James Bond’s Next Car to be… Electric!
A clear sign of modern times, the world’s top secret agent will drive an electric car in his next movie. James Bond will slip behind the wheel of a 2020 Aston Martin Rapide E, an insider told British newspaper The Sun.
Apparently, director Cary Joji Fukunaga (who replaces Danny Boyle after the latter quit due to creative differences) is a real fan of Mother Nature and he urged the producers to give 007 a more environmentally friendly ride. He’s reportedly working with Aston Martin right now to develop the car (or cars?) for the shooting.
- Also: 2020 Aston Martin Rapide E: The Brand’s First EV
- Also: Aston Martin Unveils All-Electric Rapide E Sedan in China
As was the case in Casino Royale (DB5 and DBS) and later in Spectre (DB5 and DB10), there could be more than one Aston Martin involved in the story. After all, despite their numerous gadgets, Bond’s cars usually don’t last very long.
By the way, the company has yet to release pictures of the Rapide E. The ones you see here were taken when the car was supposed to be called “RapidE.”
The production-spec Aston Martin Rapide E, which is being developed together with Williams Advanced Engineering for a limited run of 155 units to be delivered in late 2019, features two electric motors with a combined 603 horsepower and 700 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s a significant improvement from the outgoing Rapide S, which generates 552 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. As a result, it shoots from 0-96 km/h (0-60 mi/h) in less than four seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h. Meanwhile, the 65kWh battery provides a range of about 320 kilometres according to the WLTP test cycle.
Aston Martin tweaked the car’s bodywork to improve aerodynamics, and new alloy wheels are fitted with Pirelli P Zero low rolling-resistance tires. A revised suspension and a limited-slip differential are part of the package, as well.
The still-untitled 25th installment in the James Bond franchise will begin shooting on April 6 with actors Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Lea Seydoux and, according to rumours, Rami Malek in the role of the villain. It will hit theatres in April 2020.