SPECIAL-EDITION BOND THUNDERBIRD MOVES FROM FILM SCREEN TO DRIVEWAYS
DEARBORN, Mich., July 18, 2002 – When EON Productions and MGM Pictures’ new James Bond film, Die Another Day, opens on November 22nd, 2002, moviegoers will be able to do more than dream of action-packed adventure. They will also be able to drive home in one of the film’s starring vehicles beginning next spring.
Three Ford Motor Company vehicles make high-profile appearances in producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli’s Die Another Day, released in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Bond franchise and continuing Ford’s long history on the silver screen. To mark the occasion, Ford will create a James Bond edition Thunderbird available to customers through Ford dealers early next year. The car will be offered in the special coral color created for the film.
Ford Motor Company acquired the coveted rights to supply EON and MGM with a number of its global vehicle brands for Die Another Day:
- Again starring as James Bond, Pierce Brosnan drives an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish in the film.
- The coral Ford Thunderbird we are making available to customers mirrors the vehicle driven by Academy Award®-winner Halle Berry as Jinx.
- The villainous Zao, played by Rick Yune, drives a Jaguar XKR.
These vehicles will also be featured in a TV advertising campaign in the fall to coincide with the release and promotion of the new film.
Directed by Lee Tamahori and written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, Die Another Day stars Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, Rick Yune, John Cleese, and Judi Dench.
The Aston Martin Vanquish
During the 40 years of Bond films, Aston Martin has been 007’s choice more than any other car. Fans will recall the exquisite silver Aston Martin DB5 equipped with machine guns, rocket launchers and an ejector-seat in the 1965 film Goldfinger.
For Die Another Day, James Bond’s Aston Martin V12 Vanquish will have two machine guns extending from the grilles on the hood, while the front grille splits in half to reveal four missiles and a pair of shotguns. However, these represent relatively few modifications to a "Bond car," as Bond will use his skill as a driver in the film more than depend on abundant armament.
That’s because the Aston Martin Vanquish is the most technically advanced car that Aston Martin has produced in its 88-year history – making it the perfect match for James Bond.
"There’s no single product placement in the industry more iconic than James Bond’s car," says Jan Valentic, Ford Motor Company vice president of Global Marketing. "No other films better capture the aggressive performance of the chase scene and sex appeal of the spy game better than the James Bond films. He has become a piece of global pop-culture, and there was genuine appreciation when we announced last year that he would again drive an Aston Martin."
Based upon a body of aluminum and carbon fiber, the 460 horsepower Vanquish features a six-speed manual transmission that is operated by paddles behind the steering wheel – similar to a Grand Prix racecar.
Launched just more than 18 months ago, Aston Martin will hand assemble 500 versions of this $228,000 sports car in 2002. Currently there is a customer waiting list of nearly two years for the Vanquish, which is sold in 31 markets throughout the world.
The Ford Thunderbird
Ford will produce 700 of the James Bond edition Thunderbird vehicles in 2003. The James Bond edition Thunderbirds will feature 21-spoke chrome wheels, solid white seats and white-trimmed lower door panels and speaker covers. The steering wheel and shift knob will be trimmed in Black Ink leather. An understated "007" badge will be placed on the instrument panel, while the Thunderbird insignias are located on the seat backs. Each vehicle will also feature a numbered, commemorative plaque mounted on the inside of the glove box.
Previous special-edition Thunderbirds have proven highly desirable. In 2000, Ford offered 200 special-edition Thunderbird vehicles for sale through the exclusive Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. Those 200 cars, the most ever offered through Neiman Marcus, sold out in a record 2 hours and 15 minutes and are considered highly prized collectors items.
"The Ford Thunderbird epitomizes the ‘agent provocateur’ personality – it is incredibly beautiful, alluring yet clever and tech-savvy," said Valentic. "The James Bond edition Thunderbird keeps a hot car sizzling."
Ford will announce pricing for the special edition Thunderbirds later in the year.
The Jaguar XKR
Rick Yune, who plays one of the movie’s villains, Zao, drives a modified 400 horsepower Jaguar XKR convertible. The Jaguar XKR has been transformed into a four-wheel drive beast to make easy handling on the icy landscapes where the car chase scenes are set. From head to tail, the weaponry included on the Jaguar XKR includes a Gatling gun centered behind the driver and passenger seats, missiles emerging from the front grille, concealed door-mounted rocket launchers and finally, a trunk full of mortar bombs.
The unique car color is the same as the current Jaguar Racing Formula One racing car, which has carried the 007 logo on its wing mirrors this season to promote the association of Ford Motor Company’s involvement with Die Another Day.