James Bond Cars - BMW Z8.

Comment to our musical score

                                           "I'll step into cabriolet,
                                           I would like only wander forth.
                                           Don't remember me anymore.
                                           You'll return I'll be far away.
                                           I'll step into cabriolet..."

      This is the song about failed love from repertoir of Russian pop-singer Liubov Uspenskaya.

      In the film "The World Is Not Enough" James Bond was unhappy with Electra King. And he had a chance to sing something like this, if he would... If the agent 007 could sing and if his cabriolet BMW Z8 wouldn't be bisected... by Electra's friends.

* * * * *

      We quote from a book "James Bond. The Secret World Of 007" again. We do hope, our Pages will be a good advertising for it!

The BMW Z8

      For The World Is Not Enough mission Q Branch equipped Bond with a customized BMW Z8. Armed with a radar-guided Stinger missile system, the BMW was probably the fastest car Bond had ever been entrusted with. In the hope that this superb vehicle would be returned intact, the car possessed "Dynamic Stability Control" . If the driver happened to take a corner too fast, a computer automatically controlled speed and braked the wheels individually, to return the car to a safe trajectory. Unfortunately, not even this state-of-the-art safety feature could protect the Z8 from eventual disaster.

Hard Shell

      The car's body was am all-aluminium monocoque space frame, with stressed exterior body panels. Bullet-proof windscreen and armour-plating protected driver and passenger.

Date With Destruction

      Bond arrived in his BMW at a caviar factory owned by Valentin Zukovsky. The head-turning car was spotted and an attack force was in the air in minutes.

Automatic Auto

      When danger threatened, Bond could direct the BMW to pick him up by using a remote control device hidden inside the car's ignition key.

      1 - Alarm set button in lid,
2 - Steering pad, 3 - Brake pad, 4 - Accelerator pad, 5 - Ignition key.

Firing Buttons

      The controls for the car's missile defence system were located in the centre of the steering column, next to the manufacturer's logo.

      1 - Light signified missile locked on target

Caviar Factory

      Zukovsky was proud of his caviar, the factory was one of his few honest enterprises. Unfortunately its rickety construction could not withstand Electra King's buzzaw choppers.

      1 - King's copters arrived to kill Zukovsky and 007.

Locked-on and Loaded

      Bond activated his BMW's missile system and got a fix on one of the two attacking helicopters. Moments later it was in flames.

Rocket Launcher

      Servo-controlled and fully automated, the stinger missile system provided a devasting response to enemy action Radar and laser-scanning target acquisition gave quick and accurate firing.

      1 - Rocket Launcher concealed behind aur vent, 2 - Car carries two Stinger missiles in each wing.

Tree Trimmer

      The helicopter-mounted saw is normally used in remote areas of the world to trim back trees where they might interfere with power cables.

1 - Attachment point,
2 - 4-stroke engine,
3 - High-carbon steel saw blades.

Half and Half

      The second Helicopter attacked from behind, its saw tearing through the BMW's body like paper. Bond baled out just in time.

1 - Wreckage from the rear end of the BMW.

Sprint Finish

      Having sawn his car nearly in half, the chopper pursued 007 along a wooden walkway.

BMW Z8 SPECIFICATION

Max speed:                    155 mph, 248 km/h
Acceleration:                 0-62 mph (0-99 km/h) in 4,4 sec.
Length:                           14 ft 3,6 in (4,4 m)
Width:                             6 ft 1,2 in (1,83 m)
Engine capacity:           4941 cc
Transmission:              6-speed, manual

      COPYRIGHT 2000-2001, "James Bond. The Secret World of 007".

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