Kevin Connors talks about a certain British civil servant with a licence to
kill, er, drive
Bond purists know that there are only two ‘proper’ cars for 007 to drive, an Aston or a Bentley. But for many years, while the British auto industry decayed, neither Aston or Bentley produced anything James would be caught dead in (book readers might recall Gardner gave him a Mulsanne Turbo in 1984). But over the last decade, the British Car business has been undergoing a renaissance, riding a wave of American and German capital and technology. The fruits of this are really starting to come now. Two years ago, Aston Martin (now owned by Ford) introduced their beautiful V12 Vanquish, seen in last year’s Die Another Day. But still, relative to the breathtaking Ferrari 575M Maranello, it’s only real competition, most automotive commentators declared it an also-ran. (While the comparison is far closer than that of the classic DB5, introduced in Goldfinger, and the 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast, to say nothing of the incomparable 250GTO. Even the Lamborghini 350GT and Maserati 3500 GT, would likely have cleaned the DB5’s clock.)
Now, all that is behind us. After many teases, Bentley Motor Cars, (now owned by Volkswagen) is finally releasing their latest masterpiece, the Bentley Continental GT:
It has no competition.
This 4 passenger, 5000lb, W-12, AWD monster does 0-60 in 4.7 seconds, the same as a Porsche Carrera. It tops out at 198 mph, faster than all but a handful of 2 seat super-exotics. All this while coddling the passengers in the lap of luxury.
With plenty of room for Q to hide toys, this is a car Commander Bond would love. Of course, the next car 007 actually drives will be determined by the real world consideration of how much the manufacturers are willing to pony up in product placement money. And, although the producers know the fans want to see Bond in a British car (and not a plastic toy Lotus, even if it does go underwater), If Toyota forked over enough, James might be driving the new Supra.
There’s a new player on the scene
I didn’t consider this at first, because of the leading name on the moniker. However, on further consideration, there’s likely more actual British engineering and manufacturing content in this than the Bentley. Ladies and gentleman, coming in about six months, I give you the revolutionary Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren:
As opposed to the Bentley’s porcine two and a half ton mass, carbon composite construction helps keep the SLR to a svelte one and three-quarters. This, along with slightly greater horsepower (580, not 605 as stated on spec. sheet), shave a full second off the Bentley’s 0-60 time. Top speed is 211 mph. A handful of currently available automobiles are in the performance league with the SLR: the Lamborghini Murcielago (also VW, btw), the Pagani Zonda C12-S 7.2, the Ferrari Enzo, and the Saleen S7. But all these are, to one degree or another, racing cars for the street. The SLR promises to be the first super-exotic that’s also a viable daily driver.
Of course, the SLR costs (before Q-izing) two or three times the price of the Bentley. But, to Her Majesty’s Government, it’s just chump change seeing as they have all those taxpayers to call on.
You think that is attractive? It looks like a bloated TT to me.
Oh woe is I. I nothing about cars, but jeez, so lovely!
Nah. What Mr. Bond needs is a TVR Cerbera Speed 12, it’ll blow all those others out of the water with a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds and 800 bhp
TVR Cerbera Speed 12
What happened to the British auto industry? It seemed like they made some good cars in the 1960’s and then just disappeared. Are there any British “everyday” cars made? And by British, I mean under a British tradename, not just put together in the UK.
Rover was bought out by management from BMW so I believe it is British owned, TVR is another (albeit much more specialist) example.
“What happened to the British auto industry? It seemed like they made some good cars in the 1960’s and then just disappeared.”
Hint: it had something to do with the British government in 1975. I bet you can’t guess 🙂
There are between 12 and 20 British car makers – but they’re nearly all small specialist builders producing highly individual vehicles to custom specification.
Compounding their failure to invest in new technology & design in the post war period, UK mass-production car makers suffered badly from the destructive urges of Left-dominated trade unions, especially in the 1970s: my brother worked for a while on the production lines at BL’s Cowley plant, and gave extraordinary reports on the violent intimidation of shopfloor workers who just wanted to do a good job. This exacerbated the existing chronic quality control problems.
As for this new Bentley, it looks like something out of Thunderbirds. (Don’t think much of TVRs either: over-priced, peculiarly styled.) The Merc is nicer. But give me the cash for a Bentley or a Merc and I’d buy a s/h 911 Targa anyday, then buy a house with the change…
I am hoping one of these days the Bond movie makers create a period-piece film, set in the 1950s wen Fleming wrote most of the tales, with our Jim driving the pre-war Bentley convertible, in battleship grey with the supercharger. Glorious. And such a film would contain other daring features, like a plot.
I saw the latest Brosnan movie and though the special effects were great, it had nil connection to Fleming’s original character. Great cars are lovely to watch but I’d prefer a decent story next time.
Good to see the back of the BMWs though.