered a car custom-built for the man: The only
reason Toyota chopped off the roof was because Bond actor Sean Connery
couldn’t fit in the standard coupe.
BMW 750iL
If we were the type to indulge in bad puns, we’d make more than a few
stating that Bond’s BMW 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies is the ultimate
Q-ship. After all, it was built by a man named Q, and like the World War
II ships that inspired the term, it’s rather dignified exterior hides a
massive amount of firepower. Modifications include a cutting cable
mounted behind the front emblem and a caltrop dispenser in the rear, but
the highlight of this Beemer is the assortment of missiles mounted in
the car’s sunroof.
Sunbeam Alpine Series II
Though not as famous as the gadget-equipped cars that came after it, the
Sunbeam Alpine Series II seen in Dr. No is important because it’s the
first Bond car ever. The lack of gadgets makes this car forgettable to
even the most devoted Bond fan, and the actual machine’s paltry 80hp and
13.6-second 0-60 time also make it forgettable to traditional car fans.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
Aston Martin’s already mean-looking V8 Volante gets an extra dose of
aggressiveness thanks to the team at MI6. In The Living Daylights, this
British muscle car gets the Bond treatment and packs necessities such as
booster rockets, hubcap-mounted lasers and a pair of skis. Clad in all
black, this Volante was the meanest thing on a pair of skis in cinematic
history.
BMW Z8
Immeasurably cooler than the Z3 that launched the Bond/BMW partnership,
the BMW Z8 from The World Is Not Enough provided Agent 007 with some
seriously cool firepower… if only for a minute. Boasting titanium armor,
fender-mounted surface-to-air missiles and “six beverage cupholders,”
this roadster had more than a few handy additions. But it had some
practical upgrades, too: Its ability to be driven remotely via a key
chain is something we’re starting to see today. Chinese car manufacturer
BYD has a family sedan that can be driven in just the same way --
albeit at a much slower speed. Does this mean we might soon see Bond in a
Su Rui?
Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 is the quintessential “classic” Bond car. Though
Bond has driven a couple of Aston Martin DB5s throughout his long,
illustrious career of international espionage, it's the silver DB5 from
Goldfinger that most Bond fans remember. This DB5 is the debut of the
Bond car as we know it today; it was the first MI6-built ride to feature
bulletproof glass, rotating number plates, retractable machine guns,
and a passenger-side ejector seat.
Due to its appearance in Goldfinger, the DB5 was often referred to as
“the most famous car in the world,” and to this day even the standard
DB5 remains a highly sought-after vehicle. In 2010, the actual DB5 from
the movie -- including Q-approved modifications -- was sold at auction
for $4.6 Million.
สมัครสมาชิก:
บทความ (Atom)