There are many things to covet about the world of Ian Flemming’s James Bond – his style, his powerful superhuman skill to withstand even the most creative of torture techniques, the uncanny ability he has to woo women, whether they be grieving widows or international spies themselves. There are all of these reasons, and more, that give us cause to envy the oh-so-cool 007, in his modern remakes of the classic films. But despite the form fitting tuxedos, the smooth talking shaken not stirred, and the sensual lovemaking scenes in antique overnight train carriages, there is one thing about Bond that any automotive enthusiast will covet above the rest – the cars.
Bond’s most recent adventure, in the newly released Spectre, is no exception to the rule that speed, power, and class will reign above. In the film, Bond, played by Daniel Craig in his fourth of the modern Bond movies, gets a go behind the wheel of a made-for-movie special edition Aston Martin DB10 – a machine that looks more like the swooping drawings on a designer’s early concept pad than anything which might hit the road. But hit the road it does, in the dazzling display of powerful, and fictional, British engineering, as it speeds away from the equally unproduced and incredible Jaguar C-X75 through the tiny cobblestoned streets of Rome.
It’s a chase scene that would make both Flemming, a noted car enthusiast, and Sir Sean Connery himself proud to witness. Given that Bond, after going against direct orders from M, (shocker) is on leave, the car is not intended for him. Given, again, that Bond takes what he wants, the car is not yet completed when he gets behind the wheel, accounting for several humorous attempts at firing bullets, (not loaded,) and accidentally turning on the car’s local radio station.
But quickly, the audience goes from laughing to holding their breath, as the two incredible supercars, both with family resemblance to their marque and a powerful presence all their own, speed across the city, leaving destruction in the wake of their powerful chase.
“I love the idea of this fantastic car being in a one on one battle with another incredible car from Jaguar, which is similarly extraordinary,” says Spectre director, Sam Mendes, in a behind the scenes video promotion released by the film. “It’s a cat and mouse game through the night time streets of Rome at great speeds, between two of the fastest cars in the world, neither ofwhich you’ve ever seen before.”
Once you see them, you won’t forget them. They perform as any fictional supercar with special modifications should, above and beyond our wildest dreams, with swoops replacing silly things like door handles, and with power in the stead of our everyday drive needs. It is a movie as much, if not more, for the car enthusiast than the film buff, and it’s better than ever. There is no replacing the classic Astons of yesterday’s Bond, and indeed, Skyfall will reign supreme with its solid airtime for the DB5, but there’s no denying the incredible nature of two insane, unproduced, concept supercars redlining through the city streets. It’s all of our fantasies, utterly cool, utterly fast, utterly Bond. 
Images left selected from Jaguar Media Centre.
Image right selected from Wikipedia Commons.
